Teen Hall of Fame: Paul Perrone, Oakdale High School

Teen Hall of Fame: Paul Perrone, graduate, Oakdale High School

Paul Perrone is not your typical high school graduate. This is clearly shown through his many achievements, awards and recognitions, including the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce Junior Achievement Award.

While attending Oakdale High School, Paul was involved in many extra-curricular activities, including Academic Decathlon, Science Olympiad, Model UN, Rotary Interact, the Gay-Straight Alliance, California Scholastic Federation and tennis. Paul earned the most points in this year's Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon competition. He represented his school on the Oakdale Joint Unified School District's Board of Trustees, where he had full voting privileges. Paul was involved in 4-H, especially in the 4-H International Exchange program. He and his family hosted an exchange student from Japan. During the summer after his sophomore year, he traveled to Japan, spending time in Tokyo and Fukushima. Even with this busy schedule, Paul was able to earn a 4.13 GPA.

This school year, Paul became inspired by the stories of success in entrepreneurship in companies like Facebook and TOMS shoes. This summer he has been working with HydroConfidence, a new business on the East Coast, where he began the summer as the director of business development and was later promoted to the vice president of business development, in charge of their compressed natural gas, or CNG, delivery service.

He was awarded the Leo Volz scholarship, which grants a deserving Oakdale High School student with full tuition and books. This scholarship will allow Paul to attend Claremont McKenna College, where he will major in economics in the hopes of someday owning his own business.

PARENTS: Monica and Mark Perrone

SIBLINGS: Anna Perrone

HOBBIES: Entrepreneurship, reading, travel

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: My mom and dad, my friends and family both at home and abroad, my teachers Mrs. Gobel, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Simoncini and Coach Miller, and more, have all been tremendous positive influences in my life, but my grandfather is my biggest influence. He is the consummate gentleman, businessman, father and role model, and I aspire to be as worldly, experienced, healthy, and as fun as he is.

FAVORITE TV SHOW: "Archer," "Friends," and "The Legend of Korra."

FAVORITE MOVIES: "Pulp Fiction," "The Man From Earth" and "Limitless."

FAVORITE MUSIC/BAND: Frank Sinatra, Ok Go, Two Man Gentleman Band, and The Beatles.

BIGGEST FEAR: Losing people important to me.

WHAT I'D TELL THE PRESIDENT: Prioritize fixing our financial situation, and support innovation.

ADVICE FOR KIDS: Work hard and never give up, but don't forget to enjoy yourself along the way.

ADVICE FOR ADULTS: Shake things up a little. Do something you haven't done in a long time, or learn something completely new.

WHERE I'LL BE IN 10 YEARS: CEO of my own (hopefully successful) business, maybe married, and living close to, if not in, a major city.