Teen Hall Of Fame: Andrew Melendez, Senior, Downey High School

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Andrew has become a professional musician, maintained a high grade point average and played alongside marching bands from across the globe at the Beijing Olympics, all within the last two years of his high school career.

Andrew spends his time devoting energy to several different aspects of his life.

While carrying a heavy workload of Advanced Placement classes, Andrew has maintained a 4.00 grade point average. In addition to spending time on campus for classes, he participates in a variety of extracurricular activities.

Modesto Bee - TDHS Teen Hall of Fame, Andrew Melendez September 29, 2009 (BART AH YOU/bahyou@modbee.com)

Teen Hall of Fame nomination form

He is a member of California Scholarship Federation and Downey's jazz band and marching band. This is his third year playing tennis for Downey. "I've been playing tennis pretty much my whole life," says Andrew, who has been learning from his grandpa for quite a while.

Andrew also does community service and other helpful activities for St. Jude's Church.

The thing that has become a major part of Andrew's life more recently is his band, Josh Rosenblum. The band consists of Andrew on bass, Josh Rosenblum on lead guitar and vocals, and Cedric Jones on drums. Josh and Cedric are both Downey High 2009 graduates.

The band has been practicing regularly for a while now and has played several shows at the Queen Bean Coffee House in downtown Modesto and the Main Street Café in Manteca. It performs a long list of original songs.

All three band members are very close and add something to the songs the band plays. "We're all part of the creative process," says Andrew, who started out learning guitar but found the transition to bass fairly simple. "It was pretty easy; the bass just has a bigger neck. It just took practice."

There is a lot he learned once he started playing in a band.

"It's been very interesting to be playing on stage," he says. "It's like two different worlds. When you see a band perform from the audience, you see them as rock stars, but you don't really know them. But when you're the guy on stage, you're just happy to be there."

Andrew also plays the saxophone. Last year, he attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics when marching bands from Modesto City Schools were selected to play at the ceremony.

Andrew really enjoyed his time spent in China. "I got to see the world. It was an interesting experience."

While there, Andrew met a lot of teens from other countries. This proved to be an interesting study of other cultures.

"I met a lot of people from Australia. They were very cool — and very hyper," he says.

Andrew is looking forward to his senior year at Downey and will be graduating in 2010.

PARENTS: Vicky and Guillermo Melendez

SIBLINGS: William, 21

HOBBIES: Playing music, tennis and video games

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: My parents and older brother because I consider them to be the strongest people I know and they keep pushing me to be better and stronger. They are my support when it seems that there is none.

LAST BOOK I READ FOR PLEASURE: "Tuesdays With Morrie," by Mitch Albom. It has a very deep meaning about life and how you should live it in every moment. It has totally changed my perspective on everyday life.

FAVORITE MOVIE: "The Dark Knight." It's just a thrill ride, and Batman is one of my favorite superheroes.

FAVORITE BANDS/MUSICAL ARTISTS: Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Dave Mathews Band, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jason Mraz and Josh Rosenblum.

BIGGEST FEAR: Not buying my mom a house with the money I make from future careers.

WHAT I'D TELL THE PRESIDENT: Make sure you remember the middle and lower class that are in need of assistance in these tough economic times.

ADVICE FOR KIDS: Stay in school. Education is going to be extremely important in this future of rapidly growing technology.

ADVICE FOR ADULTS: Understand that Twitter, MySpace and Facebook are mainly for teens and young adults.

WHERE I'LL BE IN 10 YEARS: Still in school, studying biochemical engineering, chemistry or something in the medical and science field.

The Teen Hall of Fame honoree receives a $100 check from E.&J. Gallo Winery, movie tickets from Dr. Randy Winter with the Modesto Arts Medical Group, a gift card from Yogurt Mill and bowling passes from Yosemite Lanes.

— RYAN KOEHN/TEENS IN THE NEWSROOM