WHITTIER – Whether in the classroom or out in the community, California High School senior Carter Crail leads with purpose, earning admiration for his academic excellence, strong character, and dedication to continuous growth.

Crail boasts a 4.47 GPA, with 26 semester units of honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses going into his senior year alone. Crail’s dedication to civic service is rooted at home. He grew up being inspired by his mom, a lifelong community servant, and said he believes in supporting the community that nurtured him.

The Whittier Union Board of Trustees recognized Crail with an Award of Merit during its Oct. 14 Board meeting for his exceptional character and dedication to academics. Crail addressed the packed Board room, thanking his Condor support system and parents for helping him reach this point. In his speech, Crail shared that his parents serve as the main examples in his life for who he should strive to become.

“I would like to give my thanks to the Board for giving me the opportunity to represent Cal High as a school as well as myself as an individual. I also want to give thanks to my teachers, who not only inspired me to love learning, but also motivated me to constantly be a better person, and better than every year before,” Crail said. “Cal High’s been an amazing school for me. I’m provided with a culture that is driven by success, with multiple opportunities to not only be content with where I’m at, but shoot for the stars and make sure I keep going.”

As president of California High School’s Interact Club for the past two years, Crail has led his peers in organizing school and community service projects that make a lasting impact. He was also president of the school’s Model United Nations for one year, and has led three successful Cal High Conferences – holding the most college-level awards out of any delegate in CHS history.

Additionally, Crail has served as a Puente cabinet member for four years and was named Puente Student of the Year during his freshman year, and held the title of vice president of philanthropy for two years.

This past summer, Crail served as the Cal High Boys and Girls State Representative and the Boys State Delegate, where he was elected as a senator for the Boys State System. During this time, he was actively involved in writing and establishing laws, demonstrating his pursuit of civic responsibility, and unlocking a new way to give back to those around him.

Crail, a three-year varsity wrestler, snatched the prestigious DeWitt IronMan Award for Excellence on and off the mat, and placed ninth in his weight class during last year’s CIF-Southern Section competition.

After graduation, Crail said he plans to pursue his interests in energy and global policy and double major in nuclear engineering and political science at either the University of California, Berkeley or California Institute of Technology.

“What is so special about Carter is he uses his intellect to inspire, not overshadow,” Principal Shana Jones said. “He motivates others not through demands, but by setting a passionate and proactive example. Peers describe him as kind, helpful, and driven, noting that he listens to feedback, truly shares the spotlight, and he roots for those around him.”

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WUHSD_AWARDOFMERIT1: California High School senior Carter Crail was honored with an Award of Merit, presented by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Oct. 14, celebrating his academic determination and excellence, as well as his kindness and leadership.