Carlmont Grad Raises $10,000 for Sheriff's Program

In the months leading up to this weekend's North Fair Oaks Festival in Redwood City, 19-year-old Viviana Tacussis raised more than $10,000 for the San Mateo County Sheriff's youth programs.

The 2,000 tickets Tascussis sold, at $5 a piece, earned her the title of this year's North Fair Oaks Festival Queen as well as a $6,000 college scholarship.

Tascussis, a native of Chile who has lived in Belmont for the past decade, said she will begin attending San Jose State University next week. She graduated from Carlmont High School in Belmont.

"She was so motivated," said Festival Director Catherine Matsuyo Tompkison-Graham. "It's always refreshing to see young people so disciplined and focused."

From March through the first week of August, Tascussis sold tickets across the Peninsula in neighborhoods and at community events.

She said she was most effective in selling large bunches of tickets to sponsors, as well as by setting up a ticket booth in front of Bianchini's Market in San Carlos.

She intends to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering, and said she would like to some day go to work for Lockheed Martin or the Space Exploration Technology Corp.

Tascussis said one day she hopes to engineer technology that will help build better, more efficient spaceships. She said her ambitious career goal stems from her passion for science and math.

"I've always been good at math and physics, and have had a curiosity about outer space," said Tascussis.

She will move to San Jose to begin her pursuit of her dreams Monday, the day after the North Fair Oaks Festival.

The event will take place Sunday on Middlefield Road, between 1st and 5th Avenue. It will start at 11:00am and will continue until 6:00pm.

It will begin with a parade, showcasing Tascussis, as well as the four others who competed with her to win the title of queen. Last year's reigning champion will be in attendance as well.

Tompkison-Graham encouraged those planning to attend to get out to the event early, in order to get a good view of the parade.

Also at the event there will be more than 100 local vendors offering food, drinks and other goods. But in order to maintain the family oriented nature of the festival, there will be no alcohol allowed, said Tompkison-Graham.

And for those who purchased raffle tickets, prizes include a digital camera, iPod touches, flat screen TVs, laptop computers, an XBox video game system, and $1,000 gift certificates to Chavez Supermarkets and Deseo Tequila Lounge.

Those still interested in purchasing raffle tickets may do so at the Chavez Supermarkets in Redwood City and Menlo Park or online at Qoobole.com.

The proceeds from the festival will go benefit Sheriff's youth programs such as D.A.R.E., the Sheriff's Explorer Program, School Resources Program, the Sheriff's Activity League and the S.T.A.R. Camp.

Though its too early to tell how much the festival has raised this year, Tomkison-Graham said she is certain the amount is more than ever before, and that the festival has generated more than $200,000 over 10 years for the Sheriff's youth programs.

Tomkison-Graham credits San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks for his commitment to the North Fair Oaks Festival, and the surrounding community, as reasons why the event is so successful.

"I work for a man who has a vision, and I'm really proud of what he wants to do here," said Tomkison-Graham.

She said residents in the community have repeatedly expressed to her their appreciation that there is so much participation by the Sheriff's Office in the event, and that there are officers present at the festival.

And though most involved feel the festival is a positive event in the community, Tascussis said she believes the competition to become Queen is especially important for young women.

"I recommend all girls in the community get involved, it's very beneficial to your community, and you can learn a lot," she said.

Related Topics: Catherine Matsuyo Tompkison-Graham, North Fair Oaks Festival, Queen Viviana Tascussis, Queen of the Festival, San Mateo County Sheriff's Office programs, and sheriff greg munks