Serena Mahendru 

Granada Hills Charter High School freshman Serena Mahendru was a big winner at the national Ice Skating Institute’s Holiday challenge held in San Jose Nov. 18-20. Mahendru, 14, won first place awards in the Synchronized Open SeniorYouth and Medium Production Team; second place in the Open FreeStyle Silver and Couples Character Spotlight; third place in Ensemble; fourth place in Artistic Silver. She and her team qualified to compete in the Ice Skating Institute’s World Recreational Team Championships in Anaheim next July.