Saratoga High Girl Takes Home 2nd in South Bay Teen Idol Contest

Sanjana Shukla, a Saratoga High School junior captured second place in Saturday’s first South Bay Teen Idol competition at the  in Los Gatos.

First place finisher, Casey Rico, a junior at Silver Creek High School and Los Gatos High School junior , who took home third place rounded out the top three in the American Idol-style contest along with nine other teens.

Rico earned a $2,500 scholarship and a $500 prize for her school.

The other finalists included Serena Koo of Los Gatos, a junior at; Brandon Farmer of San Jose, an eighth grader at Accelerated Christian Academy, a home school program; Annie Hunt of San Jose, a freshman at Archbishop Mitty; Haley Henson of Sunnyvale, a junior at Presentation; Kalpana Chinnappan of San Jose, a junior at Leland High School.

The up-and-coming teen band Y I Yell from Los Angeles performed at the finals.

The finalists were among more than 50 students who participated in tryouts during semifinals held Feb. 9.