By Ruth SOWBY

Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian kicked off the GLA scholarship breakfast on June 26 at the Oakmont Country Club with greetings from the City followed by opening remarks by GLA President J. Guillermo Garcia. Mistress of ceremonies Ana Gabrielian introduced the presentation of colors.  

Hon. Maria Lucy Armendariz, judge of the LA County Superior Court, gave the keynote address. She described living without her mother who was incarcerated for dealing drugs. Armendariz was in foster care from age 8 to 18. She said she became her own “savior” and learned that education was “the true avenue for real change.” She was accepted to UCLA. For the first time in her life, Armendariz had three meals a day and knew where she would be living for the next four years. She became a lawyer.  

“Only 2% of lawyers in the state are Latinas,” she said. Armendariz received a standing ovation at the end of her remarks.

Scholarship recipients and their donors were introduced. Through her Devine Family Trust, Former Glendale Mayor Paula Devine introduced her five scholarship winners, each of which will receive $1,000.  

“I was a teacher for 30 years,” said Devine. “I know the difference a mentor makes.” 

Altogether 26 scholarship recipients and their donors were introduced. Local students receiving scholarships were Miguel Pinedo and Alexander Sebastian from Clark Magnet High School and Gemma Caudillo from Crescenta Valley High School.     

GLA’s mission, in part, is to “promote activities that improve education and bring together businesses and professionals.”