By Lori BODNAR, intern
On June 15, the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted an outdoors in-person scholarship ceremony for 11 high school seniors and their families at the Chevy Chase Country Club. The outdoor setting was inviting and individual tables for each family were nestled under shady oak trees with a few rows of grape vines growing along the green.
The students were each awarded $200 scholarships for college by the Chamber. They were chosen in part for service to their school and community. Recipients were Kimberly Blood, Lorianne Bodnar, Cadie Carlson, Connor Harvey, Kyeongseo Jung, Solmih Kim, Bet-sua Joza Perez Marcial, Alden Marriott, Juliana Merida, Brendon Pehar and Sarah Ricci.
Family members were on hand to take photos of their students when the Chamber called up each student individually, recognized their accomplishments and presented them with certificates and award checks.
Steve Pierce, director of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, said, “Every student who received a scholarship was a phenomenal student.”
Normally the Chamber awards around four scholarships annually, but this year it was able to award 11 scholarships, thanks to generous donors and businesses within the community, including the owners of Ocean View Bar & Grill.
Ken Biermann is a former principal at Crescenta Valley High School and a director of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“I am proud to be a CVHS Falcon alumnus and that I can honor the students, especially with all of the challenges they had to overcome this school year,” he said. “It was quite a hill to climb.”
In addition to the 11 outstanding students, a special recognition award was given to the principal of Crescenta Valley High School Linda Junge. Junge was recognized for her devotion to the school and community. She was recently promoted to district superintendent of South Pasadena, and will be missed by the school and community. She commented however, that she is always happy to help out the school or community if needed, saying “Once a Falcon, always a Falcon!”
Following the recognition award ceremony, several of the students and their families enjoyed dinner at the Chevy Chase Country Club Sycamore Restaurant. The evening was a special way to end an extraordinary 2020-21 school year for the students.