Students in the Crescenta Valley received scholarships from a variety of organizations that support youth. Various criteria had to be met before the scholarships were distributed.

Scholarships Awarded by Kiwanis Club
The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada La Crescenta-AM awarded 14 scholarships to 14 high school students on June 14 at the Lutheran Church of the Foothills at its Annual Scholarship awards and Key Club Take Over Dinner. A total of $9,500 in scholarships was distributed.

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada La Crescenta-AM sponsors five high school Key Clubs with a combined membership of over 300 students serving the community.

In addition to the scholarship distribution, officers from the Key Clubs also gave status reports on the accomplishments of their clubs over the last year.

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada La Crescenta-AM 2018 scholarship recipients were: from Clark Magnet High School Ani Boodaghian, Albert Hernández and Dalia Saklaway. From Crescenta Valley High School, Matthew Bomar, Martin Franco, Tara Hejazi, Kailey Janosko, Alexandria Jo, Saya Linney, Jake Schaffer, Anna Shim and Senayt Tassew. From Franklin High School, Joyce Talavera and from Verdugo Hills High School, Amber Foust.

The Mission of the La Canada La Crescenta-Am is to serve the youth of the community and the world.

Locals Earn National Merit Scholarships
The National Merit Scholarship corporation- and college-sponsored winners were recently announced. This year’s National Merit $2,500 corporation-sponsored scholarship winners were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship program.

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. An additional group of scholars will be announced in July, bringing the total number of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients in the 2018 competition to about 4,000.

From Crescenta Valley High School: Miranda Li, probable career field is medical research; Su A. Lee, probable career field is undecided; Francisco n. Ramos, probably career field is psychology.

From Flintridge Preparatory School: Catherine V. Turner, probable career field is law, Suha Ghang, probable career field is social science.

From Clark Magnet High School: Lilit l. Krkasharian, probable career field is neuroscience.

La Cañada High School: Arjun Aron, probable career field is medicine; Harrison B. Min, probable career field is medicine.

Sunland Woman’s Club Presents Awards
On June 5, Leone Rossle and Marina Gollas, graduates of Verdugo Hills High School, each received $1,000 scholarships from the Sunland Woman`s Club presented by Linda McCollum, out-going director of Philanthropy, and Sheila Feuchtinger, the incoming director of Philanthropy. These scholarships are given annually to students in the Crescenta Valley school district who plan to attend either college or a trade school. Any student interested in these scholarships for next year should check with their school’s counseling office.

Realtors Charitable Foundation Donates $10,000 in College Scholarships

On May 11, the Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors Charitable Foundation hosted its annual scholarship presentation.

Scholarships were awarded to 10 financially deserving and local college bound students. In attendance were the scholarship recipients and their families, along with the Charitable Foundation board.

At an emotionally charged afternoon, family members watched as each award recipient was presented with a $1,000 check to help cover their upcoming educational costs.

“One of the most important donations of the Foundation is to graduating seniors from our 10 public high schools,” said Ruth McNevin, scholarship chair. “Our goal is to help further the education of our most talented and needy students. The students are our future. They are a dedicated and dynamic group that amaze us with their drive, determination and accomplishments.”

This year’s scholarship winners include Ani Boodaghian (Clark Magnet School), an aspiring physician and COPE Health Scholar at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center; National Society of Scholars’ nominee Brooklin Louise Lakin (Crescenta Valley High School) who boasts a 4.14 GPA and who dreams of becoming a nurse, which stems from her brother’s brain surgery; Juno Stilley (San Marino High School), whose father’s medical diagnosis fueled her academic success; and Alena DeVaughn (Marshall Fundamental High School), whose family prides itself on generations of community service dating back to the Civil Rights Movement.

Scholarships were also presented to Taicyanna Butler (John Muir High School), Katlin Hermosillo (Blair High School), Lauren Ho (Verdugo Hills High School), Sara Shoar (La Cañada High School), Lauren Tan (South Pasadena High School) and Zelmya Taylor (Pasadena High School).
This year, as in the past, the scholarship board received a competitive pool of applicants.

“Our Scholarship Committee was challenged to select 10 students from a group of almost 50 applications,” said Ruth McNevin. “Each one is truly worthy of our award,”

The Scholarship board is composed of Foundation directors Deno Kidde, Sid Karsh, Terry Shelton and Scholarship Chair Ruth McNevin.

Scholarship selection was based on school location, financial need, academic achievement and community service and involvement.

PFARCF has distributed over $1 million to local charities and the pursuit of higher education. The Charitable Foundation’s first charity fundraiser of the year kicks-off the summer on Thursday, June 21 with its Annual Charity Wine Tasting & Auction Event, followed by the food-filled Taste of Old Pasadena on Sept. 11.

To learn more, including donating to PFAR’s Charitable Foundation scholarship and fundraisers, visit pfarcf.org