If it takes a village to raise a child, this town takes the maxim a step further. An estimated $283,000 in scholarships was bestowed on 120 students at the high school’s Honors Convocation last Friday, supporting their aspirations for college and the future.
Thanks to the Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Foundation, which maintains relationships with existing donors and cultivates new ones, the scholarships are as diverse as they are plentiful. Donated in honor of the living as well as the departed, or in the spirit of an organization’s or a family’s guiding principles, they go to recipients for various reasons: choice of school, career or sport; love for arts, humor or volunteerism; abstinence from alcohol or leadership.
In all, this year’s tally came to 123, including three new scholarships.
The OC Youth Sports Foundation added the Paul Salata Award and an LBHS grad, Katherine McMahon, grabbed the inaugural award, given to a student as dedicated to their community as to their sport. The very specific “Bound for Berkeley” scholarship was created to honor a Laguna father of three, Paul Wollam, who died in 2011, for Berkeley-bound student who embraces the “aloha spirit” of helping others. And the Luby Family Musical Theatre scholarship provided two $1,000 scholarships to students who plan to pursue musical theatre in college. It honors James Luby, a recent graduate and high school actor now attending UCLA.
“It’s the heart of Laguna that I see manifested here tonight,” said district superintendent Sherine Smith, addressing donors at an al fresco dinner on the quad. “Not only are you investing in students, but also in our community and our country,” she added.
Two alumni and past scholarship recipients echoed that sentiment. John Hornbeak, class of ’99, described a trajectory that led him to Stanford and Oxford degrees, a product launch and his current job in stock research. Through it all, he said, he was bolstered by the sense of community back home “that doesn’t change.”
“This is where it all started,” agreed Annika Dries, an ’09 graduate and current member of the U.S. Olympic water polo team bound for London. “Belief in yourself is the biggest tool for success,” she said, and that’s what she absorbed from home. “I had everyone rooting for me here – family, friends, teachers and coaches.”
A water polo tournament in Russia precluded Dries from attending her own honors convocation, where she was awarded five scholarships, including a water polo scholarship from the Masson Foundation. That award was to encourage polo players to stay in the game in college, said founder Melinda Masson.
Dries led Stanford University to the 2011 NCAA national championship where she was named the tournament’s MVP before taking this last year off to train for the Olympic games. She’ll return to Stanford in the fall and has set her sights on medical school.
Masson’s graduating daughter Melena will also attend Stanford and join its water polo team.
The pre-convocation donor reception served as a send-off for retiring high school assistant principal Gretchen Ernsdorf and the legendary Jeannie Harrell, the scholarship and community service coordinator.
Ernsdorf, a 29-year district employee, said students “make every day an adventure.” She said she strived to heed her father’s advice to “make a difference.”
Harrell, whose husband is an LBHS grad and who raised two sons here, joined the district 18 years ago. She barely managed to contain tears as she spoke. “Our kids come from a very special place,” she said. Describing the impact of her job supervising scholarship awards, she added, “I never could have imagined the joy and pride this has given me.”
The night’s most poignant moment went to Celestina De Leon, who received the $15,400 Linda and Joseph Leighton Memorial Scholarship, offered for the first time as a renewable award for four years. Daughter Lisa Leighton said her mother wanted to open doors for kids who lacked resources. Her son, Nicolas, a graduating senior, presented the scholarship to his own classmate, who, he said, had overcome a number of obstacles and “inspired us all.”
Celestina earned recognition by the school board for representing students with disabilities at a youth leadership forum last year. She will be the first generation in her family to attend college.
“I was in shock,” said Celestina, describing the moment the scholarship was announced. The sum should cover half the tuition at the University of Arizona, she figures. She also received the “Dream for the Future” scholarship and the April and Daphne Crevier Memorial Scholarships.
Leighton hopes other Laguna families step up and offer similar scholarships to “change someone’s life.”
And the winners are: |
||
“Ace Award” Accepting the Challenge of Excellence | 500 | |
Melanie Arteaga | ||
‘A Dream for the Future’ Scholarship | 9900 | |
April Carlson | ||
Celestina De Leon | ||
Juliana Ferguson | ||
Evan Kirkbride | ||
Nicolas Leighton | ||
Joshua Simkin | ||
AAUW, Laguna Beach Branch Scholarship | 2100 | |
Teagan Barnes | ||
Laura Kawashiri | ||
Lauren Montgomery | ||
Allen Bell Memorial Scholarship Fund | 500 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
April Carlson | ||
American Legion Post 222 Citizenship Award | 400 | |
Bryce Blanton | ||
Caroline Cannan | ||
Frances Naude | ||
Macklin Thornton | ||
Anna Mary Beck Business Administration Scholarship | 4950 | |
Stephanie Alonso Avalos | ||
Calvin Garmshausen | ||
Austin Loomis | ||
Adam Redding-Kaufman | ||
Harrison Williams | ||
April Crevier and Daphne Crevier Memorial Scholarships | 2000 | |
Savanna Danford | ||
Celestina De Leon | ||
Arthur B. Harward Memorial Scholarship | 2450 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
Assistance League of Laguna Beach Scholarship | 2000 | |
Ashley Andrews | ||
Melanie Arteaga | ||
AYSO, Region 86, Laguna Beach Scholarship | 1500 | |
Paul Noppenberger | ||
Torrie Ornelas | ||
Barbara Diamond Excellence in Journalism Award | 450 | |
Alexandra Menkes | ||
Barbara Laird ROP Memorial Scholarship | 300 | |
Melanie Arteaga | ||
Bill O’Brien, Class of ’57, Memorial Scholarship | 1150 | |
Natasha Strickland | ||
Bonnie S. Lang Memorial Scholarship | 300 | |
Taylor Kahn | ||
Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach Scholarship – Main Branch | 500 | |
Diana Necula | ||
Brandon Balsiger – Post Memorial Scholarship | 3000 | |
Lucas Barker | ||
Brianna Mayer | ||
Camron Blackburn Memorial Scholarship | 4000 | |
Lauren Michaels | ||
Carmelita Nava Softball Award | 500 | |
Carissa Collins | ||
Charlotte W. Munro Scholarship | 1000 | |
Elan Kramer | ||
Lauren Montgomery | ||
Christian Abel Memorial Scholarship | 2000 | |
Christa Chastain | ||
Katelyn Walsh | ||
Christian Service Award | 1000 | |
Bryce Blanton | ||
Timothy Peterson | ||
Macklin Thornton | ||
Harrison Williams | ||
Citizens Business Bank Scholarship | 1250 | |
Brianna Mayer | ||
NIkolette Miller | ||
Claes Andersen Hospitality Scholarship Fund | 1000 | |
Claire Jaeger | ||
CLARK Family Scholarship | 500 | |
Joshua Simkin | ||
Community Learning Center Scholarship | 1000 | |
Savannah Graf | ||
Courtney Kelley Cohen Memorial Scholarship | 1500 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
CSEA, California School Employees Association, Laguna Beach Chapter #131 Scholarship | 1500 | |
Yoshiye Andersen | ||
Cheyenne Holt | ||
Nolan McConnell | ||
Dallas and Les Billinger Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Bryce Blanton | ||
Daughters of the American Revolution Award(s) | 500 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
Dave and Jo Long Scholarship | 2000 | |
Shelby Jensen | ||
Lauren Montgomery | ||
David and Betsy Paul Memorial Acting Scholarship | 550 | |
Jackson Tupy | ||
Diane Alpert “I Love Laguna” Scholarship | 250 | |
NIkolette Miller | ||
Dick Metz Surf Foundation Scholarship | 1000 | |
Lauren Montgomery | ||
Don Kucera Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Elan Kramer | ||
Don Nichols Scholarship(s) | 12000 | |
Teagan Barnes | ||
Teresa Hung | ||
Laura Kawashiri | ||
Brianna Mayer | ||
Avrie Romanow | ||
Katelyn Walsh | ||
Dr. Steven and Mrs. Lor Speach Community College Scholarship | 3000 | |
Melanie Arteaga | ||
Beau Bourne | ||
Enrique Delatorre | ||
Nayele Espiritu | ||
Shelby Jensen | ||
Curtis Nichols | ||
Dr. William White Memorial Scholarship | 1000 | |
George Sadler | ||
Driven to the Max Award | 4000 | |
Erik Henrikson | ||
Caroline Holte | ||
Lauren Michaels | ||
Thomas Renner | ||
Earl Family Scholarship | 1000 | |
Alexandra Menkes | ||
Ebell Club Scholarship(s) | 4000 | |
Caroline Cannan | ||
Vesta Goshtasbi | ||
Caroline Holte | ||
Macklin Thornton | ||
Eric Abernathy Memorial Scholarship | 700 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
Exchange Club Youth of the Year Award | 1000 | |
Cassandra Castro | ||
Paul Noppenberger | ||
Festival of Arts Scholarship – Film | 1000 | |
Ryan Cavanaugh | ||
Festival of Arts Scholarship – Performing Arts | 18000 | |
Sarah Busic | ||
Elizabeth Davis | ||
Alex Hunt | ||
Elan Kramer | ||
Nicolas Leighton | ||
Frances Naude | ||
Laura Otsu | ||
Macarena Rivera | ||
Lily Rogers | ||
Samuel Thornton | ||
Jackson Tupy | ||
Festival of Arts Scholarship – Visual Arts | 3800 | |
Evan Rubel | ||
Jackson Yamasaki | ||
Festival of Arts Scholarship – Writing | 2000 | |
Natalie Redwitz | ||
First Team Estates Scholarship | 1000 | |
Laura Kawashiri | ||
Foundation Scholarship | 1000 | |
Noelle Martinez | ||
Fred Pratley Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Erik Henrikson | ||
French Foreign Language Achievement Award | 1600 | |
Mariana Acevedo-Mesa | ||
Stephanie Alonso Avalos | ||
Lucas Barker | ||
Moriah Berger | ||
Ryan Cavanaugh | ||
Paula Gogatz | ||
Selina Lambert | ||
Diana Necula | ||
Laura Otsu | ||
Lily Rogers | ||
Friends of Laguna Library Scholarship | 1000 | |
Marley Donenfeld | ||
Gerald A. Dennis Scholarship | 500 | |
Teresa Hung | ||
Noelle Martinez | ||
Gerald A. Neumann Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Conor Ross | ||
Grapes for Grads Scholarship | 8000 | |
Caroline Cannan | ||
Hannah Jonus | ||
Katherine McMahon | ||
Macklin Thornton | ||
Heather Brobeck Memorial Scholarship | 2000 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
Bryce Blanton | ||
Helen F. & Alan E. Adams Memorial Scholarship | 5500 | |
Christa Chastain | ||
Laura Kawashiri | ||
Amanda Mccrory | ||
NIkolette Miller | ||
James Patrick Vincent and Marian Pickens Fagan Scholarship Fund | 9850 | |
Mariana Acevedo-Mesa | ||
Teresa Hung | ||
Jennifer Lynn Bammer Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Yaretsi Mendoza | ||
Jerome Karp Scholarship | 500 | |
Kailani Bonin | ||
Jessica Wagner Memorial Scholarship | 2300 | |
Brianna Mayer | ||
Joe Thurston Scholarship Fund | 17400 | |
Stephanie Alonso Avalos | ||
Tori Barnes | ||
Katharine Barton | ||
Moriah Berger | ||
Kylie Boyd | ||
Cassandra Castro | ||
Chase Cornell | ||
Shasta Delgado | ||
Calvin Garmshausen | ||
Leanne Huynh | ||
Belinda Hyland | ||
Taylor Kahn | ||
Benjamin Kahn | ||
Rachele Killian | ||
Nicholas Kinsman | ||
Natalia Larek | ||
Austin Loomis | ||
Natalie Lopez | ||
Camille Lopez | ||
Paul Mauntel | ||
Maddison Montes | ||
Savannah Nielson | ||
Magali Ramirez | ||
Myriah Reynolds | ||
Sebastian Roger | ||
Brianna Rubow | ||
Cayla Schaller | ||
Alexander Shapero | ||
Lucas Stevens | ||
Nina Thornton | ||
Taylor Weiss | ||
Harrison Williams | ||
Joey Masella Scholarship | 500 | |
Bryce Blanton | ||
Juan Castano Memorial Scholarship | 850 | |
April Carlson | ||
Torrie Ornelas | ||
Kea Simon Medical Scholarship | 2000 | |
Tara Ronson | ||
Keith Childers Memorial Scholarship | 1200 | |
Nicholas Austin | ||
Kenneth G. Beyer Memorial Scholarship | 1050 | |
Vesta Goshtasbi | ||
Kiwanis: H. Lee Burton Memorial Scholarship | 275 | |
Savannah Graf | ||
Laguna Beach Business Club Entrepreneurial Scholarship | 1000 | |
Bailey Romatoski | ||
Laguna Beach Garden Club Scholarship | 1500 | |
Yaretsi Mendoza | ||
Laguna Beach Live! Scholarship | 500 | |
Elan Kramer | ||
Laguna Beach Unified Faculty Association Scholarship | 750 | |
Caroline Cannan | ||
Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates | 1500 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
Katelyn Walsh | ||
Laguna Greenbelt Inc. Scholarship | 1500 | |
Juliana Ferguson | ||
LBHS Alumni Scholarship | 6000 | |
Ashley Andrews | ||
April Carlson | ||
Greg Farnes | ||
Evan Kirkbride | ||
Marisa Merchant | ||
Conor Ross | ||
LBHS Athletic Boosters Scholarship Award | 4000 | |
Marley Donenfeld | ||
Marina Paul | ||
Thomas Renner | ||
Kevin Ulibarri | ||
LBHS Class of 1998 Scholarship | 500 | |
Melanie Arteaga | ||
LBHS Faculty La Vern Dugger Memorial Scholarship | 1000 | |
Caroline Cannan | ||
Caroline Holte | ||
LBHS Performing Arts Booster Scholarship | 8750 | |
Sarah Busic | ||
Elizabeth Davis | ||
Alex Hunt | ||
Elan Kramer | ||
Nicolas Leighton | ||
Natalie Redwitz | ||
Macarena Rivera | ||
Lily Rogers | ||
Conor Ross | ||
Jackson Tupy | ||
Les Chatham Memorial Award, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5868 | 200 | |
Marley Donenfeld | ||
Belinda Hyland | ||
Linda and Joseph Leighton Memorial Scholarship | 15800 | |
Celestina De Leon | ||
Linda Fortune Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Caroline Holte | ||
Luby Family Musical Theater Scholarship | 2000 | |
Elizabeth Davis | ||
Nicolas Leighton | ||
MacGillivray/Freeman Film Award(s) | 2000 | |
Sarah Busic | ||
Elan Kramer | ||
Margaret Louise Cox Memorial Scholarship | 550 | |
Macarena Rivera | ||
Marge Swanson Mission Hospital Laguna Beach Award | 8000 | |
Vesta Goshtasbi | ||
Hannah Jonus | ||
Laura Otsu | ||
Natasha Strickland | ||
Mark Tiner Memorial Scholarship | 1000 | |
Timothy Peterson | ||
Mark Tiner Memorial Spirit Award | 1000 | |
Wyatt Kirkland | ||
Marshall Klapman Memorial Scholarship | 2000 | |
Caroline Cannan | ||
Katherine McMahon | ||
Masson Foundation Water Polo Scholarship | 20000 | |
Yoshiye Andersen | ||
Erik Henrikson | ||
Nolan McConnell | ||
Thomas Renner | ||
Matthew Reedy Memorial Scholarship | 1000 | |
Gordon Belyea | ||
McPhisto Society Award | 175 | |
Alex Hunt | ||
Melvin J. Tonkon MD Medical Scholarship | 4000 | |
Hannah Jonus | ||
MUN Rome Friesen Scholarship | 500 | |
Adam Redding-Kaufman | ||
Macklin Thornton | ||
Harrison Williams | ||
Myrna Heitel Music Scholarship | 1000 | |
Elan Kramer | ||
Noelle Martinez | ||
National Charity League, Laguna Chapter Scholarship | 1500 | |
Katherine McMahon | ||
Naude Family ‘Clean Ocean’ Scholarship | 2000 | |
Dane Doran | ||
Juliana Ferguson | ||
No Square Scholarship | 1000 | |
Elan Kramer | ||
OC Youth Sports Foundation | 2500 | |
Katherine McMahon | ||
Olga Tursini Torriero Linguistics Award | 1000 | |
Lily Rogers | ||
Patricia Neill Kidd Memorial Scholarship | 400 | |
Christa Chastain | ||
Paul Wollam Scholarship | 1000 | |
Macklin Thornton | ||
Red Guyer Athletic Scholarship | 500 | |
Nolan McConnell | ||
Robert C. and Lillian N. DuSoe Scholarship, Music | 3500 | |
Elan Kramer | ||
Samuel Thornton | ||
ROP Distinguished Student Award | 275 | |
Laura Otsu | ||
Rotary – Harry Bithell “Service Above Self” Award | 5000 | |
Marcella Bechtel | ||
Thomas Renner | ||
Conor Ross | ||
Rotary – Robert Kellogg Eagle Scout Memorial Scholarship | 500 | |
Timothy Peterson | ||
Rotary – Student of the Month | 3600 | |
Kailani Bonin | ||
Evan Kirkbride | ||
Elan Kramer | ||
Nicolas Leighton | ||
Allison Palmer | ||
Marina Paul | ||
Derek Reigel | ||
Macklin Thornton | ||
Jackson Tupy | ||
Rotary Club of Laguna Beach Service Award | 7000 | |
Victoria (Tory) Lynde | ||
Noelle Martinez | ||
Alexandra Menkes | ||
Natasha Strickland | ||
Sawdust Visual Arts Scholarship(s) | 3000 | |
Savanna Danford | ||
Schools First Federal Credit Union Scholarship | 500 | |
Lauren Montgomery | ||
Skipper Carrillo Scholarship | 550 | |
Mollie Khachadoorian | ||
Soroptimist International of Laguna Beach – Alberta Patterson Scholarship | 2000 | |
Caroline Cannan | ||
Lauren Montgomery | ||
Soroptimist International of Laguna Beach – Special Achievement Awards | 5000 | |
Savanna Danford | ||
Savannah Eisert | ||
Selina Lambert | ||
Brianna Mayer | ||
Alexandra Menkes | ||
South Laguna Civic Association Scholarship | 1000 | |
Evan Kirkbride | ||
The TLC Branch of Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach | 500 | |
April Carlson | ||
TOW/El MORRO Red Ribbon Scholarship | 1400 | |
Madeline Brian | ||
Belinda Hyland | ||
Village Laguna Annual Scholarship | 1000 | |
Juliana Ferguson | ||
Walt Lawson Student Service Challenge Scholarship | 550 | |
Victoria (Tory) Lynde | ||
Warren B. Blossom Memorial Golf Scholarship | 550 | |
Vivian Mendoza | ||
Timothy Peterson | ||
Weaver Family Scholarship | 4500 | |
Yoshiye Andersen | ||
William R. Stapleton Memorial Scholarship | 1000 | |
Vivian Mendoza | ||
Winston and Dorothy Updegraff Memorial Scholarship | 250 | |
Alexandra Menkes | ||
Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach Scholarship | 500 | |
Natasha Strickland | ||