2015 RESDC Scholarship Award Recipients
Alicia Huerta, sponsored by Rita Holleran. Alicia graduated from Otay Ranch High School, Chula Vista, CA, with a 4.45 GPA; ranked 10 of 620. In her applicant’s statement Alicia says: “I genuinely enjoy helping people. I always have, and I’m certain I always will. Throughout my four years of high school, I have dedicated 300+ hours to several community organizations, including VFW, Urban Surf 4 Kids, and The Glenner Memory Care Center. The vast majority of my hours come from The Glenner Center, which serves as a care center for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. My involvement in this organization has allowed me to make a difference by helping families and their loved ones, while also teaching me necessary skills to pursue my future academic goals. I thoroughly enjoy bringing happiness into someone else’s day, even if it is simply through small actions. This has influenced my future goals, because I would like to pursue a career in medicine, and then join the Peace Corps, where I can continue making a positive impact on the people around me.” Alicia’s cross country and track coach for four years, reflects on her positive character traits, “Alicia has exhibited great moral character as a member of our team while working very hard to become one of the top echelon runners in San Diego, by earning First Team All-Mesa League honors and Second Team Division One San Diego CIF honors in cross country and being selected our Most Valuable Runner as a senior. She has also excelled in the academic realm.”
Ryan Murphy, sponsored by Cathleen Murphy. Ryan graduated from Veritas Press Scholars Academy, Murrieta, CA, with a 4.86 GPA; (school does not rank). In her applicant’s statement Ryan Kelly says: “Because of my exposure to various volunteer and extracurricular opportunities, I have identified where my passions lie, sharpened my character, and developed a heart to serve others. In my freshman year, I participated on the Coed Varsity Golf team and lettered at the end of the season. While physical sport has been important, mental sport has as well. This past year, I was honored to become National Champion in Apologetics Speaking and rank third in the nation overall for speech and debate in the league. When my brain isn’t racing at full speed, I love the soothing experience of playing piano. Recently, I began my own private piano studio, instructing students in the disciplines of piano performance, theory and technique. I will be pursuing a major in Political Economics when I attend college this fall, in the hopes of furthering my goal toward becoming a State Senator myself.” As stated by one of her teachers, “Ryan is intelligent, well spoken, interested in others, honest, and good with people. Ryan is an accomplished, bright, go-getter! As evidenced by her resume, she has a deep sense of integrity and “put your values into action” attitude; she cares world around her and the people in it.”
Haley Pettit, sponsored by Martha Webber Dix. Haley graduated from Vista High School, Vista, CA, with a 4.80 GPA; ranked 13 of 569. In her applicant’s statement Haley says: “Be the change you wish to see in the world. These words are the basis of my high school’s Character Leaders Program, and I have been an active member for the past four years. Through this program, I have been taught to lead a life where I promote the six pillars of character, Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship, and I have been inspired to exemplify these traits within myself and beyond. I have been a member of Girl Scout Troop 4477 for 13 years where I have earned the Bronze and Silver Awards by being recognized for my work done in convalescent hospitals and the sewing of pillowcases for sick children in the hospital. With high school coming to an end, I now see that all I have accomplished for the benefit of the community and myself has transformed me into someone who wishes to have an impact on the world as a whole. I am lucky to have been taught to embody these positive traits as such a young person, and I strive to grow even more as life progresses.” As stated by her Character Leaders teacher, “Haley is an ideal student and citizen of our school, community, nation and world. She models exceptional character leadership by example on and off campus. She loves to learn, actively seeks mean-ingful growth experiences, challenges herself so she can grow, and is one of the very top students at our school.”
Kalani Prokop, sponsored by Maria Arroyo. Kalani graduated from Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego, CA, with a 2.87 GPA; (School does not rank.) In her applicant’s statement Kalani says, “I have struggled to overcome my difficult beginning and learning deficiencies. I have learned that I am resilient and a survivor. Guided by my past experiences, I have been committed to community service since I was very young. As a Brownie Girl Scout, I led fundraisers for a friend who was paralyzed in a car accident. I had the whole community recycling and holding yard sales for ‘Help Patrick Walk.’ I was awarded the Copley Leadership Award as a Brownie Girl Scout for Outstanding Community Service. In ninth grade I created a program called Cyber Seniors at the Ramona Senior Center to teach sen- ior citizens basic computer skills, and the use of email and Facebook. I set up a computer lab and held classes during summers and school breaks. During the past three years, I have helped over 100 senior citizens to become computer literate. I also prepared a binder of my project which I shared with leaders of the senior centers in Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and Mira Mesa to help them start Cyber Senior programs. Because of my project, the San Diego-Imperial Girl Scout Council, in cooperation with local Kiwanis groups, will be training older Girl Scouts to teach computer skills to senior citizens in San Diego County. I will be the featured speaker at these clas- ses. I was awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting for this long term community service project.” One of Kalani’s references at the Ramona Senior Center writes, “Kalani came to teach and she taught people much older than her. Her knowledge, patience and attitude “came shining through;” great job. She has set her goal of being a Special Ed Teacher; she will be the best in her chosen field. She knows what she wants and will get it done.”
Madeline Tucker, sponsored by Ellie Cansicio. Madeline graduated from Bonita High School, Chula Vista, CA with a 4.42 GPA; ranked 18 of 535. In her applicant’s statement Madeline says: “For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to protect our environment, I have always loved nature, and when it came to decide what I wanted to study in college, it was no question to me that I wanted to dedicate my life and career to environmental preservation. Throughout high school, I have kept up a high GPA, participated in several clubs, played two varsity sports, volunteered over 300 hours, and I am currently in the process of earning my international Baccalaureate diploma.” As stated by her International Baccalaureate History class teacher, “Madeline is very interested in environmental issues. She wants to make a positive impact in the younger generation and work with them as a bridge with major corporations to figure out a way to positively impact the environment. She is a self-proclaimed “tree-hugger” that is focused on studying environmental policy.” Her Girl Scout Leader says, “I have known Madeline since fifth grade; she has been a Girl Scout since. She had been a girl scout while her family was stationed abroad, and when she moved to San Diego she wanted to stay in girl scouting and she joined us. She brought some very special qualities to our troop, she is passionate, organized and determined.”
This year’s $250 “LaRue Pierce Community Service Award” was presented to Kalani T. Prokop, in recognition of her “outstanding volunteer community service,” she is also a recipient of one of the five $2,000 scholarships. This award was established in 2014, honoring the memory of LaRue Pierce, RESDC Director and Scholarship Chair during the first 18 years of RESDC’s Scholarship Program, and her spirit of community service.
THEO AND EVELYN YAKEL 2015 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Congratulations to the five recipients of the Theo and Evelyn Yakel Scholarships for 2015! Each scholarship award is for $1,000. The following are the five scholarship recipients:
Liam Augustyn, sponsored by his grandfather, Joseph Bukovchik.
Arathi Kumar, sponsored by her grandmother, Sridevi Jagannathan.
Olivia Miller, sponsored by her grandfather, John L. Miller.
Ryan Murphy, sponsored by her grandmother, Cathleen Murphy.
Kalani Prokop, sponsored by her mother, Maria Arroyo.