Times Fund Awards 200 Grants-in-Aid

The Los Angeles Times Fund has awarded $100,000 in educational grants-in-aid to 200 graduating high school seniors in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The $500 grants will help the students continue their education in the fall, at trade or technical schools, colleges or universities.

The Times Fund is the charitable arm of the Los Angeles Times, and its goal is to benefit needy youth. Since 1967, the grants-in-aid program has provided grants to students who have been designated by school teachers or counselors as having high potential for academic success, but whose high school grade point average is 2.9 or lower. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than 6,400 grants totaling $2.5 million.

“The grants-in-aid program provides more than monetary assistance to underprivileged students. It gives them support and encouragement to pursue their dreams of higher education,” said David Laventhol, publisher and chief executive officer of The Times and president of the Times Fund.

“These young people are the future of Southern California. The Times is proud to help them develop their potential as productive, contributing members of their communities.”

The grants-in-aid program and other charitable Times Fund programs are supported by the proceeds from various Times-sponsored activities. Two upcoming events are AmericaFest, a July 4 fireworks extravaganza to be held at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and the 45th annual Times/Rams Charity Game on Aug. 17

The following students are grant recipients in the Los Angeles area this year:

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Banning--JoAnn Cervantes, Lourdes Espinoza Bell--Claudia Morales, Laura Rojo Belmont--Audrey Diaz, Henrietta Nofre Birmingham--Pedro Cotto Canoga Park--Marina H. Rojo Carson--Elena Padilla Central-So. Calif. Indian Center--Leigh D. Dempsey Chatsworth--Odessa Latrese Jenkins Cleveland--Carlos Vasquez Crenshaw--Bahutu O’Neal, Crystal Tisdale Dorsey--William Atkins, Tamara Houston Dorsey CIP--Carmelita Underwood Downtown Business Magnet--Nathelia Lofton Eagle Rock--Melissa Nicole Botting El Camino Real--Todd Costello Fairfax--Wanda LaTerrance Washington Franklin--Israel Martin, Joaquin Taura Fremont--Felicia Cunningham Gardena--Brandy Sue Lynn Gorley Garfield--Rosalba Lira, Josue Medel Granada Hills--Alva Michael George Grant--Marco Jovel Hamilton--LaKinta Roshall Griffin, Tremayne L. Stevenson Hollywood--Georgina Perez, Manuel Zambrano Huntington Park--Veronica Cardenas, J. Guadalupe Estrada Jefferson--Rogelio Casillas, Ana Mendez Jordan--Griselda Fernandez, Lakesha Townsend King/Drew Magnet--Fabiola Gonzalez Kennedy--Loan Nguyen Lincoln--Monique Terry Pantoja, Waiheng Soohoo Locke--James Glass, Aaron Nash Los Angeles--Otilia Hernandez, Ivin Johnson Manual Arts--Juan A. Cortez, Raynell J. Cross Marshall--Iliana Dinora Guevara, Bery Beatriz Valenzuela Monroe--Dennis Arevalo Narbonne--Tammie Hall North Hollywood--Marleny Licardie Palisades--Ingrid Marroquin Polytechnic--Asencion Barragan Pueblo De Los Angeles--Valerie Mendoza Ramona--Claudia I. Reyes Reseda--Deanna Brackett Will Rogers--Raishawn Henderson Roosevelt--Silvina De La Torre, Alma Gricelda Velasco San Fernando--Damacio Mendoza, Timothy Myles San Pedro--Ingrid J. Hernandez Sherman Oaks--Taminika Williams South Gate--Jose Cesena, Suzanne Cruz Sylmar--Floyd Heath Taft--Lavera Stevenson University--Jose A. Ruiz Van Nuys--Norma E. Guzman Venice--Alea Walker Verdugo Hills--Hector Rodriguez, Sara Torres View Park--Isidro Gutierrez Walt Whitman--Bobby Lamont Burgess Washington Preparatory--Tamura Lashawn Herbert, Janette Antoinette Jones Westchester--David Valdivia

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SCHOOLS Alhambra--Salvador A. Gutierrez Antelope Valley--Nichole Odom Artesia--Oscar Espinoza, Richard Tony Staggs Azusa--Blanca Carrillo Baldwin Park--Chaplin Espadas, Jerry Lee Sims Blair--David Real Bell Gardens--Monica Escobar, Joe Mendoza California--Nhay Soundara Centennial--Kjelli Brown Century--Lillian Nava Contract Ind. Studies, Montebello--Danny E. Guerrero, Viveca J. Verdugo Culver City--Kai Mau Chang Dominguez--Barbara A. White Duarte--Ernestiene Woodstock El Monte--Isela R. Reyes El Rancho--Joe Sepulveda, Karla Smith Gahr--Alicia Mari Martinez, Maria Quintanar Ganesha--Martha Ortiz Gladstone--Imelda Jimenez Glendale--Kham Nhien Do Glendora--Troy Land Hillcrest--Renee Butcher Inglewood--Sheruko Johnson La Serna--Dath Chansy Lynwood--Alejandro Sanchez Contreros, Tamica McFarland, Jose Eduardo Partida Montebello--Mildred Anguiano, Cecilia Carrillo, Abel Guzman, Robert A. Kimble, Elsa Luna, Anthony Ramirez Palmdale--Frena Harris Paramount--Alicia Escareno, Francisco Mireles Pasadena--Christine Crawford Quartz--Charlesetta Johnson San Gabriel Valley--Lihn (Linda) S. Trinh Schurr--Gabriela Veronica Somerset Continuation--Charles Stephens, Shawna Leigh Stoops South Hills--Christopher P. Straub Vail--Sandra Vazquez Whitcomb--Grace Stephanie Wilbur

LOS ANGELES PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS Bellarmine Jefferson--Michael Lazzaretto Bishop Amat--Michelle Haddox Bishop Montgomery--Lydia Borjorquez Cantwell--Guillermo Ortega, Enrique Robles Our Lady of Loretto-Bishop Conaty--Fressy Jeanina Loaiza Our Lady Queen of Angels--Ciriaco Pineda Pater Noster--John Field Sacred Heart--Sandra Mireles, Leticia Rivers Sacred Heart of Mary--Dora Dennise Casillas St. Bernard--Victor Esquivel St. Michaels--Veronica Marie Hill, Necole Newton St. Paul--Michele Medina Serra--Christopher Rogers

LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT David Starr Jordan--Van Nhor Lakewood--Timeka Lavenia Smith, Francisco Ulloa, Clarisa Dang Yabut Long Beach Polytechnic--David Travis Long Beach School For Adults--Marcus Jerome Fuller, Samitha Yamon Perry Millikan--Edwin Gonzalez, Saul Rincon, Jennifer Stoll