5 Students Win Coad Scholarships

Five local students have been awarded Dr. Cynthia Coad Scholarships totaling $6,000 from the Anaheim Independencia Community Center Board of Directors.

Coad, 63, a board member, founded the scholarship program in 1992 with her husband, Thomas. The only requirement was that the candidates volunteer to help residents of the Latino community known as La Colonia/Independencia and are pursuing college, university or vocational school education.

Recipients can be as young as sixth-graders, and the program is open to students of all races and religions, Coad said.

The students’ volunteer efforts have included tutoring, caring for the sick, gardening, helping with summer recreational programs and distributing food to the needy, Coad said.

“As a result, we have a lot of young people who are helping in the community, and they’re very good role models,” said Coad, an Anaheim resident and retired Cypress College instructor.

This year’s scholarship winners, who received awards ranging from $1,000 to $1,500, are all Anaheim residents:

* Sophia Garcia, 19, a Cypress College student.

* Daniella Lopez, 18, who will graduate from Rosary High School next year.

* Darlene Ornelas, 19, a student at ConCorde Career Institute.

* Jackeline Paz, 34, a Cypress College student.

* Carmela Sotelo, 19, a Cypress College student.

Coad, 63, who has been a volunteer in the La Colonia/Independencia community for 24 years, said there have been 27 scholarship recipients since 1992. The recipients have received $21,200 over the years.