12 Area Students to Receive Scholarships

The San Fernando Valley Youth Foundation will distribute $12,000 in scholarships to Valley students involved in volunteer work.

Twelve students, most from the northeast Valley, will each receive $1,000 toward the upcoming school year at an awards dinner tonight, planners said.

The dinner, open to the public, will raise money for the scholarship fund and feature traditional Latino music. Organizers said City Councilman Richard Alarcon and Assemblyman Tony Cardenas will present certificates of appreciation to the students from the city and state.

Maria Concepcion “Concha” Duenas, 19, received a foundation scholarship last summer before her first semester at Mount St. Mary’s College. A sophomore this fall, Duenas is among this year’s recipients as well.

The scholarship is renewable for each year in college, as long as students maintain their grades and continue volunteer work.

Duenas--a premed student, biology major and Spanish literature minor--said the money helped her buy textbooks last year.

“It covered all my materials for school,” she said. “Most of my books are like $80 or $90.”

Parishioners and clergy at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church in San Fernando founded the scholarship fund in 1973 to help students overcome financial barriers to higher education.

Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $200,000 based on the financial need, community service and academic achievement of applicants, said Andy Wier, a foundation board member.

The awards ceremony and dinner tonight will begin at 6 p.m. at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, 1109 Coronel St., San Fernando. Tickets are $15 at the door.