Latino Kids, Educators Honored

The accomplishments of five educators, the dreams of 17 young scholars and a watershed moment for the local Latino community were all celebrated Friday night as the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund hosted its annual awards banquet.

The fifth annual Apple of Gold Awards recognized the achievements of five Orange County educators who have reached out to their students in remarkable ways, from helping at-risk youngsters find paths to better lives through school to breathing life into lessons through the use of dance and enriching field trips.

“I try to use anything I can to inspire hope and enthusiasm,” said John Licitra, an instructor at Irvine Valley College who was among those honored. “Humor, calling the home, sharing my past and how I overcame things. Anything that works.”

The other educators honored during the ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine were Linda Aguirre of South Junior High in Anaheim; Victoria Groskruetz, TeWinkle Middle School, Costa Mesa; Manuel Hernandez, Valley High, Santa Ana; and Gerald Padilla, Fullerton College.

The fund-raising event also was significant for the Latino community of Orange County because the $300,000 raised by the sellout crowd put the 5-year-old scholarship fund over the top in meeting its long-standing goal of establishing a $1-million endowment.

The milestone was attained through steady fund-raising that began with $100,000 from the local Latino community. Since then, major corporate sponsors have joined in the effort, including Miller Brewing Co., Southern California Edison, Walt Disney Co., McDonald’s Corp. and the Times Mirror Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the corporation that publishes the Los Angeles Times and the Times Orange County Edition.

The $1 million is expected to generate $50,000 a year for scholarships, said Judith Swayne, executive director of the Orange County Community Foundation, which helps administer the fund.

“It’s about helping Latino kids and giving them a chance to succeed,” said Frank J. Quevedo, vice president of Southern California Edison. “But it’s also about all communities working together to support young people who have a dream.”

The 1998 HEEF scholars are Susana L. Carrillo of Valley High School in Santa Ana; Armando M. Cervantes, Brea Olinda High, Brea; Bernadette M. Corona, Laguna Hills High; Jesus R. Duran, Rancho Alamitos High, Garden Grove; Mike Giron, Los Amigos High, Fountain Valley; Maria I. Leano, Rosary High, Fullerton; Patricia M. Ledezma, Edison High, Huntington Beach; Nina T. Mendoza, La Quinta High, Westminster; Maria E. Palomino and Karina Sanchez, Magnolia High, Anaheim; Brianne M. Pergola, Buena Park High; Myrna M. Ramirez, Estancia High, Costa Mesa; Rudy C. Rodriguez, Kennedy High, La Palma; Ryan A. Ruelas and Guillermo M. Vargas, Katella High, Anaheim; Anabel Salgado, Ocean View High, Huntington Beach; and Lisette L. Villacres, Esperanza High, Anaheim.