Celebrating Scholarly Victories

Eight fifth-graders from O’Melveny Elementary School in San Fernando who were chosen for a special scholarship program attended an awards dinner recently at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.

The honorees--Juan Castro, Angela Cedillo, Rigoberto Delgadillo Jr., Elizabeth Escalante, Karla Malagon, Rosanna Perez, Lizette Ramos and Bryan Torres--joined eight 12th-graders who received the first installments of their $16,000 scholarships provided by the O’Melveny & Myers law firm that will go toward their college expenses.

The prestigious downtown law firm established the program in 1991 to encourage disadvantaged students to stay in school and aim for college. The firm hands out the monetary awards every spring to those participants whose academic records make them eligibile to enroll in the California State College system.

The law firm belongs to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s “Adopt-a-School” program, in which businesses offer financial assistance, equipment and mentors to needy schools.

“We think it’s important for our community that these terrific young resources get the chance to achieve all that they can,” said O’Melveny attorney Gordon Krischer.”

KUDOS

High Marks: Retired French teacher Mary Carpenter recently received Viewpoint School’s annual Alumni Award, the Calabasas school’s highest alumni association honor. The Encino resident, who retired in 1986, helped found the school in 1961 and served as director of admissions.

Top Chefs: Two Monroe High School culinary arts students served up winning dishes at the fifth annual Careers Through Culinary Arts Program competition held recently at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. Sherri Richardson and Maria Perez, both seniors at the North Hills school, were among 30 student chefs who whipped up poached chicken breasts in chive sauce, “turned” vegetables, and crepes in chocolate sauce. Maria’s creations earned her a $32,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Los Angeles in Santa Monica; Sherri walked away with a $15,000 bakery scholarship from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

Green Power: Fourteen students from seven local public and private schools received top honors in the recent Department of Water and Power’s “Green Power for a Green Los Angeles” poster contest. Young artists from Pinewood Avenue Elementary School in Tujunga, Woodcrest School in Tarzana, Calvert Street Elementary School in Woodland Hills, Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth, El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley and North Hollywood High School were among 425 participants from kindergarten through 12th grade who submitted entries in the citywide contest. The students created posters depicting renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and geothermal power.

The winners received U.S. Savings Bonds ranging from $2,000 for first-place/high school level to $250 for honorable mention.

END NOTES

Sports enthusiasts ages 14 and older are invited to sign up for Pierce College’s summer recreation program. Weight-lifting, volleyball, badminton and basketball are among the activities offered at the Woodland Hills campus through Aug. 14. The cost is $1 to $2 per session. For additional information, call (818) 719-6425.