Stars Shine on Burbank Students

Renea Wilson, an incoming junior at Burbank High School, is one of seven San Fernando Valley students to receive the “Catch a Falling Star” achievement award, co-sponsored by the Burbank Noon Lions Club and the Burbank YMCA.

The award was developed four years ago to recognize at-risk Burbank area students working to improve their lives through education.

Students from each grade level at Burbank and John Burroughs high schools were selected by school counselors for the award, which includes a $50 savings bond and a three-month summer youth membership at the Burbank Family YMCA.

Other Burbank High recipients are graduating senior Christian Vasquez, junior Stephen Figueroa and freshman Jose Villavicencio. Burroughs High recipients are graduating senior Richard Espinoza, junior Jeffrey Salazar and sophomore Amy Ralston. No freshmen were selected from Burroughs this year.

For more information, call (818) 955-8018 or e-mail: Prjournalist_2m@yahoo.com.

KUDOS

Convention Ready: Jennifer Wallenstein, 16, returned recently from the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.

The Valley Glen resident and incoming junior at Campbell Hall School in North Hollywood was one of 350 high school students from across the country chosen to attend the 11-day conference that provides students an up-close look at the inner workings of our nation’s lawmakers.

Wallenstein was nominated by a Campbell Hall counselor to attend the prestigious conference, based on her leadership potential and scholarship achievement.

Besides touring key sites--including the Smithsonian Institution, Pentagon and Vietnam War Memorial--the highlight of Wallenstein’s trip was sitting in the chamber of the House of Representatives. “Not too many people get the opportunity to do that,” she said.

The students also role-played, arguing before the Supreme Court on the issue of prayer in public schools. “It was awesome,” she said. “It was really, really cool.”

Latino Scholars: Ten Valley high school students recently received $1,000 college scholarships from the Ronald McDonald House Charities/Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources.

Local recipients were Elisa Espitia, Claudia Miranda and Lizette Rams, Littlerock High School, Littlerock; Alvaro Garcia Jr., St. Genevieve High School, Panorama City; Janine Mejia, Grant High School, Van Nuys; Carlos Pinedo, Highland High School, Palmdale; Ruby Rios, Paraclete High School, Lancaster; Steve Rivera, Birmingham High School, Van Nuys; Sonia Salgado, Glendale High School; and John Smithson, Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks.

The scholarship program was developed in 1989 to help reverse the high school dropout rates and low college enrollment among Latino students.

High school seniors in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Riverside counties are eligible for the scholarships. Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement, financial need, a personal essay and a letter of recommendation.

Two-Year Scholar: Mission College student Sarah C. Ortega of Pacoima has received a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Ortega’s award is one of 400 scholarships granted nationally each year to students earning associate degrees at two-year colleges, such as Mission College in Sylmar.

Perfect Attendance: Marley Pelta, 10, graduated this year from Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas, having never missed a day of school in six years. Pelta will try to continue her streak at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas, where she will attend starting next month.

“She enjoys school,” said her proud father, Howard Pelta. “She’s fortunate to be so healthy.”

For her effort, Marley received certificates from Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

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Class Notes appears every Wednesday. Send news about schools to the Valley Edition, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax it to (818) 772-3338.