NORWALK - Twenty scholarship winners and 62 student award winners were honored March 29 at Cerritos College's annual Academic Excellence Awards ceremony in the Burnight Center Theatre.The Academic Excellence Awards were created in 1981 to recognize the academic accomplishments of students in various departments throughout the college. Students recognized at the ceremony are "some of the finest examples of how Cerritos College is fulfilling its mission by building futures through learning," college officials said in a statement. "The faculty and staff are excited to see what the future holds for these students who have made academic excellence a priority in the pursuit of their education." Students must meet rigorous criteria including the completion of a minimum of 30 units at Cerritos College with a 3.5 grade point average or higher, the completion of nine units in the area of recognition with a 3.5 grade points average or higher, and the recommendation of a faculty member in the area of recognition. This year's ceremony began with greetings by Cerritos College Foundation Chairman George Gordon and Cerritos College President and superintendent Dr. Linda Lacy. The audience enjoyed Benedetto Marcello's Il mio bel foco performed by Cynthia Hernandez accompanied by Anne Shin, both students in Applied Music. Keynote speaker, Dani Carroll, professor of dental hygiene, encouraged the students to appreciate themselves for what they have accomplished. She reminded the students of four key elements that they practiced to reach academic excellence: self-confidence, self-discipline, wise choices and interdependency. "By recognizing your accomplishments you gain the confidence to make new things happen," she said. "Now go out there and make a difference." Following Carroll's inspiring speech the Foundation scholarships and the Academic Excellence Awards were presented. Each student's story was truly inspiring and it will surely encourage others to aspire to excellence. Scholarship recipients: Richard McGrath Memorial Scholarship ($1,000): Jonathan Cervantes, Santa Fe Springs Ed Bloomfield Scholarship ($500): Andrew Boudreau, Whittier Dr. Jack Hoekzema Scholarship ($300): Anisay Haider, Anaheim Dr. Keith Allen Hinrichsen Scholarship ($700): Samantha Spawton, Cerritos; Benjamin Bernal, Whittier; Sun Kim, Gardena English Department Scholarship ($500): Joshua Craft, Paramount; Nery Alcivar-Estrella, Compton Delver's Gem & Mineral Society Scholarship ($250): Hilda Barragan, South Gate; Nydia Alcala, Santa Fe Springs Joan Licari Scholarship ($250): Anay Palafox, Norwalk LoVetere Geography Scholarship ($1,000) : Anay Palafox , Norwalk John Boyle Scholarship ($350): Ali Akil, Bell Jules Crane Scholarship ($200): Veronica Laguado, Norwalk U.S.S. Pelias Scholarship ($500): Cesar Munoz, Bell Gardens; Frederique Norpetlian, Downey Glorya Welch Scholarship ($500): Danny Gil, South Gate Demian/Carreon Scholarship ($500): Ahn Vu, Norwalk Newton Werner Chemistry Scholarship ($100): Hannah Hinton, Downey Paige "Scholar" Scholarship ($1,000): Phung Duong, Cerritos Academic Excellence Award winners (and the disciplines in which they were recognized): Ricardo Acuna (Engineering Design Technology) Ali Akil (Natural Sciences) Nery Alcivar-Estrella (English) Nicholas Alonso (Tool Design) Sarah Andre (French) Patricia Avila (Cosmetology Esthetician) Raul Avitia (Plastics Manufacturing) Susan Bacon (Preschool Director) Benjamin Bernal (Economics) Samson Beyene (Mathematics) Andrew Bodnar (Composites Manufacturing Technology) Andrew Boudreau (Philosophy) Fernando Calderon (Welding Fabrication and Layout) Sara Candelaria (General Technician in Automotive Mechanical Repair Technology) Jonathan Cervantes (Administration of Justice) Joshua Craft (Creative Writing/Screenwriting) Jeannete Carlina Cruz (Business Administration) Eugenia Delgado (Child Development School Age) Erik Duane (Speech) Mary Dukesherer (Cosmetology) Phung Duong (Pre-Medical) Alex Edgar (Anthropology) Guillermo Flores (Psychology) Armando Garcia (Machine Tool Technology) Robert Godwin (Physical Education) Sergio Gomez (Inert Gas Welding) Eduardo Gonzalez (Arc Welding) Noe Guerra (History) Cynthia Hernandez (Music) Michael Herrera (Commercial Music) Hannah Hinton (Chemistry) Sun Kim (Political Science) Veronica Laguado (Biology) Eugenie Lamoureux (Language Pathology Assistant) Eugenie Laporte (Physical Therapist Assistant) Christie Lee (Court Reporting) Blanca Lopez De Rosales (Child Development Special Education) Zanjbeel Mahmood (Psychology) Raymond Mangahas (Systems Analyst) Erik Mann (Theatre) Ann Manzano (Dental Hygiene) Ernesto S. Martinez (Tool and Die Maker) Justin McCoy (Woodworking Manufacturing Technologies) Nicolae Nedelcu (Engineering Design Technology Certificate) Jean Ngo (Art and Design) John Nunes (Business Accounting) Anay Palafox (Geography) Roy Park (Real Estate) Teresa Persi (Pharmacy Technology) Byron Ramirez (Administration of Justice) Steve Regennitter (Composites Manufacturing) Steve Rosa (Dance) Margarita Rosas (Medical Assistant) Maria C. Salazar (Architectural Technology) Maria Silva (Infant/Toddler Teacher) Maiya Tallakson (Athletic Trainer Aide) Joel Tercero (General Music) Christian Fabian Torres (Pipe Welding) Ha Tran (Pre-Pharmacy) Eli Villa (Manufacture Specialty in Automotive Mechanical Repair Technology) Kristyn Winkler (Nursing) Roberto Zavala (Machine Tool Technology Certificate)

********** Published: April 5, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 51