Deserving students earn scholarships at Cerritos College

NORWALK - The Cerritos College Foundation awarded scholarships to eight female re-entry students last Thursday.The $500 E. Maude West Scholarship was presented to Patricia Perez of Norwalk. The scholarship was established by long-time Artesia resident E. Maude West, who was renowned in the community for her charitable work and her commitment to women's issues and the pursuit of educational goals. Anita McLaughlin, of Bellflower, was presented with the $750 Ellen Carver Re-Entry Scholarship. This scholarship was established by the Woman's Club of Artesia-Cerritos in memory of the late club member Ellen Carver, who was very active in the community. Another scholarship sponsored by the Club is the Woman's Club of Artesia-Cerritos Scholarship. An award of $750 each was presented to Samantha Navarro of South Gate, Victoria Ramos of Huntington Park, and Danielle Thomas of Norwalk at the club meeting. The scholarship is awarded to female students re-entering the academic world. Thomas received additional help with completing her educational goals with a $500 scholarship from the Norwalk Woman's Club, which is also awarded to a female re-entry student. The Golden Girls Scholarship, established in 2008 by five women, also aims to help female re-entry students. The "golden girls" decided that instead of spending money on birthday and Christmas gifts for one another they would use that money for a scholarship. The $700 scholarship was presented to Martha Ruiz of Lynwood. Norma Gutierrez, of Norwalk, received the $1,000 Jean O. Michael Scholarship. Jean Michael, wife of retired Cerritos College President Dr. Wilford Michael, presented Gutierrez with the scholarship that was established in her honor by her daughter and son-in-law. The scholarship is for a re-entry woman who is majoring in business. The Cerritos College Foundation also awarded 25 student scholarships totaling $16,800 during its board meeting on Nov. 18. Among the organizations presenting scholarships were the Habib American Bank, the Woman's Club of Artesia-Cerritos, GST, NHK Laboratories, Norwalk Woman's Club, and the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association. A number of scholarships awarded were established by private individuals as well. The Robert W. Collins Scholarship for Administration of Justice Students was presented to Jarrod Schultz, of Lakewood and Nayeli Duenas, of Downey, who received a $500 award each. The scholarship was established in memory of Robert W. Collins, father of administration of justice faculty member John Collins. Robert Collins was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, who rose through the ranks to become chief of police for the City of Monterey Park. The $500 Mark & Barnett Chen Physical Therapist Assistant Scholarship was presented to Llanel Florendo of La Mirada. Established in memory of Mr. Chen who himself devoted much of his life to the health care field, the scholarship aims to assist compassionate and outstanding students in the physical therapy assistant education program. It also honors his wife, Barnett, who dedicated her life to the care of others. Florendo was also honored with another scholarship that assists physical therapy students, the Marijean Piorkowski Physical Therapist Assistant Scholarship. The scholarship was established in honor of Marijean Piorkowski, a retired physical therapy faculty member of Cerritos College. Julio Castro, of Bell Gardens, received the $250 NHK Laboratories Chemistry Scholarship. Established by NHK Laboratories, the scholarship is awarded to a qualified chemistry student. The $500 John Moore First Step Scholarship was presented by Moore to Alejandra Ramirez of Long Beach. The scholarship was established by John Moore, a now-retired 19-year member of the Board, to help first semester college students who show the promise of succeeding. The Alice Wang Scholarship, an award of $500 each, was presented to Claudia Gonzalez of Downey, Mary Helen Moreno of Whittier, and Maria Santos of Bellflower. Established by J.P. Wang, Foundation board member and owner of GST, in honor of his wife Alice Wang, the scholarship recognizes a single mother majoring in child development.

********** Published: December 9, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 34