Downey residents earn college scholarships

NORWALK - The Cerritos College Foundation awarded two sets of scholarships at its board meeting on July 19.The Bellflower Rotary Club Scholarship was presented to Isela Cuahutle and Stephanie Marsano. The $1,000 scholarship was presented by club president Jean Seruntine and recognizes outstanding students enrolled in a career technical education program. Marsano, of Downey, has always loved science and is pursuing a career in dentistry. She has completed the Cerritos College Dental Assisting Program and is now pursuing a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. She hopes to obtain her DDS degree and attend post-graduate school to specialize in oral surgery. Cuahutle, of La Mirada, returned to school in the spring of 2010 to pursue her associate degree in paralegal studies. She is a single mother of six and "is determined to provide a better life for her children," college officials said. She has volunteered at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles for the last two years as well as the Angel Step Inn, a domestic violence shelter. Students Jose De la Cruz and Christian Coleman received the Anthony J. Franklin Automotive Scholarship, established by Kimberly and James Corbitt in memory of their son, Anthony J. Franklin. Anthony had been pursuing his education in automotive technology when a fatal car accident cut his dream short on June 3, 2010. The $500 scholarship recognizes outstanding students enrolled in an automotive program at Cerritos College. Anthony's grandparents, Arthur and Dora Jackson, and his uncle Raymond Jackson, were in attendance for the scholarship presentation. De la Cruz, of Downey, is currently enrolled in the Automotive Collision Repair Program. He plans on completing his certificate and associate degree to begin working in the field of collision repair. Coleman, of Paramount, is enrolled in the Ford ASSET program and is set to graduate in October. He works at South Bay Ford in Hawthorne.

********** Published: August 02, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 16