Assistance League of Diablo Valley Awards $181,000-Scholarships

Since 1999, Assistance League^® of Diablo Valley’s Scholarships program, currently co-chaired by Cindi Segale and Susan Klipfel, has provided financial and emotional support to high school, community college and university students as well as returnees to the academic community. Each applicant has expressed a desire to advance through education by maintaining a designated grade point average, volunteering in campus and community projects and charting an academic timeline.

The interview phase, which gives the Scholarships Committee members invaluable insights as to how these aspiring engineers, oncologists, scientists, and political science teachers have defied overwhelming challenges to realize their dreams occurred via Zoom due to the COVID-19 virus.

During the virtual awards ceremony held on May 12, Scholarships recipients acknowledged the generosity of foundations, individual donors (chapter members included) and revenue earned at the Assistance League Thrift Shop at the Way Side Inn, the chapter’s primary fundraiser located in Lafayette. Their collective message, “…the emotional support matches or exceeds the very much appreciated financial support.” Several recipients shared that they are financing their own education. Receiving a scholarship promises to offset any obstacle that might loom in the future.

High Schools: The 2020/2021 Scholarships recipients from Contra Costa County high schools include Morsell Arghandiwal, Aliyah Castaneda, Katie DeMillo, Devin Dinh, Nikhita Dhamrait, Kalani Dunn, Sarah Fiveash, Stephanie Garcia Avila, Suchita Khanal, Sophie Krayna, Alanna Le, Alejandro Lopez Vaca, Diego Riverbay and Fiona Young.

Community Colleges: Scholarships awardees who are graduating from Contra Costa County Community Colleges and transferring to 4-year universities are Mike Andrade, Chisomaga Ekwueme, Anna Glushcenko, Montalvo Hernandez, Monica Hicks, Stephanie Jimenez, Tahne Kriguddaiah, Anthony Lopez, Kyle Martin, Natalia Moran Rivas, Massihullah Taufiq, Jacqueline Villalobos and Morea Welch.

Foster Youth: Foster Youth Scholarships are awarded to Sabrina Alvarea, Joshua Brodit, Justine Overmeyer, Abigail Rickli, Avery Rickli, Perla Rodrigues and Esmeralda Vasquea.

Spotlight: The Spotlight Scholarship, which is renewable each year, is awarded to students who show particularly strong focus on their educational goals that lead to a career path in their chosen fields. This year’s recipients are Christiana Aranda, Ruby Arceo, Andrew Bracken, Moises Esquivias, Carly Glasson, Ammar Iqbal, Sarah Jahid, Seungwon Lee, Gerberth Lopez Mendez, Kayla Munguia, Jorge Paredes and Socoro Tamayo-Perez.

Spotlight on You: This year’s Spotlight on You Scholarship is awarded to Aidan La Honta for demonstrating particularly strong focus on his educational goals that lead to a career path in his chosen field.

Lisa Parker Hurst High School: The Lisa Parker Hurst High School Scholarship requires that the recipient graduate from one of five high schools in Mount Diablo Unified School District and are entering an accredited four-year college where they will maintain a designated grade point average. This year’s recipients are Jordynne Hesselroth and Phetmany (Annie) Xayakhoun.

Returning to School: The Returning to School Scholarship is awarded to life-long learners Matthew Kaharudin and Elizabeth McLaurin.

Congratulations to all! The Universities of California at Berkeley, Davis, Los Angeles, Merced and Irvine, Stanford, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of Southern California, California State Universities, Trinity College, Claremont McKenna, University of Michigan, as well as Diablo Valley College await.

Scholarships Committee members look forward to following the additional accomplishments of these remarkable students in the ensuing years. To learn more about the Scholarships program, as well as Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, please visit this website: assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.