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2023 Scholarship Awards Ceremony May 17 at 2:00 pm Acton Community Center |
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Teachers, school board members and seven extraordinary graduating senior Acton residents;
Sahara Reyes, Myra Schneider, Brooke McCormick, Savannah Goodnight, Ashley Hinkel, Mason McConnell, and Adam Frank.
Sahara Reyes, Myra Schneider, Brooke McCormick, Savannah Goodnight, Ashley Hinkel, Mason McConnell, and Adam Frank.
See Vasquez High School Graduation video provided by Acton Agua Dulce News here
Article courtesy of Acton-Agua Dulce News
AWC Scholarship Recipients, An Academic Journey
“ I am grateful for the support the Acton Women’s Club (AWC) has given to the community and myself…Growing up in this community has instilled values in me such as compassion, hard work and perseverance…and how to respond with kindness..” Words spoken by senior Mason McConnell, one of the seven scholarship recipients at the May 17th venue held at the Acton Community Center.
AWC President Valerie Williams welcomed guests and introduced Jane Klosterman for the Invocation and Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District (AADUSD) Superintendent Dr. Eric Sahakian. The invocation reflected the pride for the recipients as well as a “prayer for wise and strong decision-making” in the seniors’ futures. Superintendent Sahakian thanked the AWC and stated, in part, “This is one of the most anticipated events”.
Scholarship Committee Chairs Kelly Collette and Kim Clemens introduced the award recipients who were all seniors from Vasquez High School except for one, from Canyon High School and who each received $5,000 scholarships. There was a common denominator in the speeches of both the importance of community and the strive of academic excellence. In addition to the above- stated reflection by Mason McConnell, the following are excerpts from the other awardees: Sahara Reyes- stated she would “use the scholarship for personal and academic growth.” ; Myra Schneider- stated “There was no greater recognition than a community who has supported me throughout my formative years.”- additionally thanking karate instructor Master McConnell, piano teacher Sandy Madsen, teacher Larry Rowland, high school counselor Nicole Salsedo and the local press.; Savannah Goodnight- thanked her family, all teachers and staff including Nicole Salsedo for helping her “achieve a higher education”.; Ashley Hinkel reflected on Acton, “A town that’s a place to call home” additionally speaking of the “valuable lessons in managing money” from having a job early on and thanked the AWC for their “incredible generosity.”; Adam Frank- thanked the AWC for “recognizing my academic potential: and in respect to community service, stated he will “remain active and involved in the community. ”The final recipient, and sole awardee from Canyon High School, Brooke McCormick, thanked the AWC for “the amazing opportunity” and the “kindness” she experienced growing up in the community.
As the heartfelt sentiments came to a close, it was clear that all of these seniors are on an academic journey, realizing their dreams of becoming nurses, engineers, and economics majors while attending universities such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Lutheran, Boise State and the University of Oregon.
For nearly 100 years, the AWC has gone above and beyond supporting youth in the community. Thank you to all of the AWC members, AADUSD Board of Trustees members Brianna Taksony, Lester Mason, Tom Costan, Tim Jorgensen and Ken Pfalzgraf, Superintendent Dr. Eric Sahakian, Executive Asst. to the Superintendent Yolanda McCauley, Asst. Superintendent of Business services Keving Vensko, Asst. Superintendent of Pupil Services Kim Shaw, Principals Dr. Paula Chamberlain and Michelle Van Ornum, teacher Larry Rowland, Counselor Nicole Salsedo and Guadalupe Arias from Friends of the Children.
AWC Scholarship Recipients, An Academic Journey
“ I am grateful for the support the Acton Women’s Club (AWC) has given to the community and myself…Growing up in this community has instilled values in me such as compassion, hard work and perseverance…and how to respond with kindness..” Words spoken by senior Mason McConnell, one of the seven scholarship recipients at the May 17th venue held at the Acton Community Center.
AWC President Valerie Williams welcomed guests and introduced Jane Klosterman for the Invocation and Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District (AADUSD) Superintendent Dr. Eric Sahakian. The invocation reflected the pride for the recipients as well as a “prayer for wise and strong decision-making” in the seniors’ futures. Superintendent Sahakian thanked the AWC and stated, in part, “This is one of the most anticipated events”.
Scholarship Committee Chairs Kelly Collette and Kim Clemens introduced the award recipients who were all seniors from Vasquez High School except for one, from Canyon High School and who each received $5,000 scholarships. There was a common denominator in the speeches of both the importance of community and the strive of academic excellence. In addition to the above- stated reflection by Mason McConnell, the following are excerpts from the other awardees: Sahara Reyes- stated she would “use the scholarship for personal and academic growth.” ; Myra Schneider- stated “There was no greater recognition than a community who has supported me throughout my formative years.”- additionally thanking karate instructor Master McConnell, piano teacher Sandy Madsen, teacher Larry Rowland, high school counselor Nicole Salsedo and the local press.; Savannah Goodnight- thanked her family, all teachers and staff including Nicole Salsedo for helping her “achieve a higher education”.; Ashley Hinkel reflected on Acton, “A town that’s a place to call home” additionally speaking of the “valuable lessons in managing money” from having a job early on and thanked the AWC for their “incredible generosity.”; Adam Frank- thanked the AWC for “recognizing my academic potential: and in respect to community service, stated he will “remain active and involved in the community. ”The final recipient, and sole awardee from Canyon High School, Brooke McCormick, thanked the AWC for “the amazing opportunity” and the “kindness” she experienced growing up in the community.
As the heartfelt sentiments came to a close, it was clear that all of these seniors are on an academic journey, realizing their dreams of becoming nurses, engineers, and economics majors while attending universities such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Lutheran, Boise State and the University of Oregon.
For nearly 100 years, the AWC has gone above and beyond supporting youth in the community. Thank you to all of the AWC members, AADUSD Board of Trustees members Brianna Taksony, Lester Mason, Tom Costan, Tim Jorgensen and Ken Pfalzgraf, Superintendent Dr. Eric Sahakian, Executive Asst. to the Superintendent Yolanda McCauley, Asst. Superintendent of Business services Keving Vensko, Asst. Superintendent of Pupil Services Kim Shaw, Principals Dr. Paula Chamberlain and Michelle Van Ornum, teacher Larry Rowland, Counselor Nicole Salsedo and Guadalupe Arias from Friends of the Children.