Gilroy and Morgan Hill teens recognized by the local Democratic
club
Gilroy – Local students who are involved in their high schools and their communities are being honored at the South Santa Clara County Democratic Club annual fundraiser Saturday.
“This was the suggestion of the youth committee chair Brittany Bach,” said Mark Moore, club president. “She worked with [the students] and saw all the work they were doing and felt they should be recognized.”
The local political group started working four months ago to transform their annual gala into an awards banquet for 10 deserving Gilroy and Morgan Hill students. The first step turned out to be finding nominees.
“We solicited ideas from anyone who is a member of our club,” Moore said. “After we got the names, we went through them as an executive board and narrowed it down to 10 for this year.”
The group received as many as 40 nominations from club members of students with long resumes of volunteer work. The main criteria that separated the 10 students to be honored from the rest was involvement in extracurricular activities outside of school and helping in the community.
The local teens chosen have been active on the Gilroy Youth Commission or in the Morgan Hill Youth Advisory Commission as well as other school and community groups.
The award recipients from Gilroy include Luis Aldana, David Bress, Allan Chan, Cherise Gowan, Stephanie Orth and Nynette Sicairos. Morgan Hill award recipients include Isela Banuelos, Nayelli Ceja, Shaila Patel and Katherine Soult.
The club has planned a short dinner, followed by the presentation of the awards to each student. Guests will also have a chance to hear Assemblymembers Simón Salinas and John Laird speak, as well as Charles Morales and Peter Arrellano, the two city council candidates endorsed by the club.
The proceeds of the fundraiser will be used to support the club’s endorsed candidates, Morales and Arrellano, in the local election. The event takes place from 4 to 7pm Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn, 6070 Monterey Street. Tickets are $30.
For more information or to reserve seats for the event, contact Mark Moore at 779-1510 or e-mail de******@****ic.com.
Melissa Flores is an intern, who recently graduated from the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles. Reach her at 842-6400, ext. 207 or mf*****@************ch.com.
