GILROY
– As Gilroy High School seniors prepare for graduation and
college many students have scholarship organizations to thank for
the money they were awarded Tuesday night.
GILROY – As Gilroy High School seniors prepare for graduation and college many students have scholarship organizations to thank for the money they were awarded Tuesday night.
The annual Gilroy High scholarship awards night was held in the Gilroy High theater. Proud family members and friends cheered from the audience while the students sat on stage anxiously waiting to receive their money.
“As students we have had our ups and downs, but as you can see tonight our determination has prevailed,” said Brian Calimpong, Associated Student Body president at Gilroy High.
More than 100 scholarship foundations awarded money to 115 seniors. But the largest group of students were recognized by the President’s Education Award Program, which honored 39 students for their scholastic achievements said Robert Bravo, principle at Gilroy High School. All of these students earned over a 3.5 grade point average and scored in the 85 percentile on the SATs in either the verbal or math section.
“I am very surprised by the number of students that received this award,” Bravo said.
Seniors spend all year talking to counselors and filling out applications and last night those long hours paid off.
17-year old Scott Martin was awarded over $25,000 in scholarships, including the title of “Athlete of the Year.”
“It is so nice to be recognized for years of hard work,” Martin said. “If I can pick anything up to help out my parents in paying for my education, that’s great.”
Many of the scholarships came from memorial foundations created by individuals in the community while others were generated from organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary club.
Two seniors received the Rotary Club’s scholarship of $1,000, and that is not all they share.
Alyson and Chelsea Lumley are 18-year-old twins who applied to many of the same scholarships, receiving eight scholarships each. Chelsea is planning on attending UCLA in the fall, while her sister Alyson will attend UC San Diego.
Another unique aspect of Tuesday night’s awards was that a dozen educators at Gilroy High School created scholarships by using money from their own pockets, said Dianne Padilla, scholarship coordinator at Gilroy High. Elizabeth Baker-Chapman awarded $500 from her own scholarship fund to 17-year old Megan Stevens, who received the journalist-of-the-year award.
“I feel very honored and surprised,” Stevens said. “I am never going to forget this night.”
Stevens will be attending UCLA in the fall.
Unfortunately, attendance at Tuesday night’s awards was a little low, but was probably caused by that fact that this is finals week for the seniors who are crunching in the last tests and projects before graduation, said Erin Gemar, academic coordinator at Gilroy High.
Finals did not stop 18-year-old Ben Law from accepting his eight scholarships, while his sister excitedly cheered his name from the audience each time he went up to accept an award.
“I earned over $18,000, and this money is going to help a great deal toward my tuition,” Law said. “I am going to pay for it all on my own.”
Law will be attending UC Davis.
As the night drew to a close the academic coordinators and administrative team gathered on stage to offer their final words of encouragement.
“I am so proud of each and every one of the students who received scholarships tonight they are all excellent students,” Bravo said.
The Dispatch will publish the entire list of scholarship recipients in the special graduation edition on
June 16.
