Rotary awards $114,000 in scholarships

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Local high school students took home a record $114,000 in scholarships May 17 during an awards ceremony that also included presentation of high school scholastic awards for more than 100 students.

This year’s scholarships got a boost from longtime Rotary Club members Tom Borden and Howard Crittenden, joined by his wife Diane, whose contributions pushed the total over $100,000 compared to the $67,000 given out last year.

The scholastic awards were handed out by school principals and headmasters from Menlo-Atherton, Sacred Heart, Menlo School and Eastside College Preparatory. And students receiving college scholarships attended M-A, Sacred Heart, Menlo School, Eastside Preparatory and East Palo Alto Academy.

Parents and friends packed the SRI auditorium for the awards, which were preceded by an address from LaDoris H. Cordell, a retired Superior Court judge. She congratulated the students for their accomplishments and then challenged them to “pay it forward” and help others achieve success.

Club president Bob Kelly welcomed the students and guests, and Rotary Foundation president David Johnson presented the majority of the scholarships. Club member Michelle Tsui presented the Tsui/Tiang Math & Science Scholarship and club member Doug Adams gave out the three Drue Kataoka Arts Scholarships.

Here are the recipients of this year’s Rotary Club of Menlo Park scholarship awards:

Tsui/Tsiang “Family Math and Science Scholarship ($6,000): Catherine Cunningham, Eastside.

Rotary Club Foundation Scholarships ($6,000): Darrell Ford, Eastside; Alicia Mergenthaler, Menlo School; Michael Ho, Sacred Heart; Ana Mark Da Silva, Menlo-Atherton; Erika Gallegos Contreras, Eastside.

Diane and Howard Crittenden Grant ($5,000): T’Andra White, Menlo-Atherton; Josh Hubert, Menlo-Atherton; Kathy Martinez, Menlo-Atherton; Courtney Durdle, Menlo-Atherton; Allison Malathong, Menlo-Atherton.

Rotary Foundation Award ($4,000): Evelyn Reynada, Eastside; Miguel Pissani, Sacred Heart; Romina Arciniega, Sacred Heart.

Rotary Foundation Award ($3,000): Joshua Martinez, Eastside; Lissette Valadez, East Palo Alto Academy; Karla Gaitan, Sacred Heart; Jeffrey Avila, Sacred Heart; Evelyn Reid, Sacred Heart; Alfonso Avila, Sacred Heart; Yecica Urena, Eastside.

Rotary Foundation Award ($2,000): Eliana Corona Vazquez, Eastside.

Drue Kataoka Arts Scholarship ($1,000): Jose Churape Lopez, Eastside; Zachary Clarence, Menlo-Atherton; Clare Dezutti, Sacred Heart.

Community College Scholarships, Tom Borden Grant ($2,000): Fauzmeen Bibi, Menlo-Atherton; David Harris, Menlo-Atherton; Ernesto Zuniga, Menlo-Atherton; Benjamin Doronila, Menlo-Atherton; Vincenzo LoGrasso, Menlo-Atherton.

Rotary Foundation Award ($1,000): Luvia Castro-Orozco, Menlo-Atherton; Christopher Pontilo, Menlo-Atherton; Jose Enrique Balladares Ortiz, East Palo Alto Academy; Giovanna Corado, Menlo Atherton; Nirvan Rouzbeh, Menlo-Atherton.