The association recognized Pedro’s academic achievements as a young Latino teen, awarding him and 18 other local high school students with scholarships Wednesday during its annual awards breakfast at the Glendale Hilton.
Students from Crescenta Valley, Hoover, Glendale, Holy Family and Daily high schools, as well as Glendale Adventist Academy, received scholarships from the association ranging from $500 to $1,500.
To get a scholarship, students had to demonstrate at least a 3.5 grade-point average and must be involved in community outreach, the association’s vice president, Amy Navarrete, said.
Students who demonstrated the most participation in community service received the larger $1,000 award, Navarrete said.
The value of education in building America’s future leaders is an important issue, she said, citing her own history with good schools and supportive parents.
Her mother emigrated from Mexico to the United States in 1976. When she learned that there was a school named the Walt Disney Elementary School in Burbank, she enrolled her children in the campus’ summer program and got involved in the parent-teacher association in the hope that her children would get the best education, Navarrete said.
Supportive parents, she said, are crucial to a student’s success in school.
The association raises funds for the scholarships throughout the year by hosting several business networking events, she said.
Last year, the association raised $12,000 in scholarships, which were given to 16 students, association President Mercy Velazquez said. The association tries to increase the scholarship amount each year. The group reached it’s $15,000 target for this year.
