Community: Rotarians award a round of scholarships

Making goals, and how doing so leads to success, was the theme during the Glendale Noon Rotary Club meeting last Thursday at the Hilton Glendale.

President Bill Knauf welcomed members and guests, and then Tye Veden, chairman of the Glendale Noon Rotary Foundation, introduced Glady Kabateck, counselor emeritus of Glendale Community College, who read the biographies of three GCC students receiving scholarships. Before retiring, Kabateck worked at GCC for 23 years as coordinator of the Adult Re-entry Program, where she assisted new and returning students at the college, especially those who have been away from school for many years.

“You have helped so many students over the years,” Kabateck said, adding that the need grows every year. “This year, the college received 1,150 scholarship applications.”

The college scholarship committee recommended more than 35 students to the Noon Rotary Club and members decided on the top three, Kabateck said.

Receiving scholarships were Rashon Washington, who is majoring in architecture; Natalia Garcia, who is working toward becoming a dental hygienist; and Steven Vu, who is majoring in computer science and business administration.

Washington said in his application that he hit a lot of speed bumps along the way to getting into college and determining a major. But it has led him to become the man he is today, he said.

At GCC he has been president of the American Society of Architects and Engineers, chairman of the Environmental Affairs organization and student board member of the California Student Sustainability Coalition. He helped fight for student discounts for the Beeline bus service when the prices were raised for the community. He has a 3.18 grade-point average.

Garcia is a re-entry student at GCC. She is a single parent and sole supporter of an 8-year-old son and works full time at a law office. She is involved in activities with her son and serves as a board member and has held many positions with the American Youth Soccer Organization and has been an assistant to the den leader of her son's Cub Scout troop.