WATSONVILLE — Eight students in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District received a total of $32,500 from Soroptimist International of Watsonville at an awards banquet at Watsonville High School on May 22.
One of the awards given included a $20,000 award, established in 1997, that honors charter member Lorraine Scott. The award is for a Watsonville High School graduate who will be attending a four-year college.
This year’s $20,000 award winner is Angelica Ruiz, who will be attending UC Los Angeles.
“Throughout my life, I have faced many obstacles, and one by one I have overcome them,” Ruiz said. “This scholarship will help me get through the long road I have ahead of me, and words cannot describe how grateful I am to the Watsonville Soroptimists.”
The Lorraine Scott Scholarship Review Committee, made up of Watsonville Soroptimist club members, reads every application and conduct personal interviews. The successful applicants do not hear of the decisions until their names are announced at the awards banquet.
“It’s the most emotional moment, when these young women hear their names called,” said Lisa Cottle, a member of the Review Committee.
The Watsonville Soroptimists also awarded $10,500 to four young women at a dinner in April. These women were recipients of the annual “Live Your Dream” awards. In addition, the club also supports the Dream It Be It program, which provides girls in secondary school with access to professional role models, career education and resources.
For information, contact Mary Kashmar, president, at 706-7289 or [email protected] or visit www.siwatsonville.org.
