2001 Annual Awards Ceremony Recognizes Effort, Good Citizenship
Released on: November 29, 2001

A casual reading of American history reveals no shortage of heroes. They can be found in every era and every field of endeavor: commerce, industry, government service, the professions and the arts. They shape our culture, our attitudes and our aspirations. At times, they even deserve our praise and admiration.

To executive director Max Scott, the heroes at Boys Republic are its students. He spoke to them at the agency's Annual Award Ceremony on September 13.

"I can think of few adults who would volunteer to do what we ask of you. You are subject to 24-hour evaluation and criticism. You give up old friends and established habits. In many instances, you have the courage to embrace different values and a lifestyle that may be in direct conflict with that of your family. You are the real heroes of Boys Republic and you deserve our attention, our admiration and our praise."

Boys Republic's Annual Award Ceremony recognizes students for exemplary effort, accomplishment or citizenship. The awards are broadly focused in three areas: educational scholarships, vocational scholarships, and aftercare assistance awards (help with rent deposits, clothing, bus transportation, or tools necessary for a job).

This year, a total of $28,850 was awarded to students and recent graduates of Boys Republic and Girls Republic. Altogether, forty-three of the agency's teens received financial recognition ranging from $100 clothing allowances to $2,000 scholarships for outstanding scholastic achievement and overall program success. Fourteen others received certificates of scholarship eligibility. Over the course of the last year, Boys Republic distributed a total of $115,600 in scholarship awards.

Recent Boys Republic graduate David Gomez won the distinguished Virginia Pease Hunt Scholarship. Already a fluent practitioner of sign language, David plans to apply the award toward formal training as a community interpreter.

David Gomez

Among other awards presented at the ceremony were:

• Boone Family Scholarships of $1,000 to Robert Willis and $500 to Art Blanco;
  
• Frank and Marianne Graves Scholarships of $1,000 each to Miguel Rojo and Robert Tamayo; $800 to Sam Anderson; and $500 each to Dave Bickham, Antonio Castro, David Galvan, Rudy Garcia, John Kunka, and Johnny Santos;
• John R. Babcock Scholarship of $800 to Thomas Diaz;
• Steve McQueen Scholarship of $1,000 to Miguel Garcia;
  
  

• Terry McQueen Scholarship of $1,000 to BG Montgomery;
• Ruth Peterson Garrett Scholarships of $1,000 to Jonathon Edwards and $500 Ponciano Castellano;
• Joralmon Scholarship of $1,000 to Mike Jones;
• Carmen Combs Scholarship of $1,000 to Luciano Najera;
• Kline Family Scholarships of $1,000 each to Melissa Martin and Francisco Ramirez and $500 each to Cesar Vela and Sam Segovia;
• Jane Houser Scholarships of $1,000 each to Victoria Benjamin and Sheldon Stallworth;
• James Graham Scholarship of $500 to Albert Casillas;
• Chino Hills Lions Club Scholarships of $500 each to Khammany Kayachith, Antonio Castro, Jon Cuevas, and Kevin Emidy;
• Frederick Rees Scholarship of $1,000 to Cynthia Cordon;
• Los Solteros Scholarship of $1,000 to Marcus Jaramillo;
• C. A. Gammel Scholarship of $1,000 to Chris Severence;
• Pasadena Auxiliary Bridge Club Award of $750 to Richard Torres;
• Pasadena Auxiliary Past Presidents Scholarship of $1,000 to Eric Heller;
• Mark M. Davids Leadership Award to Miguel Garcia;
• Special Cottage and Residence Awards to Antonio Castro, Kris Charlton, Sean Dachler, Micaela Gonzales, Luis Linarte, Joshua Mendez, Daniel Morgan, Rachaud Therman, Matt Vezina, and Robert Willis;
• Alumnus of the Year to Noy Nivone Hargrave;
• Certificates of Scholarship Eligibility to Glen Audry, Kenny Berry, Kris Charlton, Jimmy Chuon, Antione Ellis, Micaela Gonzales, Charles Hernandez, Manuel Hernandez, Darrell Jackson, Eddie Lujan, Edgar Ortega, Brian Rom, Rudy Solares, and Christopher Topper;
• Certificates of Achievement from the office of Supervisor Fred Aguiar were awarded to each student receiving a financial scholarship;
• This year, the Rams Head Award was presented to employee John Southwick.