Schools Foundation to Award More Than $50,000 to New Haven Students

The will award more than $50,000 to New Haven students at its annual scholarship luncheon this Friday.

The ceremony will honor the 44 recipients of the Foundation’s scholarship program for graduating seniors of and  high schools.

A total of 70 scholarships, worth approximately $55,000 in total—will be presented to the students by Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer.

The awards range from $250 to $2,500, according to Barbara Aro-Valle, executive director of the foundation.

“There are students who are desperately in need of funds, even if it’s just to help get them get started in their first semester,” Aro-Valle said. “A lot of the students would not be able to go to college without these funds.”

Some students will receive more than one scholarship, including two who will receive five each, according to Barbara Aro-Valle.

Among the recipients is Logan student and Union City Patch contributor , who will receive two awards for her involvement in journalism. Beatrice is the current editor-in-chief of the James Logan Courier.  She will be awarded a $500 scholarship from the Angeles-Mariano Family, via the Filipino-American Society for Education, and a $500 Max and Doren La Plante Scholarship, a memorial scholarship funded by NHUSD community relations officer Rick La Plante.

More than 800 scholarship applications were received, according to Aro-Valle. Each scholarship is funded by a sponsor, who reviews applications and selects a winner.

In the past, some sponsors have continued their relationship with the recipients and helped pay for tuition. In 2009, one sponsor even bought a student a car and computer, Aro-Valle said.

Though funds do not go directly to schools, students won’t be able to claim their awards until July 1 to confirm they are enrolled in college, Aro-Valle said. Students can then use the funds for any school-related purpose, from textbooks to tires for their cars to help them get to school, Aro-Valle said.

Friday’s event will be the fourth awards ceremony since the foundation branched off from the school district in 2008, according to Aro-Valle.

It also marks the 30-year anniversary for the Foundation.

In honor of its anniversary, the Foundation will present two service awards.

Jo Baig, a foundation member for more than 20 years, will receive the Guy Emanuele Community Service Award. will receive the Tom Kitayama Business Service Award for its continued support of the foundation.

The annual awards ceremony is the biggest fundraiser for the foundation, Aro-Valle said.

“Without this, we wouldn’t be able to give scholarships or mini-grants,” Aro-Valle said.

Among the event's special guests will be , the new football coach at Stanford University. Shaw is a class of 1991 Logan graduate who worked as an assistant coach in the NFL for 10 seasons and at Stanford for the past four seasons.

The luncheon will be on Friday, April 22, at 11:30 a.m. at the , 32083 Alvarado-Niles Road. Tickets are $75, a portion of which is tax-deductible.

Seats are still available.

To reserve your seat, contact Executive Director Barbara Aro-Valle by telephone, 510-471-3850,  or e-mail, baro-valle@nhsfoundation.com, or visit the foundation’s website, www.nhsfoundation.org).