Partnership for Awareness, also known as PfA, awarded four scholarships and three honorable mentions to San Marino High School seniors who have chosen educational and career paths that align with the organization’s mission.
PfA hosted a reception for the recipients on May 2 in the Barth Room of the Crowell Public Library, where family and friends gathered in celebration of these students’ accomplishments and promising pursuits.
“Across the board, this group has demonstrated profound empathy, leadership and a drive to create positive change,” PfA President Toby McDonald Chou said at the event. “As we recognized their accomplishments, I can’t help but feel optimistic about the impact they’ll make. With the dedication they’ve already shown, I know these students will continue being forces for good wherever their paths lead.”
Kaitlyn An and Jaden Chiang were each awarded first-place scholarships in the amount of $3,000. An plans to study biochemistry and pharmacology, while Chiang aspires to become a counselor or psychotherapist. Both recipients have made a significant impact with their mental health advocacy efforts in the areas of prevention, reduction of stigma and the promotion of help seeking behavior.
Aayan Khan and Anjali Rao each took home a second-place scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Khan’s ambitions include studying global health and medicine with a desire to pursue medical missions overseas. Rao wants to study biology with a plan to become a physician specializing in women’s health.
Chloe Lin, Patrick Samson and Makenna Wong received an honorable mention and were each gifted with $500. Lin and Wong are aspiring physicians while Samson wants to join the frontline of health care as a nurse.
Some of the students shared personal life events and circumstances that served as motivating factors for their future educational endeavors and career paths. This is the second year that PfA has offered scholarships to SMHS seniors as a way of supporting students who are committed to the organization’s cause.
“Our group is continuously looking for ways to make positive and meaningful impacts in our community,” said PfA community adviser Claudia Boles. “Awarding scholarships to some of our San Marino High School seniors is an avenue that will hopefully demonstrate that we support our youth as they embark on their helping profession journeys.”
These SMHS seniors will be landing at the following universities: Cal State Los Angeles, Pennsylvania State University, Pitzer College, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego and USC.
PfA seeks to educate, engage and empower parents and youth on critical health and social challenges faced by children and teens in our community through partnership and coordination with local schools, community organizations and law enforcement.
PfA coordinates and hosts educational events with expert speakers open to the community throughout the academic year. More recently, the organization has also began awarding grants to the San Marino Unified School District school sites. It also assists with sponsoring National Red Ribbon Week events at each of the four district school sites.
Partnership for Awareness is grateful for its generous contributors who have helped make these scholarship funds possible. To learn more about Partnership for Awareness, visit partnershipforawareness.org.
First published in the May 9 issue of the San Marino Tribune
