FUHS grad receives PEO Scholar Award

Blanca Lopez, a 2006 Fallbrook High School graduate, was recently honored at a tea in the Fallbrook home of Betsy Bucher, Philanthropic Chairman, PEO Chapter UH. Members of the five Fallbrook PEO Chapters were in attendance, as was Blanca’s mother, Maria Lopez.

The combined PEO Chapters in Fallbrook began their annual FUHS PEO Scholar Award to a female graduate in 2003. With the assistance of FUHS Counselor Karen Ricci, recipients are chosen on merit, academic standing and future potential.

In accepting her Fallbrook PEO Scholar Award, Blanca outlined her future plans and first-year classes at Cal State Dominguez Hills, pursuing a pre-med major and a pediatric career.

PEO is a philanthropic and educational organization founded in 1869 at Iowa Wesleyan College. It is dedicated to bringing women increased opportunities for higher education through its national and international projects; an educational loan fund; an international peace scholarship fund; a program for continuing education for women; Cottey College, a two-year accredited liberal arts institution owned and supported by PEO; and a Scholar Award program for women pursuing graduate degrees or graduate research.

To date, more than 73,000 recipients have been awarded a total in excess of $159 million through these projects with a national PEO membership of 250,000.