Angel society awards $15,000 in scholarships

FALLBROOK – Six Fallbrook Union High School graduates were awarded $2,500 each by the Angel Society of Fallbrook, a local philanthropy. The 2011 awardees were Dylan Dawkins, Jacquelyn Verdon, Delaney Cassidy, Edith Gomez, Erica Penaloza, and Kyle Aston.

Scholarships were based on an essay on why they chose their particular course of study, and how they plan to give back to their community; grade point average; school- related extracurricular activities; and financial need. Also taken into account were their high school transcripts plus letters of recommendation from two faculty members.

Dylan Dawkins, ranked third in his class, served as student board representative. Besides participating in athletics and community/civic activities, he plays piano, sax, clarinet and percussion. He is enrolled at Stanford University to study medicine.

Jacquelyn Verdon excelled on the water polo and swim teams. She also served as 2010 Miss Fallbrook’s First Princess. Verdon is enrolled at Siena College in New York and will be studying business management.

Delaney Cassidy, with an interest in sports and medicine, found her niche while a volunteer student athletic trainer for Fallbrook High School. Cassidy will attend Point Loma Nazarene University to study kinesiology and athletic training.

Edith Gomez volunteered through the AVID program (at Fallbrook Library, Silvergate, Mentoring Associates, Inc.), was on the AVID Student Council and wrote for the Tomahawk school newspaper. She will attend UC Irvine and major in computer science.

Erica Penaloza was an interpreter at FHS as well as a tutor for students at La Paloma Elementary School. She plans to attend UC Riverside and will study physical therapy, and may become a doctor.

Kyle Aston was on the Academic Team and co-founder of a math club. He always found time to give to his community by tutoring fellow students in math. He will attend UCLA majoring in mathematics, physical sciences or engineering.

These six scholarship awardees will be the leaders in the near future. It gives the Angel Society of Fallbrook hope, encouragement and pride in knowing they have helped these intelligent, caring and mature young adults to go forward and carry on as true leaders of tomorrow and for their country.