Press Releases: Southern California
June 7, 2006
Good Works Reap Kaiser Permanente Scholarships
Compton to Palmdale - Eleven Students Rewarded for Volunteering Over 8000 Hours
LOS ANGELES – Eleven Los Angeles county students, who volunteered a combined total of nearly 8,000 volunteer hours to mentor, educate, advocate and make a difference in their communities, will receive scholarships from the Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling & Learning Center at today’s 2006 Pursuit of Excellence Award dinner (Hacienda Hotel at LAX, 525 North Sepulveda Boulevard, El Segundo, 6:00 pm).
The Bill Coggins Community Leadership Scholarship Awards, ranging from $250 to $2,000, will be presented at the annual event that honors local graduates who have overcome obstacles to achieve academic success – all while serving as community leaders. The scholarship program was developed by the Center to provide financial assistance to student volunteers who demonstrate a commitment to community service and leadership. Each recipient has an inspiring story to tell:
Shivam Shodhan of Canoga Park, a future medical student, contributed over 3,000 community service hours. Shivan also collected over 4,000 pairs of donated eyeglasses for the Lions Club to distribute in developing countries.
Griselda Diaz of Los Angeles has donated over 1,300 service hours to her McArthur Park community and the Central American Resource Center (CARACEN), where she is recognized as a “leader who has emerged organically, and has the drive to see those around her better themselves.”
Mark Habib is a senior at Palmdale High School and teaches Sunday school at his local church while also volunteering hundreds of hours at Antelope Valley Hospital. An aspiring doctor, Habib’s service to others is boundless.
Mangwi Atia attends West Los Angeles College and works with at-risk students in South Los Angeles, the community in which she was raised. She is committed to making a positive impact in their lives. Mangwi is also preparing to pursue a graduate degree in Research at the University of Virginia this fall.
Other recipients include:
Sesilie Shannon, a senior at King/Drew Medical Magnet near Watts;
Brittany Fernandez, first in her class at South Hills High School in West Covina;
Lamont Cobb, president of both the NAACP Youth Council and the Top Teens of America Ladera Heights Chapter;
Mayra De Los Angeles, a senior at Venice High School, is an aspiring teacher, and has logged over 940 hours tutoring at the Neighborhood Youth Association;
Elizabeth Orozco, began attending Evans Community Adult School to learn English, but is now pursuing her high school diploma and is a PTA officer;
Carla Cortez, attends Jordan High School in Watts and is a resident of South Gate. Carla combines her musical talent with her community service; and
Ana Elias, attends Centennial High School in Compton and credits her many hours helping children learn to read with inspiring her to become a teacher.
All are available for interviews.
The center established the annual awards in 1997 to encourage and recognize student community service and academic success. It is named in honor of Bill Coggins, the founding director of the Watts Counseling and Learning Center.
For nearly 40 years, the center has offered free or low-cost counseling, educational therapy, summer camps, preschool and after-school child care for families living in the Watts area. The families need not be members of Kaiser Permanente to take advantage of the Center’s services.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes more than 49,900 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,000 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at kaiserpermanente.org.
