More Than 80 Kids Receive Scholarships

More than 80 students ranging in age from preschool to high school recently received scholarships from the San Fernando Valley-based Christa McAuliffe Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The fund was established by the Valley East area of United Teachers-Los Angeles, which represents educators in the Los Angeles Unified School District. For 11 years, the fund has awarded annual scholarships in the name of the teacher/astronaut who perished with the rest of the space shuttle Challenger crew in January 1986.

Judy Tejeda, the fund’s chairwoman, said the hope is that young students will start their college funds with the savings bonds they receive.

This year, the foundation awarded 83 scholarships worth more than $8,000 in bonds and cash, Tejeda said. Although the competition was open to all LAUSD students, the majority of the applicants and winners were from the Valley.

Students from preschool to 11th grade received $50 savings bonds. High school seniors competed for cash prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000.

The seniors were asked to either draw pictures or write essays on the theme “Reach for the Stars.” San Fernando High School valedictorian Rosa Maria Castro received the top prize of $1,000 for her essay, Tejeda said.