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By Vecinos de South Pasadena
Three outstanding 2021 South Pasadena High School graduates have been awarded scholarships totaling $5,000 by the Vecinos de South Pasadena, the city’s Latinx cultural and educational support organization.
The awardees are: Brian Zepeda to study fine arts and photography at Pasadena City College, Katelyn Hernández to study political science at Cal Poly Pomona, and Tonalli García-Rodríguez, to study Latin American studies and sociology at UCLA.
The honorees have strong records in classes, campus activities and organizations strengthening or serving Latinx communities. These include SPHS athletics, organizations, and academic honors, in addition to strengthening their abilities to communicate in Spanish and work with organizations beyond South Pasadena.
“I’m excited about this year’s scholarship recipients. At their young age, they’ve already demonstrated a desire to stay connected in community through volunteerism, performance art and more,” said Vecinos president Janna Philpot. “Whether their interests lead them to careers in photography, film, politics or journalism, I’m confident they’ll remain engaged in celebrating and sharing Latinx culture.”
Zepeda was two-year president of the Latinx Student Union, formed in 2019 to bring more Latinx awareness and exposure to SPHS, and led a drive to collect and deliver household necessities to Casa De Alegria, which houses single mothers.
Hernández was a member of the Latinx club and also volunteered at Dorris Place Elementary School along the Los Angeles River in FrogTown, where she participated in the FrogTown Art Walk and the Great LA River Clean Up.
García-Rodríguez has a long history of involvement with Xinaxcalmecac Academia Semillas Del Pueblo in El Sereno, the Caracol market place in East Los Angeles, and organizing Amigas Who Run, an annual Boyle Heights running event for female-identifying individuals.
