Oneonta Club Awards Three South Pasadena High Graduates with Scholarships

Presentations of $10,000 Swann Scholarships to be made during a Zoom meeting on June 8 due to the coronavirus

SouthPasadenan.com News | Samuel Clark, Evan Kowel and Barnett Yang will each be receiving Oneonta Scholarships

Virtually, through Zoom, the Oneonta Club Foundation of South Pasadena will present $10,000 Swann Scholarships to three deserving high school graduates during its Oneonta Club June 8 meeting.

The three grads from South Pasadena High include Samuel Clark, Evan Kowel and Barnett Yang.   

In addition to the scholarships, two awards of $1,000 will be made to two outstanding South Pasadena teaches.  The three students are being recognized for their community involvements as well as their academic achievements.  The selection process was especially difficult this year due to the large number of qualified applicants.

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State Senator Anthony Portantino will also be saluting the award winners at the meeting.

This year, due to unprecedented circumstances the meeting and awards will be made at a ceremony using a Zoom meeting vehicle conducted by Club President Hubert Ho and Foundation President Bill Cullinane. 

The meeting will be “attended” by members and student’s families who will participate via their computers from home.  Respective principals will introduce the teachers. The students will be recognizes by Carl von Bibra, the Oneonta Foundation scholarship chairperson.

Clark has displayed many interests throughout his years at SPHS, from the humanities to STEM and the sciences. Beyond his achievements in the academics, he has taken leadership position with his cross country team and the Sharing Foundation, working with the homeless community.

Kowal is a National Merit Finalist academically and has furthered his interests in Families Forward by creating a Youth Outdoor Science Education with the aid of a sizable grant.  Evan was also captain of a successful water polo team and served as the commissioner of assemblies on campus.  He intends to study neuroscience with a philosophy minor.

Yang has long had a passion for mathematics and throughout his SPHS years has helped tutor and inspire young children working through the school’s Veritas Tutoring program.  In addition, his musical and leadership talents have taken him to lead many performances in North America.  Barnett hopes to apply his mathematical skills to make an impact on science and engineering.

In addition, the two teachers introduced by their principals will be Heather Jara, first grade teacher at Arroyo Vista Grammar School and Andrew McGough, mathematics teacher at South Pasadena High School, each of whom will receive a one thousand dollar honorarium.