Media Release | South Pasadena High School Alumni Association
The South Pasadena High School Alumni Association announced at Senior Night last week that it has awarded $62,500 to thirty-three graduating SPHS students this spring. Thanks to the support of SPHS grads and supporters across the country, this year’s scholarship awards bringing its total awards to more than $933,000 provided to more than 500 SPHS graduates.
This years’ SPHSAA scholarship recipients are as follows:
- Holly Lacey and William Chang received the Albert Adams Music Scholarship, named for a highly respected music teacher for many years at the high school. The scholarship is for students who will pursue studies and/or a career in music.
- Eloise (“Lulu”) Salvaterra and Leo Castillo received the Andre Patzkowski “Run Forward” Scholarship, established to honor SPHS Class of 2021 graduate, Andre Patzkowski. The scholarship for students who show personal and academic promise in the face of personal challenges, including struggles with mental health.
- Camille Barbara received the Blake & Joseph Wu UCLA Scholarship, established by two brothers in the Class of 1988 and 1989 to assist students planning to attend the University of California at Los Angeles.
- Maggie Vyas received the Bobby Griffin Memorial Art Scholarship, established for a Class of 1972 graduate who lost his life at the age of 19 in a small plane crash. The scholarship honors a student who exhibits artistic talent and interest and seeks to pursue an education or career in art.
- Brandon Woo and Theo Hilger received the Eugene Clark Science & Athletics Scholarship. Eugene “Gene” Clark was a member of the Class of 1964 who was both an accomplished student and athlete. The scholarship honors students who demonstrate an interest in pursuing studies and a career in one of the physical sciences and are enthusiastic participants in sports.
- Elsie Shin Huang, Gabriel Vogel and Natasha Rey received the “Frau” Margot Epstein and Richard Goto International Studies Scholarship, which honors two very popular teachers, German teacher “Frau” Epstein was famously short of stature but fitted with a larger-than-life personality and Richard Goto, who taught the infamous “Asian Cultures” course for sophomores. The scholarship was established by a SPHS ’66 graduate for a student interested in studying and/or a career in languages, international studies and/or diplomacy.
- Theo Hilger was selected for the first Gary D. Penn Future Tradesperson Scholarship, honoring South Pasadena’s beloved industrial arts teacher who taught for 30 years in the school district. The new scholarship supports a student who loves industrial crafts and/or plans to pursue a career as a tradesperson.
- The SPHSAA General Scholarship was first awarded in 1983 shortly after the Alumni Association was founded. The scholarship honors students based on financial need, service, academic excellence and promise demonstrated during their years at SPHS. The recipients of this year’s General Scholarships are Abigail Errington, Aiden Oh, Belle De Berry, India Garcia-Robb, Kenneth Mogel, Lana Encinas, Nadia Cho, Nathan Olivarez, Sabrina Yancey, Saidbh Byrne, Sienna Drake and Ethan Kang.
- Natasha Rey received the Granville Thurman “Spirit of Education” Future Educator Scholarship. Granville Thurman, Class of 1949, was the Principal, Vice Principal, and a PE teacher and coach at the South Pasadena Junior High and Middle School from 1959 to 1989. He was known as a strict, but fair, disciplinarian who sought to find ways to encourage and support the students he encountered. This scholarship is awarded to a student who plans to pursue a career in teaching.
- Aiden Oh, Sabrina Yancey and Saidbh Byrne received the Harold “Hal” Hartsough Kindness Award. Hal Hartsough was a well-loved teacher, counselor and administrator at SPHS from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. He was a kind man who taught his students about the value of caring for others. The scholarship honors graduating seniors who display compassion and unselfish mentoring and help to fellow students.
- Meryll Timmerman received the Holly Miller Whitworth Nursing Scholarship. Holly Miller Whitworth, Class of 1973, worked for 33 years as a pediatric and neonatal nurse for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and at two residential facilities for children. During her career, she mentored many nursing students. This scholarship is awarded each year to support and encourage a SPHS graduate who plans to pursue a career in nursing.
- Kenneth Mogel received the James E. Fosselman PCC Scholarship. Jim Fosselman, Class of 1939, is probably best known to most alumni over the years as the owner of Fosselman’s Ice Cream in Alhambra, which is still owned and operated by the Fosselman family. He was also the SPHSAA’s Director of Reunions for many years. In his memory, his family established the James E. Fosselman Scholarship to help deserving South Pasadena students who plan to attend Pasadena City College.
- DeShawn Garcia, Harper Miller and Natasha Rey received the Karen Kincel Creative Writing Award. Karen Kincel was a gentle and well-loved member of the Class of 1975. She enjoyed creative writing, and her friends and family chose to remember her by establishing a creative writing scholarship to assist a SPHS graduate to be able to pursue a college education.
- Brandon Woo and Saidbh Byrne received the Keith Gustafson Athletic Scholarship. Keith Gustafson was a star three-sport athlete, leader and friend of many in the Class of 1973. His family friends established this award to honor a SPHS senior who aspires to participate in collegiate athletics.
- Maggie Vyas received the Maggie Veir Art Scholarship. Margaret “Maggie” Veir was a graduate of the SPHS Class of 1974. She was a creative, multi-talented, loyal, compassionate person who helped injured animals, lost people and good causes. Her friends and classmates established and support the Maggie Veir Art Scholarship to remember Maggie and honor high school seniors who exhibit remarkable artistic talent and seek to pursue an education or career in art.
- Nathan Olivarez received the Mary Ida Phair Scholarship. Mary Ida Phair was a member of the Class of 1938 who served as the High School’s Librarian from 1961 to 1981, and shortly after founded the SPHS Alumni Association. The scholarship is offered to remember and honor Mary Ida’s outstanding academic, personal and leadership qualities.
- Ava Conti and Leo Fiss received the Michael Colliau Athletic Scholarship. Michael Colliau was a three-sport Varsity letterman and graduate of the Class of 1974. As an athlete, Mike was an avid competitor who gave, and urged his teammates to give, 100% on every play. The scholarship honors a graduating male and female athlete selected by the SPHS coaching staff who exhibit that same “refuse to quit” spirit and hope to continue their participation in sports in college.
- Abigail Arrington and Benjamin Regan received the Ray Solari Athletic Leadership Scholarship. Ray Solari coached the Boys’ Varsity Football and Varsity Baseball teams to five CIF championships from 1956 to 1973. This scholarship honors a varsity athlete in any sport who has served in a leadership position during high school, maintained a B grade point average and participated in community service activities.
- Lulu Salvaterra and Melania Owens received the Susan Kane Shaver Performing Arts Scholarship. This scholarship honors the memory of Susan Kane Shaver, who grew up in and raised her family in South Pasadena. Susan was a passionate artist who loved dancing and painting. The scholarship is offered to graduating seniors who wish to pursue performing arts as a major or a career.
- Emma Preston and Evan An received the Yong-Kyu and Robert Kim Biological Sciences Scholarship. This scholarship is created in fond memory of Yong Kyu Kim, Ph.D. who devoted his life to research in biological science and Robert J. Kim, M.D. (Class of 1989). It is awarded annually to one or two graduating SPHS seniors who aspire to pursue a career related to biological science or medicine.
