By Catelyn Di Leva
Staff Writer
The Manhattan Beach Neptunian Woman’s Club awarded a total of $42,000 to ten seniors from Mira Costa High School for their academic, music and art achievements.
Seniors Katherine An, Katherine Robak, Gassia Ashikian, Reilly Edmonds, Madeline Taylor, Alexandra Yee, Armance Sherman, Jimmy Shaw, Colette Grubman, Sabrina Callendar-Clewett and Matthew Faustgen were all awarded scholarships.
“We were getting recognized for our achievements and commitment in each of our own aspects, which I am extremely grateful for,” Sherman said. “It’s awesome to see other students’ talents and I am so honored to have received this scholarship, especially from an organization as influential as the Neptunian Woman’s Society.”
The Neptunian Woman’s Club of Manhattan Beach, which established in 1909, is dedicated to philanthropy and volunteerism directed toward raising funds for worthy local charities and expanding educational opportunities for students in the community. The Neptunian club has been giving awards to Costa students for around 25 to 30 years.
“The philanthropic organization raised money for scholarships, divided into seven academic, two music and one art,” Neptunian club board member Linda Merlo said. “Awards are based on member interviews with ambitious students who combined a high grade point average with community service commitments, artistry, school activism and financial need.”
After signing up through the College and Career Center at the beginning of the school year to become a nominee, all ten students were interviewed by the Neptunian club board members, Linda Merlo and Elaine Trotter.
“We got an email from one of the representatives two months after signing up informing us that we’ve been chosen to be in the final selection process and to come in for an interview,” An said.
An was given her award by the James Withers Dentals Scholarship along with an additional five hundred dollars. Withers is a dentistry located in Manhattan Beach that has given the award previously.
“By getting this award, I got to show my interest in possibly pursuing dentistry as my career, seeing as how my mom is a dental technician and last summer I was an intern at a dental office,” An said.
Senior Jimmy Shaw was awarded for his academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Shaw participated in journalism at Costa and he was a part of the video program and created many projects during his time in the program.
“I’ve been a hard worker throughout high school so my zealousness carried into my academics and achievements,” Shaw said. “I would stay up late to do all of my work, which helped me succeed from an academic standpoint.
Sherman was awarded by the club for her academics in high school and her participation in outside extracurricular activities like Comedy Sportz and drama. She also participated in an internship at the USC Health, Emotion, and Addiction Laboratory.
“Overall, I’m super honored and grateful for the award,” Sherman said. “I know my peers and I have put in a lot of hard work and effort so it’s great to be recognized for that.”
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