Students awarded scholarships from Conejo Future Foundation

by Stephanie BertholdoBertholdo@theacorn.com

Six local students received Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation (CLVFF) awards and scholarships for their work and leadership in this year’s Youth Congress forum. The forum, which focused on teen health, was conducted in April at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village.

Tera Lutz from La Reina High School was selected as the outstanding freshman and awarded a $100 U.S. Savings Bond donated by First Federal Bank of California.

The College Match Award went to Aaron Blum of Thousand Oaks High School, this year’s outstanding sophomore, said Fran Brough, executive director. The award, she said, was donated by Pat Croner to provide guidance in selecting a college that is best suited to the student’s interests.

Blum served on the Youth Congress Committee last year and was chosen for the award based on his talent as a videographer and photographer. For the past two years, Blum has taped and edited the Youth Congress event for viewing on public access television and for community groups.

Juniors Sooyeon Kang and Julie Oh from Westlake High School will each receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond donated by Community National Bank for their outstanding work as the group’s historian and secretary.

Agoura High School junior Zachary Byer, follow-up chair for the 2005 Youth Congress, also received an award. Byer was responsible for bringing presentations to the community and helping to implement the ideas of Youth Congress.

Two seniors shared top honors for this year’s Leadership Awards and have received cash scholarships. To earn the honor, students were required to “express the spirit of Youth Congress through their enthusiasm, ideas, sincerity and effort,” said Brough.

Winners Leila Shams of La Reina High School and Julia Fong of Oak Park High School both participated in the program for two years. Fong was instrumental in leading last year’s fund raising campaign. Shams served as the committee’s registration chair and designed a method to keep the audience moving through various workshops presented at the Congress.

The cash awards and scholarships are funded by donations from community groups and individuals.

Brough said that this year’s topic, “What the Health! An Inside Scoop on Exercise, Nutrition, and Personal Management,” inspired the students to create a poster promoting good nutrition. The posters will be distributed in schools and other area teen venues.

Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation is a 33 year-old nonprofit organization that serves as a facilitator for studies, projects, and events focused on the quality of life in the Conejo Valley.

The group brings together people of diverse interests to focus the future and has sponsored Youth Congress for 21 years.

For additional information on Youth Congress or the Foundation, please call Fran Brough at the CLVFF office at (818) 880-1054.