Community chips in to honor local students
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

TOP NOTCH- Winners of Oak Park High School's 2007 community scholarship awards pose with presenters at a ceremony held on May 23. SOPHIA FISCHER/Acorn Newspapers

More than 31 local business, service, athletic and academic groups presented scholarships to a select group of Oak Park High School seniors on May 24.

The students were rewarded for most improved grade point average, leadership and community service, arts and athletics, and cultural awareness and family ties.

"Oak Park High School goes out of its way to make this a very special event for students, presenters and families," said Oak Park High college and career counselor Mae Greenwald, who commended the school's parent/faculty club for not only awarding more than $4,000 in scholarships, but also arranging a reception.

David Rosso from Bank of America wrote two checks from his own account for $500 each in memory of his mother who recently passed away.

"I'm a banker," Rosso said, "and I know what money means to young adults heading off to college."

For the 10th year, local jeweler George Thompson handed out $100 scholarships and framed certificates to the top 10 seniors whose grade point averages improved the most from junior to senior year. Thompson, who grew up in Ventura County, calls the scholarships "Diamonds in the Rough."

"This award is written proof that the recipient possesses all the academic skills necessary to attend and graduate college," Thompson said.

The scholarship presenters included Westlake Village Rotary, Friends of the Library, the Women's Club, Agoura Youth Basketball Association, Telesis Community Credit Union, U.S. Army Reserve, Agoura Hills Senior Retreat, Westminster Free Clinic and the Conejo Valley Association of Realtors.

Cultural groups such as the Conejo Chinese Cultural Association, the 20th Century Onyx Club and the Oak Park Bahai community also gave out awards.

"I was amazed by the inspiring applications we received," said Linda Kay of Prudential California Realty. "It was a challenge to choose just one."

A number of Oak Park organizations honored the students, including parent/faculty, athletic boosters, performing arts, classified employees and teacher groups.

"It's not just about getting good grades. It's about being a good person," said Calvin Frye, who presented an award from Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Top athletes were recognized by the California Interscholastic Federation, the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation.

Oak Park High graduate Tyler SokolowNikolic presented a scholarship in memory of his brother Anton Sokolow-Nikolic, a former student and member of the school's golf team. Anton was killed in a car accident in 2002. Among the winners were student volunteers at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

"The people in our volunteer program provide support to various areas of the hospital and are an integral part of the whole operation," said Mark Barglowski, representing Los Robles.

Principal Lynn McCormack commended faculty members for their commitment to helping students to succeed and recognized the businesses and organizations presenting scholarships.