Our 2023 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations Scholarship Recipients
Artemisa Garcia Family Scholarship
These scholarships are named for a remarkable woman, Artemisa Garcia. While she and her husband were raising four kids, she worked in the cafeteria of Rancho Starbuck Middle School, where all four of them attended. After the kids were out of the house she decided to go to college. She promised her grandmother in Mexico that she would. She became a teacher, a counselor, a vice principal, a bi-lingual coordinator and finally an elementary school principal in Rowland Heights.
During her entire career in education her passion was to motivate children, all children, to do their very best, to go to college and become even more than they themselves thought they could be. She eventually lost a long struggle with cancer. Twenty years later her adult children approached Advance! to ask us to award scholarships in her name.
2023 Joseph Song, Whittier Christian High
2023 Julianne Canda, La Habra High
2022 Catherine Alcala, La Habra High
2021 Gracie Tancre, La Habra High
2021 Zia Diaz, La Habra High
2020 Lauren Bagdonoff, La Habra High
2020 Jane Hernandez, La Habra High
2020 Walter Lopez, La Habra High
2020 Cindy Soria, La Habra High
2020 Joseph Luna, La Habra High
2020 Jessica Gallegos, Sonora High
2019 Ramona Ornelas, Sonora High
2019 Estephanie Gonzalez Mora, La Habra High
2019 Giselle Hernadnez Sonora High
2019 Miranda Darensbourgh, Sonora High
2019 Vanessa Avila, La Habra High
2018 Zuly Villegas, La Habra High
2018 Kevin Jimenez, La Habra High
2018 Milah Afonin, Sonora High
2017 Delany Tran, Sonora High
2017 Valerie Gutierrez, La Habra High
2017 Yareli Segura, La Habra High
2016 Kawkab Chigri, La Habra High
2016 Vanessa Torres, La Habra High/ Rio Hondo College
2016 Kimberly Arreguin, Sonora High
2016 Julie Duda, Sonora High
2015 Jessica Sanchez, Sonora High
2015 Briana Soto, La Habra High
2014 Monica Gamino, Sonora High
2014 Maria Ornelas, Sonora High
2014 Daisy Soria, La Habra High
2013 Arturo Garcia, Sonora High
2013 Suzy Ramirez, La Habra High
2012 Jonathan Ishii, La Habra High
2012 Diana Munoz, Sonora High
2012 Jazmin Quiroga, La Habra High
2012 Guangseop Shin, Sonora High
2011 Alejandra Benitez, La Habra High
2011 Ivan Contreras, Sonora High
2011 Jennifer Fernandez, Sonora High
Dan Casey Scholarship
This scholarship carries the name of Dan Casey, who was Executive Director of the La Habra Boys & Girls Clubs for many years. He and his wife, Cathy, had two sons, Alex and Nolan, both of whom graduated from Sonora High School. Dan was a longtime advisor to Advance! and one of our strongest supporters in the La Habra community. He lost his battle with cancer in 2017. Advance! is honored to award scholarships in his name.
2023 Tannya Gallegos, Sonora High
2022 Clarissa Cabrera, Sonora High
2022 Michelle Mourey, La Habra High
2022 Morgan Billingsley, La Habra High
2021 Tyler Triviz, Sonora High
2021 Anya Shah, Sonora High
2020 Christian Angulo, Sonora High
2020 Eliana Afonin, Sonora High
2020 Angeline Marie Dequit, Sonora High
2020 Celeste Ramirez, Sonora High
2019 Brandon Porras, Sonora High
2019 Daisy Mendez-Villanueva, Sonora High
2018 Elizabeth McMillan, Sonora High
2018 Yara Ismael, Sonora High
2017 Maria Hernandez, La Habra High
2017 Valerie Gutierrez, Sonora High
2016 Samantha Casanas, Sonora High
2016 Lemar Stanekzai, Sonora High
2015 Stacy Flores, Sonora High
2015 Vanessa Gomez, La Habra High
Fred Lentz Scholarship
Advance!'s co-founder, Fred taught for 34 years, first at Lowell High in Whittier and then for 25 years at La Habra High before he and a former student established Advance! in 2002. For his 70th birthday, Fred was surprised to learn that friends and family agreed to set up a scholarship fund in his name, enough to fund two awards annually.
2018 Robert Munnerlyn, La Habra High
2018 Vivienne Gray, Sonora High
2017 Jose Alcala, Sonora High
2017 Monique Hernandez, La Habra High
2016 Nikki Chamberlain, La Habra High
2016 Oscar Rolon, Sonora High
2015 Juan Villalobos, Sonora High
2015 Carly Wong, La Habra High
2014 Chris Ledezma, La Habra High
2014 Maricela Perez, Sonora High
2013 Daniel Duque, Sonora High
2013 Jose Zuniga, La Habra High
Friends of Advance! Scholarship
These scholarships are funded primarily by two anonymous donors and are awarded primarily to students who are already in college and who need help continuing.
2020 Trinity Gomez, Sonora High
2018 Johnathan Vargas, La Habra High
2018 Ashmed Lozano, La Habra High
2018 Matthew Merino, La Habra High
2017 Bessy Sanchez, UCLA
2016 Alondra Gonzalez, Rio Hondo College
2015 Josue Mendez, Fullerton College
2014 Benjamin Garcia, La Habra High
2013 Lissette Bonilla, La Habra High
2012 Bellal Stanekzai, Fullerton College
2011 Everado Arrizon, Fullerton College
2011 Amanda Manzanares, La Habra High
2011 Azucena Mora, Sonora High
2011 Cynthia Ledesma, La Habra High
2010 Luis Liang
2010 Derek O'Hanlon, Sonora High
2010 Alex Oliva, Sonora High
2010 Julio Ruiz, La Habra High
2009 Victor Alatorre Jr., La Habra High
2009 Jessica Alvarez, La Habra High
2009 Angie Estrada, Sonora High
2009 Janet Ontiveros, Sonora High
2008 Jessica Mayorga, Sonora High
2008 Paola Rodriguez, La Habra High
2008 Sarahi Rodriguez, La Habra High
2007 Angelica Gaeta-Toro, Sonora High
2007 Alexis Bernal, La Habra High
2007 Alma Valle, Sonora High
2007 Cecilia Perez, La Habra High
2006 Maria Guerra, La Habra High
2006 Martha Guzman, Sonora High
2006 Edward Machorro, Sonora High
2006 Martha Sanchez, La Habra High
Sierra Vista Scholarship
The student council of Sierra Vista, a K-6 school in La Habra City School District, came up with the idea of awarding a college scholarship for graduating seniors at Sonora High. Candidates are interviewed by a panel form the school's student council and the scholarship recipients are honored at the school's annual end of the year assembly.
2019 Jocelyn Aguilera, Sonora High
2019 Giselle Hernandez, Sonora High
2019 Graciela Nava, Sonora high
Eileen and Henry Cohen
2023 Nicolas Carillo, Sonora High
2023 Tracy Tran, La Habra High
2023 Benjamin Green, La Habra High
2023 Alondra Garcia, La Habra High
2023 Jocelyn Lopez, Sonora High
2022 Troy Kaufman, La Habra High
2022 Tyler Porter, La Habra High
2022 Malini Pandey, Fullerton High
2022 Scarlet Marenco, Fullerton High
2022 Makayla King, La Habra High
2021 Khanyisile Makonese, Troy High
2021 Emily Ruiz, Fullerton High
2021 Clara Guirguis, Sonora High
2021 Joseph Saada, Fullerton High
2021 Melanie Sanchez, Godinez High
2021 Truong Ngo, Savannah High
2021 Jackelin Flores-Godinez, Buena Park High
Alex Buck Scholarship
A family in Fullerton lost their won Alex to cancer on Christmas Day in 2006 when he was only halfway through his freshman year at Pomona College. Even though he was an honors graduate of Troy High School in Fullerton, his parents asked Advance! to find deserving students in La Habra for these scholarships. Every year we are honored award two of these scholarships in his name.
2023 Adalyn Rodriguez, La Habra High
2023 Raegan Arroyo, La Habra High
2023 Patrick Woo, Sonora High
2023 Kendra Wise, Sonora High
2022 Arizbeth Arcos, La Habra High
2022 Maya Equihua, La Habra High
2021 Tyler Triviz, Sonora High
2021 Mohammadi Ali Sina, La Vista High
2021 Ryan Esquivel, La Habra High
2020 Ashley Villegas, Sonora High
2020 Sahara Espino Solis, Sonora High
2019 Jina Byun, La Habra High
2019 Cristian Romero, Sonora High
2018 Jazmine Troncoso, La Habra High
2018 Braulio Ramirez, La Habra High
2018 George Rico, La Habra High
2018 Abigail Lopez, La Habra High
2017 Anhthu Pham, La Habra High
2017 Nicole Luna, La Habra High
2016 Lauren Hernandez, La Habra High
2015 Michelle Ledezma, Sonora High
2015 Javier Urias, La Habra High
2014 Vanessa Martinez, La Habra High
2013 Diana Felix, La Habra High
2013 Jasmin Gamino, Sonora High
2013 Jorge Ordorica, Sonora High
2012 Jennifer Caudillo, La Habra High
2012 Sarahi Paek, Sonora High
2011 Ryan Luna, La Habra High
2011 Diana Melendez, Sonora High
2010 Susana Ortiz Vargas, Sonora High
2010 Alejandra Rodriguez, La Habra High
2009-2012 Alex Bielawiec, La Habra High
Cash 4 College Scholarship
"Cash 4 College", a division of the California Student Aid Commission based in Sacramento, encourages organization like Advance! to help as many students as possible fill out their FAFSA with one of these agencies, Cash 4 College provides a $1000 scholarship chosen by lottery.
2012 Diana Martinez, La Habra High
2011 Luis Cisneros, Sonora High
2011 Anna Martinez, La Habra High
Philip Haworth Scholarship
Phil Haworth is a 1995 graduate of La Habra High School. He went from there on to the University of Southern California, majoring in Aerospace Engineering (Class of 1999). He seeks to help local La Habra high school seniors fulfill their ambition to complete four-year degrees in science or engineering or related fields.
2023 Lydia Nguyen, La Habra High
2023 Justin (Brent) Grantham, La Habra High
2023 Jesus Vargas, Sonora High
2022 Matthew Cheah, Sonora High
2022 Troy Kaufman, La Habra High
2021 Ryan Esquivel, La Habra High
2020 Jose Pavon, La Habra High
2020 Jonathan Cheah, Sonora High
2019 Estephanie Gonzalez Mora , La Habra High
2018 Braulio Ramirez, La Habra High
2018 Carlos Alatorre, La Habra
NROTC Scholarship
2020 Anne Edwards, Sonora High
Sandi Bates Scholarship
2021 Odalys Garcia, La Habra High
2021 Joanna Saavedra, Sonora High
2020 Nadia Espitunal, Sonora High
Highlander Scholarship
Advance's newest scholarship, established 2018, is funded by two long time La Habra High staff members who recently retired. This annual scholarship will go to a student who is entering nursing or another health field.
2021 Karen Hinojosa, La Habra High
2019 Stefany Garcia Mora, La Habra High
2018 Gladys Estrella, La Habra High
Institute for Healthcare Advancement Scholarship
The Institute for Healthcare Advancement is a large medical facility in La Habra that serves thousands of local residents every year. It was Advance!’s home for several years. IHA provides scholarship funds to assist students who plan to enter the medical/healthcare field. Beyond funding scholarships IHA is a primary source of support for Advance! in the city in the city of La Habra.
2023 Yuna Lee, Sonora High
2023 Johnny Ruiz, La Habra High
2023 Juhyeong Mun, Sonora High
2023 Marissa Estrada, Sonora High
2023 Samuel Berduo-Canlas, La Habra High
2023 Jessica Salgado, La Habra High
2022 Lukas Garberg, La Habra High
2022 Caitlyn Konecne, La Habra High
2022 Courtney Haraguchi, La Habra High
2022 Kimberly Camacho, Fullerton High
2022 Mireya Ruiz, Sonora High
2022 Robert Arellano, Whittier Christian High
2021 Grecia Garcia, Sonora High
2021 Daniel Martinez Jaime, Sonora High
2021 Alyssa Arreola, Sonora High
2021 Parmida Bakhtiari Ghaleh, Fullerton High
2021 Karen Hinojosa, La Habra High
2020 Sahara EspinoSolis, Sonora High
2020 Safiyya Patel, Sonora High
2020 Ellen Hwang, Sonora High
2020 Madeline Arreguin, Sonora High
2020 Jonathan Cheah, Sonora High
2019 Catherine Antuna, La Habra High
2019 Veronica Barajas, Sonora High
2019 Miranda Darensbourg, Sonora High
2019 Ashley Haraguchi, La Habra High
2019 William Leonard, La Habra High
2018 Jose Alcala, Cal State Long Beach
2018 Diana Magana, UC Davis
2018 Gladys Estrella, La Habra High
2017-18 Madelynn Sopp, University of Southern California
2016 Araceli Casillas, Sonora High
2016 Green, Pfaff, La Habra High
2013 Bruce Briquelet, La Habra High
2013-2016 Asia Williams, La Habra High
JMR Foundation Scholarship
A young man who graduated from one of La Habra’s two public high schools was the victim of gang violence back in 2008. The “JMR Foundation” was established in his name and inn 2016 his family came to Advance! and asked if we would honor their son with two scholarships every year.
2023 Ailin Torres, La Habra High
2023 Charlie Garcia
2023 Paul Siapin, Sonora High
2023 Marissa Estrada, Sonora High
2022 Andrea Navarrete, La Habra High
2022 Jesus Camacho, La Habra High
2022 Eliza Flores, La Habra High
2022 Julieta Araiza, Sonora High
2021 Angel Navarro, Sonora High
2021 Samantha Pineda, Sonora High
2020 Jennifer Lee, Sonora High
2020 Omar Padilla, Sonora High
2019 Jennifer Rivera, Sonora High
2019 Daliana Solis Solis, Sonora High
2018 Johnathan Vargas, La Habra
2018 Brian Agallo, La Habra High
2017 Yareli Alatorre , La Habra High
2017 Pamela Padilla, Sonora High
2016 Cailin Grantham, La Habra High
2016 Kristen Sauceda, Sonora High
Augustine Family Scholarship
These scholarships are presented to honor the two deceased sons of Michael and Marilyn Augustine. Rex Augustine, a 1982 graduate of La Habra High School, was killed by a drunk driver in 1986 in the intersection of Imperial Highway and First Avenue. His closest friend died with him in the same car. Another Augustine boy, Steven, succumbed to a brain tumor when he was only three. This family started funding these scholarships in 1987 at La Habra High School, 15 years before Advance! was founded Beginning in 2006, they have given Advance! the honor of awarding these scholarships. The Augustine family wants to give other young people the opportunity for a college education that their two sons did not live long enough to enjoy. The Augustines, especially their son Michael, have funded close to 60 scholarships.
2023 Sarah Baker, Sonora High
2023 Dulce Gonzalez-Munguia, Fullerton High
2023 Natalie Osuna, Sonora High
2023 Johnny Ruiz, La Habra High
2023 Jeannine Ruiz, La Habra High
2023 Isaiah Ervin, Fullerton High
2022 Gracie Rhode, La Habra High
2022 Nicholas Gutierrez, Sonora High
2022 Jayden Hyer, La Habra High
2022 Julian Atari, Sonora High
2022 Valerie Alvarez, La Habra High
2022 Nadezda Li, Sonora High
2021 Odalys Garcia, La Habra High
2021 Angel Navarro, La Habra High
2021 Gracie Tancre, La Habra High
2021 Joselle Barnoya, La Habra High
2020 Jose Pavon, La Habra High
2020 Reem Asad, La Habra High
2020 Enjy Mekhaiel, Sonora High
2020 Ezekiel Zizo, Sonora High
2020 Jessica Gallegos, Sonora High
2019 Veronica Barajas, Sonora High
2019 William Leonard, La Habra High
2019 Ramona Ornelas, Sonora High
2019 Ciello Penilla, La Habra High
2018 Oscar Alcala, La Habra High
2018 Chandara Heng, La Habra High
2018 Meliton Hernandez, Sonora High
2018 Arlene Arrequin, Sonora High
2017 Jose Alcala, Sonora High
2017 Nitya Loganda, La Habra High
2017 Neha Loganda, La Habra High
2017 Diana Magana, La Habra High
2016 Madelynn Sopp, Sonora High
2016 Tiffany Sanchez, La Habra High
2016 Gustavo Cruz, La Habra High/Fullerton College
2016 Alejandro Avila-Alatorre, La Habra High
2015 Andrea Agramon-Leon, Sonora High
2015 Monica Estrada, La Habra High
2015 Monica Menjivar, La Habra High
2015 Michael Wheeler, La Habra High
2014 Kelcey Khen, La Habra High
2014 Jolin Morcos, La Habra High
2014 Mohammed Raza, Sonora High
2014 Frank Rios, Sonora High
2013 Daniel Duque, Sonora High
2013 Yocelin Gomez, Sonora High
2013 Brianna Retama, La Habra High
2013 Jose Zuniga, La Habra High
2012 Nur Bayaa, Sonora High
2012 Brandy Macias, La Habra High
2012 Linda Morales, La Habra High
2012 Jessica Wang, La Habra High
2011 Lucia Cortez, La Habra High
2011 Robert Vargas, Sonora High
2010 Chrystel Murrieta, La Habra High
2010 Shirley Santos, Sonora High
2009 Joel Ledezma, Sonora High
2009 Amparo Meneses, Sonora High
2008 Karissa Guerrero, Sonora High
2008 Huy Nghiem, La Habra High
2007 Ducle Navarro, La Habra High
2007 Bianca Hernandez, Sonora High
2006 Valentina Duque, Sonora High
La Habra Goes to College Scholarship
For several years Advance! awarded a scholarship at its annual community wide event called "La Habra Goes to College" to a local High School Senior in attendance. Ten of these scholarships were awarded between 2006 and 2012.
2012 Jennifer Caudillo, La Habra High
2011 Jared Leung
2010 Chrystel Murrieta, La Habra High
2009 Brian Aleman
2009 Joel Ledezma, Sonora High
2008 Joana Mojica, La Habra High
2008 Emmanuel Hernandez, Sonora High
2008 Ricardo Garcia, La Habra High
2007 Daisy Velasco, Sonora High
2007 Raul Bonilla, La Habra High
2006 Efrain Dominguez
La Habra HS - Class of 1995
2016 Rachel Kirylo, La Habra High
Tarek Captan Scholarship
Tarek Captan was a 1993 graduate of La Habra High School. His brothers Rashad and Kareem are also former Highlanders. Tarek went
on to graduate from UCLA and then devoted all his time and energies to help low-income, at-risk youth in Los Angeles break out of the cycle of poverty and lead a better life. In 2006 while crossing a street in LA he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Tarek’s dad, Habib, is Advance!’s treasurer and office manager.
2023 Ilisa Medrano, La Habra High
2023 John Barrios, La Habra High
2022 Arianna Dominguez, La Habra High
2022 Aletza Romero-Herrera, La Habra High
2021 Joseph Saada, Fullerton High
2021 Zia Diaz, La Habra High
2020 Monica Herrera, La Habra High
2020 Mary Ibrahim, Sonora High
2019 Ashley Haraguchi, La Habra High
2019 Noah Salas, La Habra High
2018 Kevin Jimenez, La Habra High
2018 Asmed Lozano, La Habra High
2017 Monique Hernandez, La Habra High
2017 Diana Magana, La Habra High
2016 Michelle Perales, La Habra High
2013 Nikki Villegas, Los Altos High
2012 Gianna Ramirez, Sonora High
2012 Jennifer Tagle, La Habra High
2011 Janet Soria, La Habra High
2011 Katelyn Van Leir, Sonora High
2010 Ashely Lowery, La Habra High
2010 Gustavo Murillo, Sonora High
2009 Lizbeth Martinez, La Habra High
2008 Karina Garcia, La Habra High
2008 Vanessa Juarez, Sonora High
2007 Carmen Lopez, La Habra High
2007 Juan Pulido, Sonora High
Trino Corral Scholarship
The La Habra High School’s class of 1985 lost one of its classmates just two weeks before graduation in a freak jeep accident over Memorial Day weekend. Since then, every year his closest friends from that class have been honoring Trino by helping make college possible for graduating seniors from La Habra High.
2023 Angelica Itzep Soc, La Habra High
2022 Logan Leone-Carranza, La Habra High
2021 Ryan Esquivel, La Habra High
2020 Joseph Luna, La Habra High
2019 Adrian Cortez, La Habra High
2018 George Rico, La Habra High
2017 Maria Becerril, La Habra High
2016 Maria Vega, La Habra High
2015 Armandro Alatoree, La Habra High
2014 Eder Fuentes, La Habra High
2013 Leslie Teo, La Habra High
2012 Alida Patchen, La Habra High
2011 Maria Camberos, La Habra High
2010 Pablo Carrillo, La Habra High
2009 Brian Jara, La Habra High
2008 Ricardo Garcia, La Habra High
2007 Julio Garcia, La Habra High