CV Town Council Hands Out Scholarships to Local Students

Up until then, the Crescenta Valley Town Council meeting on May 16 had been filled with routine announcements, light jokes and an easy mood.

But when Council Member Harry Leon started to choke up and fight back tears, the mood in the room suddenly became very serious. Leon was up at the podium and talking to a group of high school students in the audience who were about to receive college scholarships from the council.

"We hope the best for your endeavors and for your future, but I have one special request," Leon said before taking a long pause to compose himself. "They always told me... I'm sorry. Don't forget your family, don't forget your community and don't forget your country. Those are three things that are important for me, and important for all of you, and I want you guys to promise me you won't forgot those three words."

Tears in his eyes, Leon then took a few more moments to compose himself. No one in the audience, which was filled with about 50 people, made a sound. Leon finally composed himself and continued with the ceremony.

Later on, he explained the reason for his strong emotions, saying he too had received a scholarship when he was young and that it had made a big impact on his life.

Dick Seely, one of the scholarship donors, lightened the mood when he spoke to the audience.

"I just want to make one point, and then I will shut my yap," Seely said. "For all of you who think that the kids today can't write, can't read, can't do anything worthwhile, or if you know people who do, they are full of you know what, because these kids are so brilliant, they make me in my day look like I was the dumbest klutz in the world, which I wasn't."

Students were chosen by application and interviewed by council members.

Scholarship recipients included: 

• Daniella Kim - Academic
• Nairi Kalpakian - Academic
• Jenna Dekeater - Vocational
• Anna Sokolova - Vocational
• Zane Toyon - Community Service
• Tricia Dubin - Community Service
• Amber Zadravecz - Post Secondary Goals
• Sevag Alexanian - Post Secondary Goals
• Arev Markarian - Special Recognition
• Kristen Choe - Special Recognition
• Gloria Han - Special Recognition
• Laura Lee - Bruce Campbell Architectural/Music Scholarship
• Jenna Wall - Lucile Seely Scholarship
•  Leanna Mosessian - Lucile Seely Scholarship