Medical Center Auxiliary awards 21 scholarships to students

Scholarship recipients pose with Jaime Hurtado of Supervisor Marion Ashley's office and community activist Gloria Sanchez. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

A group of 21 students from Menifee who plan to pursue a career in the medical field were awarded scholarships May 24 in the annual presentation made by the Menifee Valley Medical Center Auxiliary.

Local students submit applications to the Auxiliary's scholarship committee with details about the college they are or will be attending, along with their career plans. The Auxiliary, made up of entirely of volunteers, has been awarding scholarships since 1993 and so far as awarded 306 scholarships worth about $468,000.

Funding for the scholarships is raised by Auxiliary members through various activities such as bake sales, Christmas tree sales and proceeds from the hospital's gift shop, said Ed Hollowell, chairman of the scholarship committee. The Auxiliary also received a grant from the Menifee Community Health Investment Program to help fund the scholarships.

As award recipients were introduced, they spoke briefly about their college choice and career goals. A luncheon was served, courtesy of the Auxiliary.

Attendees included Jaime Hurtado, Chief of Staff for Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, and Gloria Sanchez, chair of the Menifee Senior Advisory Committee.

Members of the scholarship committee are Ed Hollowell, Rick Alvarez, Judy Bair, Maria Garcia and Sharon Von Boeckmann.

The award recipients:

Frank Aceves
Nathan Brown
Katelyn Denny
Kaleigh Dyer
Maria Gurrola
Raul Gurrola
Juliet Griffin
An Le
Donica Loney
Danielle Monzon
Alexis Munoz
Jose Olvera
Samantha Orozco
Briany Padilla
Jennifer Perez
Kathleen Phan
Trevor Salas
Andrea Serrato
Damian Torres
Kassidy Vogel
Brianna Zamago