Group awards scholarships to six local students
From staff report
Six 2023 high school graduates from the Riverside area recently received $2,500 STAR Scholarships from the P.E.O. Sisterhood, recommended by P.E.O. chapters in Riverside and Corona.
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 to provide scholarships for women in their final year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the United States or Canada in the next academic year. The scholarship is for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success, according to a news release.
Following are the Riverside area recipients of the P.E.O STAR Scholarships.
■ Melanie Magana, a graduate of Riverside Polytechnic High School, sponsored by P.E.O. Chapter BV. She will attend UC Berkeley and study English.
■ Kierstyn Cohen, a graduate of John W. North High School, sponsored by Chapter SI. She will attend UC Berkeley and study political science.
■ Lorelei Tang, a graduate of Santiago High School, sponsored by Chapter KE. She will attend UCLA and study business economics and computer science.
■ Calista Miramontes, a graduate of Notre Dame High School, sponsored by Chapter HO. She will attend UCLA and study biochemistry.
■ Zoe Minter, a graduate of Ramona High School, sponsored by Chapter OH. She will begin her postsecondary education at Riverside City College while preparing for a career in dermatology.
■ Raelene Ramirez, a graduate of Patriot High School, sponsored by Chapter J. She will attend UCR and major in psychology.
P.E.O. has been a part of the Riverside-area community since Chapter J was organized in 1904. This scholarship cycle marks the first time the local chapters have worked together to find scholarship candidates, with P.E.O. International awarding scholarships to six of the seven locally nominated women, according to the news release.
The six local scholarships are part of the 1,000 STAR Scholarships P.E.O International awarded this year in the United States and Canada.
P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), founded in 1869, is a nonprofit organization with more than 5,000 chapters that has helped more than 122,000 women pursue educational goals by providing nearly $415 million in grants, scholarships, awards and loans, according to the news release. P.E.O. also owns and supports Cottey College in Nevada, Mo. For information, go to peointernational.org.
Nonprofit will host backpack giveaway
The Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation will hold its 21st annual backpack giveaway from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Bordwell Park, 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd., Riverside.
The event will provide school supplies to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The backpacks filled with school supplies will be distributed on a firstcome, first-served basis, and early arrival is recommended because the supply is limited.
Students must be present and must bring school identification, according to a news release.
This event is made possible through partnerships with the city of Riverside, Riverside Unified School District, Cold Cutz Barbershop, Riverside Police Department, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes and the Riverside Fire Department.
For information about the Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation, go to adcrfoundation.org.
— From staff report