MONTEREY PARK — The Bella Vista Optimist Club of Montebello held its 45th annual Glenn N. Nishizawa Memorial Scholarship Awards Presentation on Aug. 27 at Monterey Hills Steakhouse in Monterey Park.
Awarded first place was Rafael Cubillo, Jr., a graduate of Garfield High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He received a $4,000 scholarship and is planning on majoring in film and television production at CSU Long Beach.
The second-place recipient, Jeanie Garcia, received a $2,000 award. A graduate of Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel, she will be attending Cal State Los Angeles and will pursue a major in biology.
Receiving $1,000 as the third-place recipient is Hsien-Te Kao, a graduate of San Gabriel High School. He will be attending California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
This award would not be possible without the generosity of Elizabeth Smith, together with Vic and Ilene Bezjian, of Huntington Beach.
The deserving awardees were selected from a number of high school seniors on the basis of grade point average, academic achievement, and participation and involvement in school and community activities.
The scholarship is a way to perpetuate the memory of Glenn Nishizawa, a U.S. Army medic who was killed in action in the Vietnam War in 1968. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star medals. The award was established by family and friends and is sponsored by the Bella Vista Optimist Club.
– Kimi Yamato