Kids in Laguna Beach are incredibly lucky. Not only do they live in a beautiful community with ocean beaches, hiking trails and many creative organizations, they live in a community unparalleled in its generosity toward them.

Last week’s Honors Convocation showed just how much young people are valued in Laguna: almost $280,000 in scholarships and grants, most from individuals, was given to 118 seniors in the Laguna Beach High School class of 2010.

The Laguna Beach Scholarship Foundation arranges for the distribution of scholarships, which help defray the daunting cost of college for these students. As if that wasn’t enough, many of the scholarships continue for the student’s entire college career as long as the student stays in school, which adds another $100,000 to the scholarship tally. This also gives students a good incentive to keep grades up and to keep progressing over the four long years or more of a college education.

Scholarships are given to students in many different areas of study: from science, medicine and business to art and creative writing. There is even an award for journalistic excellence.

Many of the awards are given in memory of Laguna students who died too soon, a loving tribute from families that keeps their lost ones’ memories alive.

This is a wonderful sendoff for the students as they embark on the next step of their journey to adulthood. On Thursday, the graduating seniors will receive their diplomas at the Irvine Bowl.

We congratulate all of them for their achievement and wish them all the best in the years to come.