Congrats to graduates

Patricia Morgan

Spirits were high as the members of the Class of 2003 donned their

caps and gowns for the first time to attend Honors Convocation on

Wed., June 4. This ceremony marks the beginning of the “graduation

season” for seniors, which will culminate on June 19 when they

receive their diplomas. Students applied in January for myriad

scholarships offered through the Scholarship Foundation, a program

unique to Laguna Beach High in its scope and generosity. Anticipation

is intense, as recipients’ names are “top secret.” This year, a total

of 250 awards were given, with 104 presentations at Convocation, for

a total of $154,000.

Before the event, Lee Kucera, president of the Scholarship

Foundation for two years, presided over a reception honoring donors

and teacher Dee Brislin who, despite a medical leave, has continued

to work with dedication on this project, which she believes

“nourishes the souls of the students”.

Top winners were Ashley Liddiard with $8,750 (including the Anna

Mary Beck Business Administration award in the amount of $6,750);

Nathan Greene $7,900; Geonelle Smith $6,300; Allie Phelps $5,600; and

Annie Cronin $5,300. The First Team Nolan Scholarship for $5,000 went

to Halley Fitzpatrick. There are many heart-warming stories behind

the scholarships. One of the earlier awards, the Fagan Memorial, came

about when a high school student selflessly helped an old widow over

the years. When she passed away, she left her cottage to the

Scholarship Fund, and those initial $150,000 have funded awards to

students planning to go into medical careers. The honorees were Annie

Cronin, Nathan Greene, Angelina Moore, Allie Phelps and Quinn

Johnson.

The Weaver Family decided a while back to give each other no more

presents at Christmas or birthdays, but rather to increment the

scholarship they offer our high school students. As Drew Weaver

presented, he exhorted students to give: “Give time, give ideas; if

you are a teenager and know it all, convey it all to a 12-year-old so

they will know it.” Kelly Nicholas, planning to become an architect,

received $3,700 to make the world a more beautiful place. Co-editors

of the school newspaper, “The Brush & Palette,” David Bean and

Geonelle Smith, received the Barbara Diamond Excellence in Journalism

distinction. The best Laguna Beach Lifeguard was Angelina Moore.

There were many athletic awards, with Chris Stansbury being named

Outstanding Athlete by the News-Post, but with the graduation of

Shannon Fuszard, the high school’s equestrian team (of one), for

which she received an Interscholastic mention, will disappear.

Several new scholarships were created this year to honor the

memory of those departed. Anne Morris established a fund to honor her

mother, who would have loved to go to college; Angelina Moore

received it. The Warren Blossom Memorial Golf scholarship went to

Ashley West and Steve Manee. The Dick Metz Surf Foundation honored

Rio Pollard for her love of surfing -- a “cool” award. Jennifer Lynn

Bammer will be remembered each year, beginning now with first

recipient Hilary Friedman. The Slattery family is honoring their

grandmother, who loved Girl Scouting, with the Bonnie S. Lang

Memorial award, which went to Allie Phelps. The crowd at the Artists’

Theatre gave a standing ovation to one of the presenters, Ethan

Slattery, who had returned from Iraq the night before from his tour

of duty with the U.S. Marines, and who looked impressive in his

uniform. Laguna Beach’s favorite baseball fan, Skipper Carrillo, also

received a standing ovation when his scholarship, begun by an Eagle

Scout, was awarded to Blake Hite.

The Class of 2003 has one graduate who will be attending the

prestigious U.S. Naval Academy, Henry Morgan. Appropriately, he also

received, along with Shannon Fuszard, the Les Chatham Citizenship

Medal explaining “Why I’m Proud to be an American.” The American

Legion also honored for citizenship Brian Beck, Mahlia Hines, Dylan

Metzler and Megan Robinson. The Helen and Alan Adams Memorial

Scholarship honors a senior who has experienced personal hardship; it

was presented to Fidel Salazar, who came to this country only two

years ago and works 40 hours a week, always making it to first period

without a single complaint. The No Square Theatre Award is highly

anticipated each year, as the presenters create lyrics to different

tunes; “Footloose” was the song, and Nathan Greene, who starred in

the record-breaking spring musical, was the winner.

It was an evening of celebration and of remembering all those who

have looked to the future by giving students the opportunity to

follow their dreams. Anyone interested in establishing a new

scholarship should contact Chris Krach at the high school: 497-7750,

ext. 212.

Congratulations to the entire graduating Class of 2003.

* PATRICIA MORGAN is the parent of a graduating Laguna Beach High

School student and a sophomore at the school.