Keeping hopes for higher education

In 2004, artist Sean Tiner lost his younger brother, Mark, a sophomore at Laguna Beach High School, in a non-alcohol-related car accident.

Tiner recalls that Mark, an Eagle Scout and Laguna Beach High surfer and volleyball player who was also known as “Big Tiny” for his performances with local rap artists, looked forward to college and had dreams of attending USC.

“Most importantly, he enjoyed volunteering and giving back to the community,” Tiner said.

The following year, Tiner ran the Breakers Marathon in Newport, R.I. and asked friends, family and students to donate $1 per mile in support of his “Moving Forward” fundraiser, which would in turn support an aspiring college student at Laguna Beach High in honor of his brother.

“After seeing the community’s substantial response to the Moving Forward Fundraiser and the need to help students pursue higher education, I was inspired to continue the momentum and open the scholarship that was established by the community in Laguna to help more deserving students throughout Orange County,” he said.

“With the community’s generous support, I established the Mark P. Tiner Education Foundation in 2006 as a fund of the Orange County Community Foundation.”

Tiner awarded the third annual $1,000 scholarship Tuesday to Clara Vu of La Quinta High School in Westminster.

Among more than 70 qualified applicants, Tiner said Vu, who will be the first in her family to attend college, stood out because of her family’s financial hardships and selfless and substantial community service.

“The board felt this award would make a great impact on Clara’s life,” Tiner said.

Tiner “” also a well-known artist in the Laguna Beach community who explores a variety of media, including photography, mixed media and painting “” awards each scholarship recipient with one of his pieces.

“This year, I wanted to present Clara with a wave photograph that I captured in Pipeline, Oahu. The wave is the foundation’s icon, [it] represents our Southern California culture and encourages students to move forward in the direction of higher education,” he said.

To be considered for the award, students must maintain a minimum 3.75 grade-point average, plan to enroll in a four-year accredited college or university, demonstrate financial need and fulfill a requirement during their senior year of high school.

The Orange County Community Foundation narrows the applicant pool and the finalist is chosen by the Tiner Foundation Board.

“Each year, we receive more applications for the scholarship “” especially this year, as the economy has affected the available scholarship funds for graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education,” Tiner said.

“It feels really rewarding to continue my brother’s memory of pursuing higher education by helping deserving high school students achieve their college dream. Students and families from Orange County are often stereotyped as being financially affluent, but that is not always the case. With the community’s support, I’m glad to help make a difference and help deserving students purse their college dream.”

Funds for the scholarship are awarded from community donations and periodic fundraisers. To learn more about the foundation or to make a donation, visit www.oc-cf.org.