Scholarships are annually renewable for continuing college or technical school students.

Photo courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Morgan Hill From left, Kiwanis Club of Morgan Hill President Dennis Bettencourt, Youth Fund Treasurer Margaret Graham and Morgan Hill Boys and Girls Club Director Alban Diaz with the check.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Nine Morgan Hill Unified School District graduating class of 2021 seniors received scholarships from the Kiwanis Club of Morgan Hill and a $5,000 grant was given to the Boys and Girls Club to support the 2021 Summer Enrichment Program.

In addition, the Kiwanis granted renewals on 11 scholarships awarded during the past four years. “The club is looking forward to the bright future and achievements of these students,” said Kiwanis scholarship chairperson, Karen Agaki.

The $5,000 grant given to the Boys and Girls Club will provide scholarships for the Summer Enrichment Camp this year to assist families to send their children to various camps.

The Kiwanis Turn Around Scholarships recognize students who have succeeded in their educational goals despite enduring hardships. These scholarships are annually renewable for continuing college or technical school students.

The first annual Jane Goularte Memorial scholarship was awarded to Ann Sobrato High School Senior Oscar Romero Lazaro.

This year’s Turn Around scholarships were awarded to students from each of the three Morgan Hill Unified School District High Schools. Ann Sobrato High School seniors receiving scholarships were Mireya Gonzalez Corral, Gerardo Tena Lopez and Briana Alverez Ramirez. Central High School seniors receiving scholarships were Destiny Perez and Luis Mendez Gonzales. Live Oak High School senior receiving a scholarship was Joe Leal.

The Kiwanis Key Club scholarships were awarded to Ann Sobrato students Savannah He and Allison Chang for leadership and service with the Ann Sobrato Key Club.

The Kiwanis Club has raised scholarship money by selling hot dogs at the Friday Night Music Series, the Kick’n Chicken Take-Out dinner sale in partnership with Mama Mia’s, the annual Turnaround Scholarship Gala, working at various festivals and as election couriers for the Registrar of Voters.

Loma Clara Senior Living, an Integral Senior Living community specializing in assisted living and memory care, will host a baseball tournament open to the Morgan Hill community at noon Saturday, June 19. This charitable event will benefit 4MOM, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The community hopes to raise $1,000 in proceeds to donate.

“Alzheimer’s is an increasingly prevalent disease in older Americans,” said Jennifer Bruhn, executive director at Loma Clara Senior Living. “Given our line of work, finding a cure is a cause that our entire team holds close to our hearts. We’re honored to join 4MOM in their mission to advance awareness, support caregivers and fund research in this area.”

Members of the community are encouraged to sponsor teams, participate in raffles and enjoy a day of fun. Refreshments will be provided, and items in the raffle include baseballs signed by MLB players.

Social distancing will be in effect at the event, and all attendees will be expected to wear face coverings. To prioritize the health and safety of Loma Clara residents and members of the greater community, the event will adhere to all national, state and local guidelines concerning COVID-19.

Photo courtesy of the Morgan Hill Historical Society From left, South Valley Fleurs Garden Club representatives; Janet McElroy, Theresa Borina, and Donna Dicker, MHHS Board Member, Kathy Chavez Napoli, and Morgan Hill Museum Manager Kathy Devine.

On May 15 the South Valley Fleurs Garden Club presented the Morgan Hill Historical Society with an Edu Grow Grant for $1,000 to support the expansion of the Native Garden at Villa Mira Monte. The garden showcases plants native to our area and describes how the Amah Mutsun used the plants for food, baskets, tools, dyes, soap, and medicines.

The garden will be expanded to the north front quadrant providing a paved path for access for school groups and visitors. Work starts this summer.