Foundation Awards Three Auto Scholarships

Jeannie M.T. Yang and SMCDA Scholarships Honor Outstanding Students

The Cerritos College Foundation awarded three automotive scholarships to six promising students at its board meeting Thursday, May 17.

The Jeannie M.T. Yang Scholarship, a $500 award was presented to automotive body repair majors Stevie Smith of Long Beach and Irene Ontiveros of Long Beach. The Jeannie M.T. Yang Automotive Scholarship awards a total of $2,000 each year to four promising students in the automotive department at Cerritos College. Established in memory of Dr. Jeannie M.T. Yang, a community college professor originally from mainland China, who had a great passion for education.

The SMCDA Automotive Technology Scholarship, a $500 tool voucher toward the purchase of MATCO tools was received by Christian Coleman of Paramount, Cristian Ramos of Long Beach, and Elias Valencia of Hesperia. Coleman and Ramos are enrolled in the Ford ASSET Program and Valencia is currently studying in the Chrysler CAP Program. This scholarship was designed to assist the college's automotive apprentice program students in purchasing tools to use in their classes. The tool voucher, combined with the 50% tool discount program which MATCO also provides for Cerritos College automotive students, is actually worth $1,000.

SMCDA also presented the $750 SMCDA Northwood 3rd Year Scholarship to Arnulfo Amezcua, Jr. of Pasadena. This award assists Cerritos College students who have completed their first two years in automotive technology training and are pursuing their bachelor's degree through Northwood University.

Amezcua is completing the Ford ASSET Program and transferring to the Automotive Retail Management Program at Northwood University in Spring 2013.

The Southland Motor Car Dealers Association represents franchised new car dealers throughout Southern Los Angeles County.

Cerritos College's Auto Technology Program provides students with hands-on, nationally authorized training for GM, Ford, Chrysler and import vehicles. The College also hosts an Advanced Transportation Technology Center, one of nine Centers in the state of California, to encourage use and development of clean, renewable energies, and alternative fuel sources. Students can also earn a bachelor's degree in automotive management at Cerritos College through an agreement the college has with Northwood University.

The Cerritos College Foundation, a non-profit organization, serves as a charitable vehicle for the community, individuals and alumni, to assist with financial support of Cerritos College. Visit the Foundationonline at www.cerritos.edu/ccf.