Cerritos College Foundation

Photo of Judi Holmes (left) and Katelyn Hamasaki when Hamasaki was awarded the Robert C. Hughlett Scholarship. NORWALK, Calif. – October 22, 2008 – Katelyn Hamasaki, a double-major American history and nursing student at Cerritos College, received the Robert C. Hughlett Scholarship for Students with Disabilities back in July 2008 from the Cerritos College Foundation.

As Hamasaki received the scholarship at the Foundation board meeting on Thursday, July 10, she mentioned that she was going to use the money from the scholarship for a surgery she was in desperate need of to save the use of her right eye.

She had been told that she was suffering from a torn retina that could soon lead to a complete retinal detachment if she didn’t get the surgery.

Hamasaki is one of millions of uninsured Americans that have no choice but to spend money they don’t have in order to stay healthy.

“To know there is something wrong with your health is stressful,” Hamasaki said. “The situation becomes even more stressful knowing that you don’t have health insurance or the money to cover any unforeseen medical expenses.”

Hearing about her situation, Dr. Eric Ikeda, Cerritos College Foundation vice chair and optometrist in Bellflower, talked with Hamasaki and offered her some help. Ikeda is a former board member of the Lions Eye Foundation of Southern California (LEFSC).

“I remain committed to helping those individuals who have vision problems and try to find ways to assist them through our organization,” said Ikeda. “When Katelyn spoke I was moved by her appreciation and concerned about her education. I met with her after the meeting and assured her that I would assist her in seeking help.”

Since 1963, the Lions Eye Foundation of Southern California (LEFSC) has made “Sight Conservation” their mission by “prevent[ing] avoidable blindness through education and training”.

Ikeda immediately started working with the LEFSC and Hamasaki to see what he could set up.

In the end, Hamasaki got the surgery she was in need of while the LEFSC agreed to pay the entire surgical fee of $900.

“To know that there are a group of people out there who devote their time, effort and money to helping individuals like me make sure they have healthy eyes is a comforting thought,” Hamasaki said in a thank-you letter she wrote to the Lions Eye Foundation.

“I would also like to thank Dr. Ikeda for his willingness to reach out to a student who was in need and helping to preserve my sight,” she continued.

Hamasaki, who already has two Associate of Arts degrees in history and liberal arts, plans to continue her education at UCLA where she will focus on her “real passion”, nursing. She wants to become a nurse practitioner with an emphasis in diabetes.

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 Foundation online at www.cerritos.edu/ccf.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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