Cerritos College Foundation-News

Photo of Steve Richardson and Maria Villanueva NORWALK, Calif. – May 29, 2009 – Two Cerritos College students were each awarded with $1,000 scholarships during the May 14 Cerritos College Foundation Board meeting.

Students Maria Villanueva, of Paramount, and Deedee Sanchez, of Monterey Park, each received The Chugh Firm Accounting Scholarship and The Chugh Firm Paralegal Scholarship respectively.

Navneet Chugh, an attorney-at-law and CPA, established the scholarships to support promising accounting and paralegal students. Chugh is the managing partner and founder of The Chugh Firm and a member of the Cerritos College Foundation Board of Directors.

Villanueva always knew she wanted to become a CPA and began pursuing that dream in 2001. As a mother of two high school students, Villanueva began taking one to two classes at a time so that she would still be able to be a full-time mom. She has earned her associate degree in business accounting and was recently accepted to Northwood University, located on the Cerritos College campus, where she will begin working on her bachelor’s degree in business.

Photo of Steve Richardson and Deedee Sanchez Just a few years ago, Sanchez was terrified with the idea of going back to school yet knew that it was vital in order to provide a better life for her and her children. Sanchez discovered a curiosity and passion for the legal field and is now completing her second semester at Cerritos College while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has gained experience working at the Juvenile Court in Monterey Park and looks forward to completing her degree and beginning her career as a paralegal.

The Chugh Firm is an international law firm that provides companies with corporate, tax, litigation and immigration services. Offices are located in Cerritos, Northern California, the East Coast, and India. Visit The Chugh Firm online at www.chugh.com.

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 26,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

###