Cerritos College News Release

Photo of Thuhuong Mai, Susan Gradin and Amy Bungkadanara NORWALK, Calif. – March 24, 2009 – The Cerritos College Foundation presented the Alice Wang Scholarship to three students majoring in child development Thursday, March 12 during its board meeting.

The recipients were Amy Bungkadanara, of Downey; Natalia Contreras, of Pico Rivera; and Thuhuong Mai, of Norwalk.

The scholarship was established in honor of Alice Wang, the wife of Foundation board member J.P. Wang. The Wangs actively support academic endeavors of low-income students through scholarships. Annually, six $500 scholarships are awarded to single parents who major in Child Development and demonstrate outstanding academics.

Growing up as the neighborhood babysitter, Amy Bungkadanara has always loved children. After learning that she was expecting her own, she decided to begin studying child development. Bungkadanara currently volunteers three hours a day at Kirkwood Christian School in Downey and looks forward to pursuing her career in early childhood education.

Photo of Susan Gradin, Natalia Contreras and her family Natalia Contreras, a mother of four, decided to return to school in 2005 taking one class at a time. Shortly after that, she was hired as a Child Care Attendant for a state preschool program. She is now teaching in her own classroom and plans on pursuing her bachelor’s degree after she earns her associate in child development.

Thu Huong Mai has dreamed of becoming a teacher her entire life. While living in Vietnam, she often volunteered her time with an organization which helped poor children attend school. Upon earning her associate this semester, Mai plans on continuing at a CSU to earn her bachelor’s degree in child development.

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 24,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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Cerritos College

Releases 2009