Cerritos College
Bellflower Noon Lions Club Scholarships awarded at Cerritos College Foundation board meeting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2011
Media Contact:Aya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 653-7878
NORWALK, Calif. - December 8, 2011 - The Cerritos College Foundation awarded two Cerritos College students, Anita McLaughlin and Hilario Ramirez, the Bellflower Noon Lions Club Scholarship at the Foundation board meeting on November 17.
The Bellflower Noon Lions Club Scholarship is awarded to students who have lived, worked or attended school in the city of Bellflower. The recipients were awarded $1,000 each in recognition of their community service and involvement.
A resident of Bellflower, Anita McLaughlin is a nursing major who has made volunteering a priority. She serves at a nursing home once a month and talks, listens to and prays with the residents, most of whom have no family who come to visit them. She believes that serving others helps keep things in perspective and takes the focus off of our own problems. McLaughlin has almost completed the pre-requisites needed to apply for the nursing program and looks forward to working in the field and helping patients one on one.
Hilario Ramirez actively participates in his community of Bellflower. He has volunteered at Project Apple, an after-school program for elementary school students. He is preparing to transfer to either Cal State L.A. or Long Beach to complete his bachelor's degree in social work, so he can work with the homeless, foster care youth and mental health patients. Among his many goals, Ramirez would like to join the Peace Corp and eventually earn his master's degree at USC.
The scholarship was presented by club member Dr. Eric Ikeda, who also serves on the Cerritos College Foundation Board.
"The motto of Lions International is 'We Serve'," said Dr. Ikeda. "The Bellflower Noon Lions believe that one of the best ways to serve is to reward students who are helping in their communities. We are proud to recognize and award these students for their community involvement and volunteerism."
The Cerritos College Foundation, a non-profit organization, serves as a charitable vehicle for the community, individuals and alumni, to assist withfinancial 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, LaMirada, 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 averages 23,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at http://www.cerritos.edu/.
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