A night for the scholars

OUR LAGUNA

The Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Foundation honored donors

and presenters at a reception held recently before the Honors

Convocation.

“A total of $154,000 will be presented tonight to 107 students,”

said outgoing President Lee Kucera, of the foundation. “We are

investing in the future and we hope you (donors) derive as much

pleasure from your gifts as the students will.

The first half of the awards were published in the June 6 edition

of Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. The second half is in this week.

Veteran teacher Dee Brislan also was honored at the reception.

“Dee has been part of the high school scholarship committee it

seems like forever,” Kucera said.

Brislan started with the district in 1975. She has served in

almost every capacity from tennis coach to acting principal. She

believes that her job is teach students how to learn, not just what

to learn.

Brislan wrote a sonnet for the occasion. It concluded: “That’s a

teacher goal: To help students express what’s in their soul.”

1998 graduate Charise Greene said scholarships and awards she was

awarded gave her a sense of her potential.

“I thought I was going to grow up to be a runner who was a

philanthropic leader with a theater career on the side,” Greene said.

“I don’t know how many communities would support that goal.

“I come from some place wonderful. Thank you for encouraging us

(students) to pursue our own paths.”

2202 graduate, Jennifer Kucera, who now attends Southern Methodist

University, performed the “Star Spangled Banner” a cappella, no easy

task. No wonder she was a scholarship recipient.

The amount of money provided by the community for scholarships

each year is among the highest in the country, according to

foundation officials.

Donations range anywhere from $50 to $8,000. Most are one-year

awards, some renewable for up to four years. Anyone can establish an

award. The donor must decide on the name, the amount of the award,

the selection criteria and any special procedures. The Scholarship

Foundation plays no part in the selection of recipients, which can be

done solely by the sponsor, by sponsor after applicants are screened

by the Faculty Scholarship Committee or by the committee on its own,

based on criteria.

So many familiar names are represented by Memorial Scholarships,

such as the one established by Bill and Kathleen Blackburn in the

name of their daughter, Camron. Others include Brandon Balsiger Post,

Warren B. Blossom, Juan Castano, George R. Lenney, Helen and Alan

Adams, David and Betsy Paul, Dave Loidolt, Ross Cox, Ken Beyer,

Jessica Wagner, Claudia Flint and Barbara Stuart. Sadly new on the

list year: Jennifer Lynn Bammer and Bonnie S. Lang.

The Marian and James Fagan Memorial Fund awards four $3,000

scholarships and one $500 scholarship every year.

“Marian left the money from the sale of her home,” said Dr. Gene

Levin, who presented the scholarship with Norm Browne and Penny

Stastny. “I figure we have given over $150,000 in the past 11 years

and we haven’t touched the principal.”

Ebell Club of Laguna Beach gave the first scholarship in 1936.

“We now give four $1,000 scholarships a year,” said club President

Mitchellene Channels, a new member of the Scholarship Foundation

Board of Directors, who presented the scholarships with Darlene

Bergeron.

The Festival of Arts presents the most awards.

“We will be announcing 12 scholarships, totaling $12,600 in visual arts, performing arts and writing” said Bob Henry, chair of the

festival Scholarship Committee, who was accompanied by Steve Brezzo

and Anne Webster.

Eight new scholarships were added this year. Soroptimist

International of Laguna Beach added three to the ones the service

club already funded. The new scholarships honored Ballet Pacifica

founder Lila Zali (dance), Sherry Lopez-Clark (community service) and

Rome Frisen (Model United Nations). Presentations were made by D’Anne

Purcilly LeBon, Pamela Turner, Kelly Vizolay and Jonathon Todd.

“The Soroptimists are now one of our largest donors,” Kucera said.

In all, 28 local service clubs sponsor scholarship, including the

Friends of the Laguna Beach Library, presented by Bob and Beverly

Mosier; the Laguna Beach Branch of the America Assn. of University

Women, presented by Erica Waidley; and the Laguna Board of Realtors,

presented by Rick Gold. Sandi and Hal Werthe handed out the Exchange

Club for most improved youth of the year. High school art department

teacher Peter Tiner and Bill Darnall presented the Sawdust Festival

award for visual and performing arts. Patricia Twitty represented

Laguna Greenbelt Inc. Steven Keller represented the Dick Metz Surf

Foundation in its first-ever scholarship. School Board member Betsy

Jenkins made the Village Laguna presentation. Anne Morris presented

the Chamber of Commerce award. Officer Ted Falencki recognized the

Explorer of the year with the Laguna Beach Police Employees Award.

The American Legion, represented by Richard Moore and James Law,

and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, represented by Ben Blount and

Warren Thurm presented certificates, medals and bonds.

Local and not-quite-local businesses that participated include

Citizens Business Bank, Community Orthopedic Medical Group, First

Team Nolan, The Irvine Co., MacGillivray Freeman Films and the

Pottery Shack.

McPhisto Society, which makes an annual obeisance to Elvis Presley

in the Patriots Day Parade, awards thousands of dollars -- in debased

foreign currency, presented by the Triple Dribbles Associates.

The Community Learning Center, Laguna Beach High School Alumni,

the school’s music faculty, the Associated Student Body, the PTA,

Laguna College of Art and Design, Park Avenue Players, and

SchoolPower are among the local educational organizations that

contribute.

Laguna Beach High School counselors Jan Fritzen (until 1986) and

Walt Lawson (until 2001) are credited with the growth of the

scholarship foundation, along with community members who serve on the

foundation’s Board of Trustees.

The trustees assist new sponsors, encourage endowments to

perpetuate existing awards, manage funds, invest them and keep

accounting records.

Among the trustees who attended the reception: President-elect

Eleanor Tiner, Marsha Aronoff, Blynn Bunney, Mary Fegraus, Angela

Irish, Chris Krach, Diane Kloke, Chris Loidolt and Deborah Rabben.

Five newcomers were added the board this year: Mitchellene Channels,

Patti Jo Kiraly, Cort Kloke, Lisa Straight and Debra Steel.

Any one interested in becoming a trustee should call 499-3823.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call 494-4321 or fax 494-8979.