Menlo Park Kiwanis Club Awards $60,000 In Scholarships To Menlo-Atherton High School Graduating Seniors 2024

The Kiwanis Club of Menlo Park awarded $60,000 in scholarships to six Menlo Atherton High School seniors at an awards luncheon for family and friends of the students.

“There are more outstanding students than we can award scholarships to,” said John Martin, Scholarship Chair for the Kiwanis Club. “They are tops in their class academically, but their participation in community service projects is also a key component in our decision-making process. In addition, they have made real commitments to continue their community service in the years to come.”

“Two of the students, Ana Ramos and Izabel Sharp were Key Club members at Menlo-Atherton. This is a student-led high school service organization sponsored by our Kiwanis Club. In fact, most Kiwanis Clubs sponsor Key Clubs around the world,” added Louise DeDera, President of the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club.

These six students join many other Menlo Atherton High School students who have received scholarships from the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club for more than 40 years. Over $1.2 million has been awarded to local students during the lifetime of the Club’s scholarship program. Several named scholarships have been endowed by past members of the Club, and those, combined with other fundraising activities, have enabled the club to award scholarships and other grants to community organizations each year.

Shown here, main photo are John Martin, Chair of the Kiwanis Scholarship Committee; Jeff Caceres, Cal Poly; Natalia Lopez Castenada, San Francisco State; Andela Maldonado, UC Channel Islands; Ana Ramos Penagos, UC Riverside; Aaralyn Prasad. UC Santa Cruz; and Louise DeDera, Menlo Park Kiwanis Club President. Inset photo are Izabel Sharp, who will be attending USC, received her award at a later Kiwanis meeting. Shown with her are her brother Mattias and father Christopher Sharp.

Menlo Park Kiwanis Club Awards $60,000 In Scholarships 2023
The Kiwanis Club of Menlo Park awarded $60,000 in scholarships to six Menlo Atherton High School seniors who were college bound in the fall of 2023. Family and friends of the scholars attended an awards luncheon at Allied Arts Guild.

“This outstanding group of students has not only excelled academically, but they have been involved in many community service projects, too. In addition, they have committed themselves to continuing community service in the years to come,” said Louise DeDera, Kiwanis Club president.

These six joined many other Menlo Atherton High School students who have received scholarships from the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club for more than 40 years. Almost $1.2 million has been awarded to local students during the lifetime of the Club’s scholarship program. Several named scholarships have been endowed by past members of the Club, and those, plus other fundraising activities have enabled the club to award scholarships and other grants to community organizations each year.

Shown here are Alyssa Hernandez, Vinca Lopez Molina, Ariana Mendoza, Jenna Menifee,  and Theodore Weiker. Not pictured is Margaret Donald who received her award in August. The schools chosen by these winners are USC, Fresno State, San Jose State, UC Davis, NYC, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.