THE GIFT OF GIVING

Local nonprofits and organizations invest in the future

■ Sons & Daughters of Italy – Gold Country Lodge No. 2705 scholarships

News release

The Gold Country Lodge No. 2705 Order

Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, founded in 1996, recently awarded seven scholarships in El Dorado Hills. The group’s mission is to foster an environment that preserves Italian American traditions creating a legacy of service to the community.

The Gold Country Lodge o ers $500 Italian Heritage Scholarships for students enrolled within the El Dorado Union High School District and Folsom, which represent the membership base of the lodge. Additional scholarships o ered are one $500 Italian Language Scholarship to a student who has participated in the Oak Ridge Italian language classes for four years with exemplary performance and three Bob Matranga Memorial Scholarships for $1,000 each. Matranga had a career in law enforcement for the Sacramento City Police Department for 30 years and was also an instructor at the police academy. His family established this memorial scholarship to honor him.

■ Soroptimist International of Cameron ParkEl Dorado Hills scholarships

Soroptimist International Cameron Park-El Dorado Hills awarded scholarships of $1,000 each to four local seniors. Recipients from Ponderosa High School are Hayden Bebout and Kaia Mount and recipients from Oak Ridge High School are Haley Wong and Alena Tadayeski.

All students have plans to attend college in the fall. Hayden discovered an interest in math and science when she was awarded a scholarship to attend a STEM summer camp. This interest, plus her joy in coaching gymnastics to children, led her toward a desire to become a pediatric nurse. Hayden is described by counselors as wise beyond her years with a natural ability to lead, which she will put to good use when she attends the University of Utah.

Meanwhile, Kaia wants to be the person to find a cure for EhlerdDanlos syndrome. She was born with this disorder, but it wasn’t diagnosed until it became disabling in her sophomore year. In spite of missing months of school, she dedicated herself to making up that year, graduating on time with a straight-A academic record. Her plan is to attend medical school to become a doctor or researcher.

Haley has goals of becoming a nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner. She demonstrated she is up to the challenge by getting A’s or A+’s in all of her classes, especially commendable since they were all AP classes. Furthermore, she juggled her academics with a rigorous athletic schedule. She is an accomplished golfer, teaches golf and has been

■ Assistance League of Sierra Foothills scholarships

News release

A ssistance League Sierra Foothills recognizes El Dorado County residents who exhibit exemplary community service with Community Service Scholarships and those who have overcome significant challenges with Advantage Scholarships. This year four deserving El Dorado County high school seniors were each awarded $2,500.

Community Service Scholarships

Lucas Johnston, El Dorado High School in Placerville, worked with the El Dorado County Youth Commission, a group focused on mental health among youth. Working with wellness

The first Italian Heritage Scholarship recipient is ORHS student Gianna Jean, whose goal is to become an immigration lawyer, fueled by her Noni and Nonna’s experience immigrating to the U.S. from Italy. She has received a number of awards during her high school career and participated in many extracurricular activities. She served as president of the Italian Honor Society and sergeant-at-arms for the National Honor Society and completed community service work with Special Olympics, feeding the homeless, sending care packages to the military and volunteering at the food bank. She founded an international tutorial program during the pandemic teaching English to Italian children and founded a nonprofit called Fancy Frock Project that organized and distributed dresses at a variety of disaster relief events benefiting Caldor Fire victims. Her letters of recommendation point out she is a “conscientious, exceptional student, leader and peer tutor.”

The second Italian Heritage Scholarship recipient is ORHS student Sydney Gallo, who plans to go to a four-year college to study molecular biology, with a minor in Italian with the thought of becoming a surgeon. She has received an AP Scholar Distinction Award. Sydney played on the Oak Ridge soccer team for two years and has played on a club soccer team throughout high school. She has been part of the Italian Club and Italian National Honor Society, in which she currently holds the position of VP, throughout