Issue link: http://pefpages.uberflip.com/i/664786
PEF is happy to announce its 2016 Senior Scholarship awardees. Applicants were asked to explain how funding from PEF has impacted educa on in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. Chosen among many qualified applicants: Peninsula High School student Katherine Liu, and Palos Verdes High School student James Stewart. Katherine Liu is ac ve in the engineering program, SMERT, at Peninsula High, where she has found a passion for her intended major, computer science. Katherine says, "The district-wide STEM programs have allowed us to acheive things that people only dream about doing in college and beyond." Katherine's college acceptances are star ng to come in, but she hasn't chosen a school yet. She's excited about making a decision soon. She further states, "In my years in the PVPUSD, I've always felt the presence of the Peninsula Educa on Founda on. Indeed, PEF plays no small role in the PVPUSD. While the district's budget from the state has fluctuated over the years, PEF has allowed our schools to expand their op ons and enrich the educa on of students of all ages." At Palos Verdes High School, James Stewart has been part of the Na onal Honors Society for Science and English and Mu Alpha Theta, the Math Honors Society. James will a end Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall as a Kinesiology Major. James' scholarship essay relates how PEF funded programs made a difference for him at each level of his educa on: elementary, inter- mediate and high school. In elementary school, he, "started playing trumpet and became first chair, which was the top posi- on in my class. Being the best at something was a huge confidence builder for me. This confidence on the stage has influenced how I perform in the classroom with presenta ons too. The music department immersed me around other students of similar interests and helped spark my social life. Without the music program, I would not have had the opportuni es and great experiences I have had." The $1,500 scholarships will be awarded at each high school's Honors & Awards Night. A BIG thank you to the parents and world-renowned musicians who organized a first of its kind charity concert benefi ng PEF - "From Classic to Rock" on March 26. Head- liners included Stone Temple Pilots, with Chester Bennigton from Linkin Park as well as myriad other rock stars and classical music luminaries. A endees also enjoyed a red carpet a er party with the musicians at the Norris Pavilion with food pro- vided by Chef Shafer of The Depot. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to PEF by the Select Strings Founda on. This year, PEF is raising $3.4 million for PVPUSD schools. Of that amount, $275,000 is needed to maintain music instruc on at all ten elementary schools in PVPUSD. If you are a long me resident of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, outstanding public schools have probably been a cornerstone of your family's experience. Certainly your children received an excellent educa on. Perhaps you even made great friends as you volunteered at school. Or, you may have been a staff member in one of our PV schools. Parents, grandparents, and even long- standing residents without children donate to PEF, and some have included the Founda on in their will or trust.