NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) is honoring top high school students in Lake and Mendocino counties with scholarships and achievement awards for the 2015-16 school year.

Richard Cooper, president and chief executive officer for the credit union, announced this year’s award winners and MLCU representatives visited the high schools to make the award presentations.

Receiving the credit union’s $1,000 Arlene Colombini Scholarships in Lake County were Christopher Griffith of Clear Lake High School and Hannah Flynn of Middletown High School.

In Mendocino County, the Colombini Scholarships were awarded to Leslie Leal of Fort Bragg High School and Frank Ortiz of Ukiah High School.

Named for Arlene Colombini in recognition of her 50 years of service to Mendo Lake Credit Union, the $1,000 scholarships are awarded to four Lake and Mendocino County high school or community college students each year.

Each recipient of the scholarship must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, be enrolled for 12 units or more in a college or university, and submit a personal statement that describes his or her need for the award and the goals in his or her life.

In announcing the Mendo Lake Credit Union Achievement Awards for this year, Cooper said, “Our Achievement Awards program honors outstanding high school seniors whose scholastic attainment, sense of responsibility, community service, and evidence of leadership give the most promise of success and service to society.”

All comprehensive high schools in Lake and Mendocino counties are invited to participate in the program.

Honorarium awards in the amount of $50 each are awarded to two students who represent “the highest level of attainment overall” at each high school.

Additionally, the credit union presents certificates to students who have demonstrated excellence in specific study areas.

Schools choose to participate in the program and how many certificates they award students. Honorees are selected by school staff.

“On behalf of the Mendo Lake Credit Union staff at all four of our branches, I congratulate all of the Achievement Award winners and Arlene Colombini scholars,” said Cooper.
 
The winners at each of the high schools are:

– Clear Lake High School (Lakeport): $50 honorariums to Ethan Jones and Mina Werner. Certificates to Emily Omiotek (English), Jessica Beall (foreign language), Andrew Avila (foreign language), Nate Falkenberg (history/social science), Cord Falkenberg (science), Reginald Selotte (mathematics), Eloisa Morfin (computer studies), John Vertrees (trades and industrial), Kayvee Pepper (art), Rachel Wingler (music) and Ciera Moreno (health).

– Kelseyville High School (Kelseyville): $50 honorariums to Mariah Rudnick and Ricardo Covarrubias. Certificates to Roberto Lozano (English), Maria Guzman (English as a second language), Alex Sanchez (foreign language), Juliann Totorica (history/social science), Noah Lyndall (science), Madison Boyd (mathematics), Nolan Hildebrand (computer studies), Jose Cacho (trades and industrial), Kelly Duty (art) and Sara Humphry (music).

– Konocti Education Center School (Clearlake): $50 honorariums to Nicolas Jaime and Harleen Kaur. Certificates to MariCarmen Macias Perez (English), Weeden Wetmore (history/social science), Patricia Beltran (science) and Luis Orozco-Sanchez (mathematics).

– Lower Lake High School (Lower Lake): $50 honorariums to Cynthia Griego and Mira Porsley. Certificates to Gabriela Jauregui (English and mathematics), Johnny Rivera Borja (English as a second language), Diana Perez (foreign language), Antonio Pimentel (history/social science), Victor Gallegos (science), Joseph Asbury (computer studies), Madison Serpa (trades and industrial), Morgan Adkins (art), Markesha Annand (music) and Megan Smith (drama).

– Middletown High School (Middletown): $50 honorariums to Jacob Holton and Alejandra Madrigal. Certificates to Kailei Foltmer (English), Daniel Lopez (English as a second language), Jorge Morales (foreign language), Jonathan Nance (history/social science), Meghan Carlisle (science), Trevor Smith (mathematics), Kayla Forest (computer studies), Wyatt Jones (trades and industrial), Vanessa Castrellon (art), Jaeden Stump (music) and Christian Nikolav (drama).

– Upper Lake High School (Upper Lake): $50 honorariums to Mercedes De Los Santos and David Becerra-Lopez. Certificates to Katie Foster (English), Alejandro DeJesus Merino (English as a second language), Wroehnyn Milks (foreign language), Collin McVey (history/social science), Kaylee O’Bryant (science), Melissa Li (mathematics), Patrick Denver (computer studies), Zachary Sneathen (trades and industrial), Jessica Arroyo (art), Justin Lewis (music) and Shably Navarro (drama).

– Fort Bragg High School (Fort Bragg): $50 honorariums to Victoria Yanez and Mathew Mateson.

– Willits High School (Willits): $50 honorariums to Sylvia Friend and Shivam Patel.

Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.