Spend just a few minutes with Amber Stoebe and you quickly understand that she genuinely cares about others. This compassion for individuals has guided her to the field of health sciences, in which she plans to craft a meaningful career in physical therapy. The recipient of an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree, Stoebe will continue her education in the fall with a major in Kinesiology: Exercise Science at California State University, Fullerton. For her efforts both on and off campus, Amber Stoebe has been selected as Cypress College’s Outstanding Graduate for 2015. She was presented with the award during the 48th Commencement on Friday.

Amber’s drive to enrich the lives of those around her is evident in her volunteerism. At the California Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy Clinic in Anaheim, she applies her knowledge of human anatomy to her personal interest in others’ well being, “I do what I can to fix a problem,” she says. “I feel a strong passion for patients, and an overwhelming desire to help them.” She also satisfies her motivation to serve as a sports coach and mentor to young girls. In her “free time,” Amber volunteers at the Champions’ Quest Volleyball Clinic; she also has a paid coaching position at the So Cal Juniors Volleyball Club where she is Assistant Coach. Next season, she will lead as Head Coach of the Millikan High School freshman/sophomore volleyball team — her first head-coaching position.

At Cypress, faculty from across the divisions praise both Amber’s personal character and exceptional scholarship. She is known for her top-tier academic performance, excellent work ethic, willingness to ask questions, and mature demeanor. Since starting at the College as a full-time student in 2013, Amber has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is a regular at S.I. sessions, participates in the Kinesiology and Chemistry clubs, and meets often with professors. Somehow, she also manages to have an active social life and carve-out time for personal activities and family. “Being in the Health Science field has helped me realize how precious life is and to never take it for granted,” she says. Amber’s ability to excel in the classroom and take a holistic approach to greater personal growth is inspirational and wise beyond her 20-years.

Cypress College has become a home for the young Buena Park resident. “Coming to the college was honestly the best decision I could have made,” she says. “I had a high GPA at Los Alamitos High School, but I didn’t apply anywhere else because I knew I was coming here. There is an energy here on campus that you don’t find elsewhere. The staff and students all seem positive and happy to be here – the faculty, especially, care for us. It’s a really great learning environment.” She credits the College as providing a supportive place for her to fully develop and explore different interests: “I did not want to go straight from high school to a four-year university when I was still unsure of my major and career,” she explains. “I did not want my parents to spend a lot of money at a large college when I could get the same education — if not better! — at a community college. I was confident in my senior year that Cypress was my school of choice.”

Her path is now clear. Following completion of her undergraduate coursework at CSUF, Ms. Stoebe plans to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at USC, Chapman University, Azusa Pacific University or Western University.

The Scholarship Foundation of John F. Kennedy High School in Cypress, held its 2015 fundraising dinner Saturday, May 9, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel, in Buena Park.

Before and during dinner, a silent auction was held, followed by 19 students being recognized as recipients in this year’s 19th scholarship year class.

Those honored include: Levi Campello, Gabriella Diaz, Kristine Galiger, Catarina Jespersen, Sun Kang, Hye Yeon Kim, Zachary Lewis, Victoria Lumar, Solbee O, Michelle Park, Sohyeon Park, Taylor Quan, Andrea Rodriguez, Shelby Rogers, Esbeyde Sanchez, Simran Swaitch, Ty Tanioka,  Jasson Rios-Vega and Shaina Yoo.

The following scholarships were present by Scholarship Foundation Founder Brian O’Neal.

Four General Scholarships were awarded to four seniors: Solbee O, Michelle Park, Sohyeon Park and Ty Tanioka. The scholarship emphasizesGPA, school activities, work/volunteering.

The Duke DeKovner Memorial Scholarship, which has an emphasis on grades and school activities, went to Andrea Rodriguez.

The Eva Lutz Memorial Scholarship, which is in pursuit of a career in Fine Arts or Performing Arts, was handed out to Esbeyde Sanchez. Sanchez and her three siblings performed during the evening on harp, violin and several different guitars and vocals; they are the “Los Sanchez Mariachi” performing for special events.

The two Nitesh and Niti Patel Volunteer Scholarships, set in place to recognize volunteerism and for a student attending a community college, was awarded to Zachary Lewis and Simran Swaitch, respectively.

The Chris O’Neal Memorial Scholarship, for whom the JFK Scholarship program was begun and now honors, was presented to Shelby Rogers, for significant volunteerism in the community.

Victoria Lumar received the Bob Van Herk Memorial Scholarship for a female senior who has played varsity soccer.

The Donald Widen Memorial Scholarship emphasizes mathematics and sciences went to Catarina Jespersen. Hye Yeon Kim was recognized with the La Palma Intercommunity Hospital Healthcare Scholarship.

The Adrian and Monique Ibarra (Each One Teach One) Scholarship is for seniors of Hispanic descent. Levi Campello and Gabriella Diaz won this award.

Sun Kang is the recipient of the Michele Steggell and Mark 1 Real Estate Scholarship is for a senior who will be the first in their family to graduate from college.

Kristine Galiger received the Grace HyeRi Lee Scholarship is for a student attending a community college with plans to transfer to a four-year college.

Aragona Family Scholarship is for a senior who is in the JROTC program – Taylor Quan.

Glenn Taylor Memorial Scholarship focuses on becoming a teacher (Taylor himself was a teacher) – Shaina Yoo.

New this year is the Neighborhood Watch Scholarship, which is for a senior who volunteers in the community. Jasson Rios-Vega received that honor.

The Scholarship Foundation of John F. Kennedy High School, founded in 1995, has awarded more than $103,000 in scholarships to 167 graduating seniors from John F. Kennedy High School. Proceeds from the evening’s event help support the scholarships.

Brian O’Neal explained how the JFK Scholarship Foundation and the Chris O’Neal Scholarship came to be.

“Chris (his first wife -deceased) and I had talked about how we could give back to the community before her illness,” he said. “My Dad had been instrumental in starting a successful scholarship foundation in Santa Barbara in 1962 and we thought it would be nice if we could do something like that someday, so, after Chris’ death in 1994, I reached out to four other local people whom we had both known, and the founding Board was formed; we incorporated in December 1995, and the first awards were two $100 scholarships in June 1996,” he said.

“If we can imagine it, we can achieve it, if we can dream it, we can become it…”

For JFK Scholarship Foundation information and to donate, mail to P.O. Box 1371, Cypress, CA 90630 or call 714-826-4537; e-mail scholarshipfoundation_jfkhs@hotamil.com  or visit http://jfkscholarshipfoundation.org.

The Kiwanis Club of Cypress held its annual Red Ribbon Essay & Foundation Scholarship Dinner and Awards on Friday, April 24 at the Courtyard by Marriott.  Cypress Council member and former Cypress police officer Paulo Morales was the keynote speaker. Present also were Cypress City Council members as well as Cypress School Board Trustees to honor the recipients of the awards and scholarships.

Other dignitaries included City Manager Peter Grant and Cypress Interim Police Chief Rod Cox as well as Cypress School District Superintendent Beverly Hempstead and principals.

The Kiwanis Club of Cypress was chartered by Kiwanis International in December 1950 and since that time has been a major presence in service to the Cypress Community.  Along with being a founding member of the Cypress Community Festival, The Kiwanis Club of Cypress is also a founding member of the Cypress Red Ribbon Week and began the Red Ribbon Essay Contest in the Cypress Elementary Schools.

Many of the activities that the Kiwanis Club is known for such as pancake breakfasts and flipping burgers are all in the cause of youth athletics, school programs, and other community organizations and events that enable the Cypress Club to better serve the entire community.

Area elementary school fifth graders participate in the Kiwanis’ sponsored Red Ribbon Essay Contest that began in the early years of Red Ribbon Week.

One winner from each school is selected and was recognized at the dinner.

The 2015 winners that were recognized included: Joyce Jeong, Arnold; Liam Dunigan, King; Natalie Kim, Landell; Taylor Anson, Luther; Jonathan Yoon, Morris; Luke Snyder, Vessels; Makaila Rabaja, St. Irenaeus; and Kailey Camper, Grace Christian.  Each student received a framed certificate and a cash award of $100.

Not only does the Kiwanis Club of Cypress annually award scholarships to students from our local service area schools as well as Cypress College, it also awards a performing arts scholarship as part of the annual Cypress Celebrates the Arts program sponsored by the Friends of Cypress Cultural Arts (FOCCA).

This year the recipients of these scholarships are: Nhan Nguyen, Magnolia High School; Thao Nguyen, Cypress High School; Nicolas Do, Oxford Academy; Matthew Eclevia, Los Alamitos High School; Nicole De Simone, Cypress College; Jennifer Kim, Classical Guitar, Cypress High School; and Brian Chen, Piano, Oxford Academy.

Oxford Academy Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) was honored with a California PTA Spotlight Award for Advocacy on Friday at the 116th Annual California State PTA Convention.
The statewide award recognizes successful programs that are planned, organized and implemented by PTAs in eight categories: Leadership Development, Student Achievement, Environment, Family Involvement, Membership and Outreach, Collaboration, Advocacy, and Student Involvement.
The local PTA unit representing Orange County’s top-rated high school was recognized for its advocacy work on Measure H, the $249 million Anaheim Union High School District bond measure that passed in November 2014.
Oxford Academy PTSA president Jon Hultman, presenting the unit’s work at a Saturday afternoon Convention panel, cited the successful program as an example of what can be done when parents, teachers and students work together to improve learning conditions for students.
“Many of our parents have never participated in an advocacy project before, and our PTSA forum gave them an opportunity to let their voice be heard,” said Hultman. “Our unit was energized by the experience of seeing the real world results we can accomplish when we all work together for the benefit of our children.”
Hultman also presented initial plans for a community forum to be held early next school year to give parents, teachers, students and other community stakeholders the opportunity to offer input on proposed Measure H-funded building projects at Oxford Academy. He stated that the goal is “to work together with the school site, the district and the community at large to ensure that all voices are heard and considered as the building projects move forward.”
Oxford Academy PTSA is the local PTA unit representing parents, students and teachers at Oxford Academy. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.