Youth philanthropic volunteers shined at the 4th annual A Night Among the Stars awards ceremony held at the Youth Center in Los Alamitos on April 30. All the nominees were formally recognized at the red carpet event for their outstanding volunteerism with a letter from President Obama and certificates from senators, congressmen and city dignitaries, with the top three being awarded $500 scholarships.
Youth philanthropic volunteers shined at the 4th annual A Night Among the Stars awards ceremony held at the Youth Center in Los Alamitos on April 30. All the nominees were formally recognized at the red carpet event for their outstanding volunteerism with a letter from President Obama and certificates from senators, congressmen and city dignitaries, with the top three being awarded $500 scholarships.
“It’s an incredible feeling to see the Youth Center bring so many outstanding young leaders of our society,” said Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme. “It brings joy and pride to all of us to see how much these youth nominees have accomplished already.One person can truly make a difference.”
“I just really love helping out and making a difference,” said 16-year-old Madison Berry of Long Beach who was nominated by Village Bible Academy’s Leo Club and recently nominated to be District Leo of the Year. She served in various activities including homeless ministries, visiting nursing homes, and “BeepBall” (baseball for the blind).
Her parents, Mike and Rena Berry, said their daughter is self-motivated and is all the good parts of both of them. Twins Andy and Kyle Farmer, 17, of Cypress were honored nominees for working more than 5 years at a memory care facility as singers bringing cheer to seniors after becoming involved when their grandmother was suffering from lung cancer and subsequently passed away.
“We started then and continued it in memory of our grandmother,” said the young men. Their mother, Cindy Farmer, said the young men didn’t have any grandparents after their grandmother died, were approached at a facility to sing by one man and woman who sang regularly there, and were asked to join in. “The kids just wanted to give back,” she said. They sang songs like Amazing Grace, which would bring back fond memories for the residents at Valley View Gardens.
Los Alamitos Superintendent Sherry Kropp summed up the true heart of volunteerism by saying, “I think it’s up to all of us to give where we can and when we can to make this world a better place.” She said the young people being honored here gives all of us hope for a brighter future. Oak Middle School Principal Erin Kominsky was also in attendance and said that volunteerism is what the world needs.
“If we can teach them young, it benefits all of us,” she said.
City of Cypress Mayor Pro Tem Paulo Morales spoke of a heartwarming story about one man walking along a beach filled with starfish, throwing them back into the ocean one at a time. Another man came up to him asking why he did this when there were so many, and he replied that he can at least make a difference in the one starfish’s life by returning him to the sea.
With this in mind, the all the nominees made a tangible difference for the betterment in the local community and beyond through their selfless efforts. One such volunteer and $500 scholarship winner was Josie Pearce, 18, of Los Alamitos who overcame personal challenges all the while giving back.
She was nominated by Los Alamitos High School Principal Brandon Martinez for her more than 1,200 hours service to the Lupus Foundation of America, the Assistance League of Long Beach and a Costa Rica summer project all while overcoming Lupus herself.
“She is a shining example of all that is right with the youth of today,” said Martinez in Josie’s nominating letter. Another $500 scholarships award winner was Brielle Johnson, 18, of Westminster who eagerly volunteered for Grateful Hearts in Los Alamitos as soon as she turned 14 years old.
“Every time she walks in with her million dollar smile, we know she is going to leave us in a wake of ‘getting the job done,’ said Grateful Hearts Executive Director Blair Pietrini in Brielle’s nominating letter. “Brielle’s zest for life, her willingness to connect, and desire to help other wherever she is … we are trained to recognize as priceless.”
Max Russell, 14, of Seal Beach was awarded the third $500 scholarship for his more than 100 hours work with special needs children in the Friendship Circle. He said he does it mainly for the smiles he gets from the other children, who have taught him a great deal.
“He always has a smile on and is ready for what the day brings,” said his nominating letter from Jocelyn Koff. “It isn’t always easy to volunteer with kids with special needs, but Max makes the most of it.”
The remainder of the nominees not mentioned already are Cassidy Hornung, 11, of Los Alamitos for her work at the Youth Center; Cassy Lumme, 12, for her work at the Youth Center; Dominic Cashiola, 16, of Long Beach for his work at Urban Community Outreach; Lindsey Torgerson, 17, of Seal Beach for her work with the Seal Beach Lions International Club; Mario Lara, 11, of Huntington Beach for his work with Summer Harvest; Nicole Johnson, 17, of Long Beach for her work with the Youth Center; Pauline Foster, 16, of Seal Beach nominated by Miss Seal Beach; Rylie Long, 17, of Rossmoor for her work with Precious Life Shelter; Sarah Bancroft, 17, nominated by the Girl Scouts; Shira Frank, 17, of Seal Beach for her work with the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF); and Sophia Gascoigne, 18, of Los Alamitos for her work with Special Olympics, Nominees outside of the three awarded the $500 scholarships were each given $200 scholarships, and all the funds were provided by the Los Alamitos/Seal Beach Rotary Club.
“I want to specially thank Rotary Club of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach for giving scholarships to every single nominee this year,” said Lumme. “It was a special night for all the students, parents, agencies, and everyone in attendance.”