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Students look for city’s rising stars
Event organized by four Glendale High seniors awards scholarships, helps disadvantaged kids.
By Angela Hokanson
While some high school seniors are taking advantage of their spring break to sunbathe on a beach or jaunt off to Disneyland, four Glendale High School students have been working to organize a socially oriented fundraising event to benefit youth on a local and global level.
The four students — Kelly Velasquez, Elaine Panlaqui, Viannca Montesino and Diana Perez — have spent the week planning the first “Rising Stars of Glendale” event, which will honor exemplary local teens with college scholarships and raise money for programs to benefit disadvantaged youth.
The students are putting together the event, which is scheduled for May 30, in partnership with the Glendale-based nonprofit organization HOPE 4 Children Inc.
“I think the way we’re celebrating spring break is good for us,” said Kelly, 17.
“We’re the kind of people who like to get things done.”
On Thursday, the students and HOPE 4 Children founder Grace Walker held a news conference at the Hilton Glendale to spread the word about the new event.
“It’s really wonderful to see the dedication and passion of our young ones,” Walker said about the students’ involvement.
The four students helping to organize “Rising Stars of Glendale” are the leaders of a Glendale High student club called Friends Across Borders.
Elaine, Kelly and Viannca formed the club in 2006 to raise money for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The students formed the club on the heels of participating in a UNICEF-run youth summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, that corresponded with a meeting of the G8 countries.
In its first year, Friends Across Borders raised $2,000 to donate to UNICEF programs, in part by holding a spring concert called “Think Blue” at Glendale High.
The club members had planned to hold another “Think Blue” concert at their school in April, but educators at the school were worried the club did not have enough money to put on the event, and it was canceled, Perez said.
Some of the club members knew Walker from her work with the city’s Commission on the Status of Women and the Fil-Am Kiwanis of Glendale. The students and Walker decided that the club and the nonprofit should become long-term partners, and work together to create the “Rising Stars” event.
Partnering with a nonprofit organization that exists off the Glendale High campus will allow the student club to reach more people and survive once the seniors graduate, the club’s leaders said.
Plans for the “Rising Stars” event are still in the works, but the organizations hope to give out a handful of scholarships to local high school students who exhibit stellar qualities in areas like academics, arts and sports, Walker said.
The organizations also plan to honor local adults who have influenced students positively. Those awards might go to educators, school custodians and politicians, she said.
“I think this is a really innovative program,” Walker said. “We want to highlight what’s good about the youth.”
The nomination forms for the scholarships are expected to be posted on the HOPE 4 Children website by Monday, students said.
The two organizations are looking for community organizations and businesses to underwrite the scholarships, which will be between $250 and $1,000, they said.
“I think the girls are ready for it,” said Sarah Morrison, the club’s advisor, about the “Rising Stars” event.
“They’ve always had visions of something huge.”
The “Rising Stars” event will also feature a luncheon and a silent auction.
Tickets are $50, and the proceeds will support Friends Across Borders and HOPE 4 Children Inc. programs.
The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Glendale.
The HOPE 4 Children website is http://hope4children-inc.org/.
The four students — Kelly Velasquez, Elaine Panlaqui, Viannca Montesino and Diana Perez — have spent the week planning the first “Rising Stars of Glendale” event, which will honor exemplary local teens with college scholarships and raise money for programs to benefit disadvantaged youth.
The students are putting together the event, which is scheduled for May 30, in partnership with the Glendale-based nonprofit organization HOPE 4 Children Inc.
“I think the way we’re celebrating spring break is good for us,” said Kelly, 17.
“We’re the kind of people who like to get things done.”
On Thursday, the students and HOPE 4 Children founder Grace Walker held a news conference at the Hilton Glendale to spread the word about the new event.
“It’s really wonderful to see the dedication and passion of our young ones,” Walker said about the students’ involvement.
The four students helping to organize “Rising Stars of Glendale” are the leaders of a Glendale High student club called Friends Across Borders.
Elaine, Kelly and Viannca formed the club in 2006 to raise money for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The students formed the club on the heels of participating in a UNICEF-run youth summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, that corresponded with a meeting of the G8 countries.
In its first year, Friends Across Borders raised $2,000 to donate to UNICEF programs, in part by holding a spring concert called “Think Blue” at Glendale High.
The club members had planned to hold another “Think Blue” concert at their school in April, but educators at the school were worried the club did not have enough money to put on the event, and it was canceled, Perez said.
Some of the club members knew Walker from her work with the city’s Commission on the Status of Women and the Fil-Am Kiwanis of Glendale. The students and Walker decided that the club and the nonprofit should become long-term partners, and work together to create the “Rising Stars” event.
Partnering with a nonprofit organization that exists off the Glendale High campus will allow the student club to reach more people and survive once the seniors graduate, the club’s leaders said.
Plans for the “Rising Stars” event are still in the works, but the organizations hope to give out a handful of scholarships to local high school students who exhibit stellar qualities in areas like academics, arts and sports, Walker said.
The organizations also plan to honor local adults who have influenced students positively. Those awards might go to educators, school custodians and politicians, she said.
“I think this is a really innovative program,” Walker said. “We want to highlight what’s good about the youth.”
The nomination forms for the scholarships are expected to be posted on the HOPE 4 Children website by Monday, students said.
The two organizations are looking for community organizations and businesses to underwrite the scholarships, which will be between $250 and $1,000, they said.
“I think the girls are ready for it,” said Sarah Morrison, the club’s advisor, about the “Rising Stars” event.
“They’ve always had visions of something huge.”
The “Rising Stars” event will also feature a luncheon and a silent auction.
Tickets are $50, and the proceeds will support Friends Across Borders and HOPE 4 Children Inc. programs.
The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Glendale.
The HOPE 4 Children website is http://hope4children-inc.org/.
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