2011 VCDSA Scholarship Winners

2011 Scholarship Winners Announced!

From left to right: Gabriella Aguirre, Samantha Brooker, Daniel Koressel, Amanda Brooker and Morgan Luna. Not pictured: Ryan Fleming.

The VCDSA Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 VCDSA Scholarship Awards. As is customary, the winners were selected based upon a blind review of applications, meaning that the identities of the applicants were unknown to the committee members (all identifying information was stricken from the applications). The selection criteria is based upon academic standing and performance, participation in school, athletic and outside activities, community service, overcoming of personal obstacles, and quality of application essay.

As in the past, the committee members had a difficult time reaching their final decisions due to the outstanding qualifications of all of the applicants. Nineteen applications were submitted. We wish every applicant continued success in their endeavors.

The six winners, who will each receive a $1,500 scholarship payable to the college they attend, are (in alphabetical order):

Gabriella R. Aguirre, age 18 – Gabriella is the daughter of Deputy Peter J. Aguirre, deceased, who was killed in the line of duty in 1996. Gabi is a senior at St. Bonaventure High School and will graduate in June 2011. She will attend San Diego State University where she plans to major in political science and Chicano studies. After college, Gabi intends to pursue a political career representing Ventura County. At St. Bonaventure, she has been a varsity cheerleader for 4 years, served in student government as ASB Ambassador for 4 years, participated in Spanish Club and the Invisible Children’s Club, and as secretary of the competition Robotics Club. Gabi is also an accomplished public speaker, winning second place and second honors in St. Bonaventure’s pro-life oratory contest. She has spoken and urged her peers to support and respect peace officers at school football games on Law Enforcement Night, and has made presentations as a Youth Ambassador for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department on behalf of fallen peace officers and their families. Each year, during National Law Enforcement Memorial Month, Gabi and her mother, Dina, distribute over 3,000 blue ribbons among all the police agencies in the county as an everlasting reminder of hope, of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for those men and women who continue to wear the badge proudly. She also holds down a part-time job at Joe’s Crab Shack.

Amanda J. Brooker, age 18 – Amanda is the daughter of Retired Deputy Kenneth Brooker. She will graduate from Buena High School in June 2011 and will attend California State University Channel Islands, where she plans to major in business. She gained her passion for the business world growing up around her grandparents’ auto shop where she learned that although it is not easy, running a successful business can be a personally and professionally rewarding experience. Amanda will actually enter CSUCI as a sophomore because, while excelling in high school, she has also completed 38 transferrable units at Ventura College. At Buena, she played water polo for 4 years, 2 years on the varsity team, and served as the JV team captain. Amanda is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, Buena Renaissance, earned a Multi-Lingual Seal for her German language abilities, earned a Golden State Seal merit diploma and has been Student of the Month at Buena. She spent four weeks in Germany last summer as an exchange student in the German American Partnership Program. Samantha has also puts her baking talents to use making baked goods for fundraisers at VCMC and for her water polo team banquet.

Samantha J. Brooker, age 19 – Samantha is the daughter of Retired Deputy Kenneth Brooker. She graduated from Buena High School in 2009, currently attends Ventura College and has applied for admission to the Ventura College School of Allied Health & Nursing where she intends to complete her studies to become a Registered Nurse. Samantha’s desire is to work in a Labor and Delivery unit so she can play a part in the miracle of life every day. In high school, Samantha played varsity water polo for 3 years, was on the varsity swim team for 2 years and was also varsity water polo captain. Her love for swimming and competition led her back to the pool in 2010 as a member of the VC Pirates water polo team, which was named a State Scholar Team by the California Community College Athletic Association, the highest academic achievement award given by the CCCAA. Samantha also works at the Ventura Aquatic Center as an Aquatic Specialist, where she is a lifeguard and teaches swimming, lifeguarding, CPR and first aid. She is in the Certified Nursing Assistant program at Ventura College, which includes clinical hours working at the Venturan Nursing Home caring for elderly patients, and she recently volunteered at St. John’s Hospital as a Clinical Care Extender assisting medical teams with myriad health care duties.

Ryan A. Fleming, age 18 – Ryan is the son of Sergeant Robert Fleming. He will graduate from Moorpark High School in June 2011 and will attend California Lutheran University where he plans to major in Criminal Justice. Ryan has a penchant for community service and wants to make a positive difference in the world by serving others, first in law enforcement and later in politics and public service. As treasurer and president of the National Honor Society chapter at Moorpark High, he has organized fundraisers and service projects for the needy including food, clothing and toy drives, among others. Ryan has a water polo career spanning 7 years including 4 in high school, 3 on the varsity team and 2 as varsity team captain. He was also on the swim team for 2 years, 1 on varsity, and received an MVP award and named Most Dedicated. Ryan has served on the Moorpark ASB as Rally Commissioner and Activities Commissioner, and on his class cabinet as Senior Class Treasurer. Since 7th grade he has been involved in the YMCA Youth in Government program and this year was elected Speaker of the Constitutional Convention by the group’s 2,600 delegates. For the last two years Ryan has served as an Outdoor School Counselor in the 6th grade Outdoor School program where he had the opportunity to mentor and assist middle school students.

Daniel P. Koressel, age 18 – Daniel is the son of Retired Deputy Patrick Koressel. He will graduate from Moorpark High in June 2011 and plans to attend San Diego State University where he will major in business and intends to pursue a graduate degree in a business-related discipline. While at Moorpark High, Daniel received numerous Presidential Awards, earned top honors for his science fair project and served as the secretary for his school’s Catholic Service Club. He also played JV volleyball as a freshman and sophomore, but his real passion is hockey and he has played for 7 years on the Ventura Mariners travel hockey team, 5 of those as a team captain. Daniel would love to play hockey in college, and to make use of his college education by going to work for the Los Angeles Kings to be close to and promote the sport he enjoys. He has served many hours as a volunteer at Arroyo Vista Veterinary Hospital, assisting the veterinarians and pet owners, and has also volunteered with Coastal Cleanup, sorting food at the local food pantry and helping to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Daniel’s desire is to emerge from college as a leader in the classroom and in the community, as a well rounded student and individual.

Morgan A. Luna, age 18 – Morgan is the daughter of Senior Deputy Mario Luna. She will graduate from Adolfo Camarillo High School in June 2011 and will either attend Pennsylvania State University, Boise State or the University of Utah, after which she will use her education to become either a teacher or an astronaut or a police officer or a veterinarian! In short, Morgan sees the world as her oyster and education as the key to unlocking her potential, and her love of the outdoors led her to apply at these particular colleges. She is a long-term member of the Gifted & Talented Education program and the California Scholarship Federation, and has served on her school’s ASB as Rallies Commissioner. Morgan was on the Camarillo High volleyball team and also on the Ventura West club volleyball team where she served as team captain. She is an active member and volunteer in her church’s youth group, and she loves to channel the strength gained from her beliefs into providing help to those around her and to her community. Morgan has helped to raise money for orphans in Africa, assisted in feeding the homeless, gathered toys for the needy at Christmas, served as a tutor and also as a mentor to friends and others. She is brimming with hope for the future and will no doubt pour all of her energy into her chosen path.