By: Ashley Chen
410 MHS seniors were recognized for their accomplishments at Senior Awards Night on May 22, according to College and Career Technician Marissa Canez. In addition, seniors received $73,000 in scholarships through MHS, she said through email.
Awards given to students this year included the Gold Cord for students with at least a 3.25 unweighted or 3.5 weighted GPA and the Maroon Cord for students who accumulated at least 150 hours of community service, according to the pamphlet passed out during Senior Awards Night.
ASB President Maggie Ly began the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance. She received the Maroon Cord, State Seal of Biliteracy, Rotary Club Scholarship, PTSA Scholarship, and Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association Scholarship, Ly said. The three scholarships were worth $500 each, Ly added.
“A lot of people think that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is boring and not a special thing, but I got to start the entire awards night and introduce Mr. Rojas, which was very special,” Ly said. “It was really my honor because I got to see everyone and be up there, and it was a great feeling seeing the class of 2019 come together.”
She plans to major in Biology at the University of California, Riverside in hopes of becoming a nurse midwife, Ly said. The scholarship money will help her invest in a laptop for college, buy personal supplies, and cover excess funds, she said.
“I was shocked [when I found out I received the scholarships],” Ly said. “I actually only knew that I was going to receive one for sure but then the other ones were a complete surprise, so I was really happy.”
Senior Harpreet Lally was recognized with the Minnis Scholarship, one of the biggest and local scholarships of that night with a total of $5000. In addition, she received the Gold Cord, Maroon Cord, Golden State Seal, and President’s Education Award, Lally said.
“I was just really surprised that I got [the Minnis Scholarship] because it is such a big award,” Lally said. “I was really proud of myself, because that’s a lot of money, and I know it’s going to really help me for my classes.”
The Minnis Scholarship will be released by the MHS bank over the first two years of college, Lally said. She will be majoring in Business Administration while attending classes at Foothill College and De Anza College, Lally said.
“It’s been a long road,” Lally said. “I know I’ve tried really, really hard, and it’s just so amazing to be recognized for the work that I did. I know the Minnis scholarship is mostly awarded based on what people want to do in the future, not really what they have done in the past. Although grades are a big component, if anyone wanted to apply to it, they shouldn’t be discouraged just because their grades aren’t that great.”
Senior Anvi Brahmbhatt was awarded the title of National Merit Finalist and given the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award. She was also given the Gold Cord, Maroon Cord, Golden State Seal, and President’s Education Award, and she is a National Honor Society recipient, Brahmbhatt said.
“I actually did not know I was going to get all of them,” Brahmbhatt said. “I only knew about the cords. I was pleasantly surprised. I was really happy about the Scholastic Excellence award as well. That one was really a shock.”
The U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award was awarded based on her academic achievement and leadership as a high school scholar, Brahmbhatt said. She will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles as a Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology major with plans to go on the pre-med track, Brahmbhatt said.
“I loved my high school journey,” Brahmbhatt said. “I did have ups and downs but ultimately they made me a stronger person and the person who I am today. It taught me to persevere and to never lose hope in my goals and to work hard to achieve them.”
Ly and Lally discovered these scholarships from emails Mrs. Canez sent out. “Mrs. Canez, our amazing College and Career Center Technician, uploaded it on her website,” Ly said. “Every time I got an email from her, I opened it and saw if I was eligible to apply. [The scholarships] are very easy to apply to and submit as well.”
If you are eligible, you should apply to all scholarships, Ly said. Always open Mrs. Canez’s emails and search up your own scholarships because MHS isn’t the only one that gives out scholarships, Ly continued.
“I kind of regret not applying to as many scholarships,” Lally said. “Minnis is actually one of the only ones I applied to, and so for the juniors out there, I think they should definitely apply to all of the scholarships that they qualify for because any money is just a little bit less you have to pay, you know? Also it’s really a great way to be recognized because I’m sure that everyone does a lot of hard work and all you have to do is like fill out a small like application. That’s it.”
Apply for as many scholarships as you can, Brahmbhatt said. Never think that you cannot do something, because you will never know if something ultimately works out for you, Brahmbhatt added.
“I’m very proud of the class of 2019, and I thought Awards Night was really well planned this year and super organized,” Ly said. “I’m very happy with the entire mood of Awards Night. So congratulations to everyone that won [an award].”