Scholarships
2023 Scholarships Recipients
Thank you from Maggie McWhertor, Class of 2023
Thank you from Anthony Vasquez, Class of 2023
Abigail Aponte
Abigail Aponte, Class of 2023, continued her education at UC Santa Cruz to study Clinical Psychology and explore the connection between science and spirituality particularly as it relates to depression. Motivated by the sacrifices of her immigrant parents as they fostered her dreams, she was active in AVID, the leadership of the Latinos Unidos club, and her church. She served on the youth council of Save Our Youth and helped organize a district-wide retreat for students to discuss community concerns and share their findings with local city council members. Her efforts were recognized with a certificate from the CA State Legislature.
Melany Casteneda Padilla
Melany Casteneda Padilla, Class of 2023, was thrilled to be the first in her family to attend college at UC Santa Cruz. At NHHS, she was an outstanding AVID student and enjoyed preforming in the Dance productions. She earned over 200 volunteer hours at Someone Cares Soup Kitchen where she was recognized for her willingness to do whatever was needed. Motivated by the experiences of her family and the low-income Hispanic community she served, she planned to study Psychology so she can pay it forward by offering quality and affordable care to break down the stigma of mental health treatment.
Emilu Cohen
Emilu Cohen, Class of 2023, stood out on the Basketball team and as a sports producer at TarTV where she led the filming and livestreaming of NHHS athletic events. Her photography and design skills also made her an essential part of the yearbook team. She followed her dreams to Santa Monica College’s Film Production program with an eye toward transferring to a 4-year university and eventually making her own movies. After working to overcome a learning disability, she pushed herself in IB Film classes alongside her other college prep courses.
"Thank you once again for making my dream a reality. Personally, my parents are not able to contribute towards my education which is why I am so
thankful to have kind people like your association. You are special people and I aspire to be like
you one day. Keep putting kindness into the world, we need everyone to be like you!"
Jailyn Gallegos
Jailyn Gallegos, Class of 2023, received real world experience through two ROP classes, Medical Innovation and a CNA (certified nursing assistant) internship where she shadowed the Chief Nurse at Hoag’s cardiac unit. This hands-on learning helped her decide to become a nurse and study Biology at Cal State Fullerton. She appreciated her parents’ work ethic in migrating to America to create a better life. With their inspiration, she gave back to her community as a volunteer in the Police Explorers program, her church, and over 800 hours at Someone Care Soup Kitchen. An excellent AVID student, she was also co-Captain of the Girls Soccer team.
Liam Hamilton
Liam Hamilton, Class of 2023, moved on to Santa Monica College with his eye on transferring to USC to study Business. Inspired by his experience in the Junior Mentor Program, he began the process to earn his commercial real estate license while still in high school. He was a stand-out counselor at Camp James and volunteer at Bracken’s Kitchen which aims to reduce food waste and food insecurity. Self-motivated, he began his own business called Donations Express which transported goods for donation that people did not have time to take themselves.
Jordan Lloyd
Jordan Lloyd, Class of 2023, succeeded in rigorous AP classes and went on to Santa Barbara City College for Video Production with the goal of transferring to UCLA. Fascinated by the art of film, she excelled in TarTv where she was quick to learn industry-standard editing software and served as project leader on the Grandparents Day video, the NMUSD Standard Response Protocol Safety video, and the “Dancing With The Staff” intro films. Appreciative of growing up in beautiful Newport Beach, she loved serving on the summer camp staff at the Balboa Island Yacht Club.
"Thank you so much again for your very generous gift of the scholarship. It gives me a chance to focus primarily on my education. I have to pay for my education out of my own pocket so this scholarship is so helpful. I also feel like it is such an amazing sense of strong community bonds as well as Sailor pride. I hope to one day be able to help someone in a similar fashion."
Eamonn McCullough
Eamonn McCullough, Class of 2023, chose a career in helping people after working as a Lifeguard at the Balboa Bay Club. He pursued this passion by studying Emergency Medical Services and Fire Science at Orange Coast College with the goal of becoming a paramedic and firefighter. A 4-year student in the Culinary CTE pathway, he stood out in NHHS’s Culinary program as a reliable teammate who always got the job done. A strong contributor to the Football team, he volunteered his time in the nursery at his church, at a food bank, and helping an elderly neighbor with chores during the pandemic.
Maggie McWhertor
Maggie McWhertor, Class of 2023, took the leadership skills she honed at NHHS to the University of Tennessee to study Supply Chain Management. Honored as CTE Student of the Year, she enrolled in challenging IB courses and excelled in the Business Pathway and as President of DECA. Fascinated by a wide range of activities and interests, she starred in Drama productions, was an officer for the CFS and NHS clubs, and President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She served in ASB all 4 of her years at NHHS, including as an excellent and encouraging ASB President her Senior year.
Dinally Navarro
Dinally Navarro, Class of 2023, proudly achieved her goal of attending Irvine Valley College with the plan to transfer to San Diego State to become a nurse to help others during their tough times. Coming from an immigrant family, she and her mother experienced great hardship especially during the pandemic. With the support of her teachers, she worked diligently to overcome these struggles and focus on success in her classes. Despite her personal difficulties, she faced each day with a smile as she worked in food service, in the Coastline Occupational CNA program, and offered an empathic ear to her fellow classmates.
"I want to thank the Newport Harbor Alumni Association
for giving me this scholarship. This generous support has not only lightened my financial burden but motivated me to excel academically. Your belief in my potential means everything to me, and I am committed to making the most of this opportunity. I am truly grateful to the Alumni for investing in my future."
Anthony Vasquez
Anthony Vasquez, Class of 2023, decided to continue his education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo because of their hands-on approach to learning Business Administration. A valuable member of AVID and Boys Soccer, he enjoyed the demanding IB Business pathway and DECA program. During the pandemic, he shone through the difficulties of on-line learning and gave back by volunteering at a weekly food drive. He also tutored at the Wilson Street Learning Center in Costa Mesa so that younger students could get the kind of help he wanted at that age.