Ramona High School Class of 2014 scholarship recipients

When Arvie and John Degenfelder’s youngest daughter graduated as Ramona High School valedictorian in 1979, she received one scholarship. It was for $25, and it came from the Poway Elks Club.

My, how times have changed, Arvie noted during Senior Scholarship Night at Ramona High on May 29.

Students graduating from Ramona High this week are walking off with, in some cases, thousands of dollars in scholarships. While some of that represents scholarships from prestigious learning institutions, the rest came in smaller increments from Ramona clubs and organizations, groups such as the Rotary club, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sun Valley Council PTA.

That money came out of the pockets of the graduates’ neighbors, families and community members. It is their way of saying, “We believe in you. We support you. We value what you have to offer.”

As Arvie Degenfelder said before she presented her Arvie Degenfelder Fine Arts scholarship for $1,000 to Austin Tinkess, “It’s to celebrate your citizenship and your scholarship.”

Ramona High School Scholarship Recipients

Valedictorian Award

Karl Sapper, $1,000

Sara Buckley, $1,000

Salutatorian Award

Garrett Wilcox, $200

RUSD Administrative Management Team

Makayla Torsak, $300

Association of California School Administrators

Holly Trout, $200

College Access Program

Bailee Elizarraras, $150

Dan Fager Memorial

Trae Rodriguez, $300

Ramona Woman’s Club

Bailee Elizarraras, $1,000

Lauren Dunker, $1,000

VFW Ladies Auxiliary

Kristyn Hietala, $1,000

VFW Nelson G. MacWilliams Memorial

Kristyn Hietala, $1,000

Delta Kappa Gamma

Undisclosed amounts

Brittain Cetina

Elizabeth Groenewold

Makayla Torsak

Arts Unlimited

Ava Anderson, $750

Brenna Brean, $750

Jayley Davis, $500

Arvie Degenfelder Fine Arts

Austin Tinkess, $1,000

Ramona Chamber of Commerce

Marcus Green, $1,000

Alyssa Virgilio, $1,000

Jayley Davis, $1,000

Josie Ward, $1,000

McKenzie Bryan, $1,000

Ramona Chamber of Commerce Skills

Bruce Imig, $500

Cole Andrews, $500

Ramona Rotary Club

Angelina Gray, $1,000

Ava Anderson, $1,000

Kevin Carmona, $1,000

California School Employees Association

Ava Anderson, $300

Rebecca Birmingham, $300

Luis Cervantes, $300

Holly Fletcher, $300

John Jauregui, $300

Wyatt Kent, $300

Soroptimist International of Ramona

Beau Bailey, $500

Rebecca Birmingham, $500

Elizabeth Groenewold, $500

Ramona Real Estate Association

McKenzie Bryan, $500

Alyssa Virgilio, $500

Ramona Sentinel

Ava Anderson, $500

Ramona Pop Warner

Mackenzie Pilley, $500

Justin Villagrana, $500

Ramona Garden Club

Dawn Perfect, school board president, presents Holly Fletcher, Ramona High’s student representative on the board, with a gift from board members. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

Rachel Brown, $1,000

KylieHembree,$1,000

Wyatt Kent, $1,000

Sun Valley Council PTA

Kristyn Hietala, $200

Jenna Dowers, $200

Beau Bailey, $200

Ramona High School PTSA

Ava Anderson, $250

Johnathan Cervantes, $250

Holly Fletcher, $250

Elizabeth Groenewold, $250

Michael Jaquez, $250

Austin Tinkess, $250

Makayla Torsak, $250

Samuel Velazquez, $250

Alyssa Virgilio, $250

Josie Ward, $250

San Vicente Valley Club

Undisclosed amounts

Luis Cervantes

Angelina Gray

Mike Jones

Rena Martinez

Samuel Velazquez

Jamie Williams

Santa Maria Masonic Lodge

Selina Guerrero, $1,000

Justin Martinez, $1,000

Kenneth Gray Memorial

Dominique Anthony, $1,000

Paula Gordillo, $1,000

John Jauregui, $1,000

Ramona Concert Association

Makayla Torsak accepts a $2,000 scholarship from Steve Purvis with the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and his son, Cody, 11. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

Austin Tinkess, $1,000

Elizabeth Groenewold, $500

Ramona Ag Boosters

Rachel Brown, $750

Michael Jaquez, $750

Ramona High School Soccer

Makayla Torsak, $250

Zirze Cordova, $250

Jamie Williams, $250

Poway Kiwanis

Brenna Brean walks from the podium with a $750 scholarship from Arts Unlimited. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

Saul Morales, $500

McAllister Guasti, $500

Deputy Sheriffs’ Association

Makayla Torsak, $2,000

Continued Automotive Training Scholarships

Dylan Ballantyne, $70,000

Brandon Arthur, $90,000-plus

Ryan Hall, $30,000

Mike Jones, $32,000

Kyle Rash, $25,000

Ramona Pioneer Historical Society

John Jauregui, $250

Winter Guard Association of Southern California

Ramona Rotarian Kim Lasley presents $1,000 scholarships to Angelina Gray, Ava Anderson and Kevin Carmona. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

Michael Jaquez, $1,000

Escondido Secondary Teachers Association

Michael Jaquez, $300

San Diego County Fair Scholarship

Michael Jaquez, $2,500

Ramona Junior Fair Scholarship

Michael Jaquez, $1,000

Briar Cliff University

Callie Guasti, $19,000

University of Houston

Chamber president Charlotte Jensen presents $1,000 scholarships to Josie Ward, Alyssa Virgilio, Marcus Green and McKenzie Bryan. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

Kristyn Hietala, $39,000 a year for four years

National Merit Finalist Recognition

Kristyn Hietala

Abilene Christian University

Tanner Williams, $48,000

Brigham Young University

Makayla Torsak, $2,800

James W. Huish Scholarship

Makayla Torsak, $1,000

Don Diego 4-H Scholarship

Santa Maria Masonic Lodge representatives present $1,000 scholarships to Justin Martinez and Selina Guerrero. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

Rachel Brown, $2,500

Baylor University

McKenzie Bryan, $96,000

Palomar College

Johnathan Cervantes, $2,000

University of Utah

Shannon Curristan, $6,000

Michigan State University

Hannah Carter, $5,200

U.S. Air Force Academy

Receiving Kenneth Gray Memorial scholarships of $1,000 each from Phyllis Elsner are Dominique Anthony, Paula Gordillo and John Jauregui. Sentinel photo/Maureen Robertson

$40,000 a year each for four years, plus benefits and pay

Karl Sapper

Garrett Glaudini

Matthew Lawler

U.S. Naval Academy Prep Program

Travis Kerchner, $37,500

Al Schaffer

Justin Martinez, $500

San Diego Foundation

Alena Adams, $2,500

RHS Bulldog Pride Award

Ashley Holabird, $300

Kazar Matoian, $300