The Pedrozzi Foundation recently awarded $461,000 in scholarships to 122 local scholars, 29% of whom are in the first generation of family members to attend college. These scholars will be attending community college, undergraduate, graduate, and vocational schools.

The Foundation’s annual recognition event was modified once again. The 2021 Pedrozzi Scholars attended a walk-through event in downtown Livermore in the Bankhead Theater lobby and courtyard, following current COVID-19 safety protocols. In small groups, students received Pedrozzi recognition items, were congratulated by Pedrozzi board members, volunteers, and staff, and posed for celebratory photos with family members. Once home, students proudly displayed congratulatory yard signs to share their pride in becoming Pedrozzi Scholars.

Amarachukwu Aladi

Also celebrated were the eight newest Pedrozzi Young Scholars. These youngest scholars, all current fifth graders at Marylin Avenue Elementary School, were selected for the program due to their focus on being model students, especially during the challenges of distance learning. The Pedrozzi Young Scholar Program promotes equity in opportunity for high achieving students by providing support throughout the students’ middle and high school years. Longtime Livermore residents Donna and Art Pontau generously chose to invest in these young scholars by sponsoring this cohort as the Foundation journeys with the students from now until high school graduation.

Art & Donna Pontau

These newest scholarship recipients are proud to be joining the growing ranks of Pedrozzi Scholars. Since 2008, the Pedrozzi Foundation has awarded $5.2 million to 1,434 Livermore students. Lydia Vance, current Granada High School Matador and soon-to-be UC Santa Cruz Banana Slug, shared, “I am incredibly proud and honored to be awarded a Pedrozzi Scholarship! I am excited to help carry out Mario Pedrozzi’s vision for Livermore students. Thank you so much for investing in my future!”

“I am incredibly proud and honored to be awarded a Pedrozzi Scholarship! I am excited to help carry out Mario Pedrozzi’s vision for Livermore students. Thank you so much for investing in my future!”

While most funding for Pedrozzi Scholarships comes from an endowment established by Livermore businessman Mario Pedrozzi, a growing number of generous community members also fund scholarships, often to honor peers, family members, and friends. This year, 26 scholarships are funded by community members.

Now more than ever, the value and importance of healthcare workers is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Nursing and pre-med student Katrina Soria was awarded a scholarship generously endowed by Patrick and Madeline McMenamin to honor the work of highly trained nurses. Katrina looks forward to being back on campus at the University of San Francisco fulltime and plans to launch a new organization on campus, in addition to joining multiple cultural and networking clubs. The McMenamins are impressed with Katrina’s passion for making a positive impact in her community even before she makes her mark as a nurse.

Lingagoud “Goud” and Chandrakala Memula are funding five undergraduate scholarships for students who are in the first generation of family members to attend college. The Memulas immigrated to the U.S. 55 years ago for Goud to pursue his graduate studies; he earned a master’s in engineering from Kansa State University and doctorate in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley. This philanthropic couple is grateful for the career opportunities that were opened both as a result of Goud’s education and the generous support and advice of others. Investing in local students is not only an expression of gratitude but also an expression of their passion for helping educate young people.

The Kim Cupps Memorial STEM Scholarship was established in honor of Cupps’ long career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Endowed by Cupps’ family (including wife Gina Bonanno), friends, and colleagues, the 2021 scholarship was awarded to Ximena Pulido who plans to study civil and environmental engineering. Pulido jump started her engineering career as a member of the Society of Women Engineers NEXT club at Livermore High School. A well-rounded student, she is also a member of the LHS wrestling team and marching band.

One of the Rotary Club of Livermore’s service projects is mentoring students at Junction Avenue K-8 school. Club members were delighted to learn that a former mentee, Lorena Fernandez Zamora, is the recipient of the scholarship funded by them in honor and memory of longtime club members John Shirley and Leo Croce, respectively. Fernandez Zamora is a liberal studies major at Fresno State, with the goal of becoming a teacher like Leo Croce, namesake of Leo Croce Elementary School in Livermore.

Lorena Fernandez Zamora (3rd from L) and family members

John Houghton is proud to once again be funding a scholarship for a student pursuing a STEM degree. This year’s recipient, Evin Rhee, plans to become a mechanical engineer, combining his interests in mechanical and aeronautical engineering and physics. His participation in the Green Engineering Academy at Livermore High School and leadership positions in Boy Scouts has prepared him well for his college career. In addition to funding annual scholarships, John has made plans to endow scholarships through his estate. “Supporting students now and into the future brings me great satisfaction. I am pleasantly surprised at how much fun and personally rewarding it has been to establish this scholarship. Expanding the legacy that Mario Pedrozzi left our community just feels right,” shares John.

“I am pleasantly surprised at how much fun and personally rewarding it has been to establish this scholarship. Expanding the legacy that Mario Pedrozzi left our community just feels right.”

View complete list of donor-funded scholarships here.

2021 Pedrozzi Scholars

Pedrozzi Young Scholars: Milania Davis, Yareni Flores, Joseline Hernández, Luke Martínez, Braian Olvera Hernández, Danielle Peterson, José Ramos, Seth Ruane

Community College Scholarships: Lauren Allen, Jordan Canning, Edith Cibrian, Sydney Devros, Molly Faria, Harli Hobbs, Rachel Huff, Maelyn Laranang, Calista Ledon, Blanca Lopez Alas, Melissa McCloud, Stefanie Medina, Tyler Olcese, Alejandra Quezada Sermeno, Sarah Robinson, Stephanie Suarez, Rafael Valle, Ashlyn Voisin, Ryan Wohlgemuth

Undergraduate Scholarships: Gracie Ackerman, Amarachukwu Aladi, Josiah Alpher, Sarah Ansell, Haiden Arruda, Sarah Bass, Harpreet Bhasin, Jared Bielski, Alyssa Bonfiglio, Brooke Bowles, Grace Boyd, Sarah Burton, Anna Casey, Cristina Chavez, Miraya Choudhury, Kinsey Clark, Quinn Coli, Carmen Cortez, Jonathan Crago, Atticus Cummings, Shrutika Damle, Hanan Dogar, Nirajara Dungwatanawanich, Michaela Esposito, Lorena Fernandez Zamora, Caitlyn Foster, Michael Francesconi, Kelly Galicia-Thomas, Brennan Geier, Rebecca George, Marissa Gracia, Michael Grant, Valeria Gutierrez, Jessica Jaing, Quincy Johns, Sarah Kerling, Skyler Koch, Sarah Lai, Adam Laurence, Emma Laurence, Diane Le, Naomi Lin, Isaac Lloyd, Natalie Lloyd, Molly MacLaren, Navitha Madineni, Katherine Mathers, Ava May, Madeleine May, Athena McPeake, Neha Meda, Taylor Melton, Cassandra Miller, Arthur Mola, Anthony Molleson, Andrea Munoz, Manvitha Nandamuri, Shaanth Nanguneri, Nimra Nazar, Kylie Neubauer, Grace Ogunfunmi, Saul Ordaz, Chidinma Ortiz, Ava Owens, Jasmine Padilla, Brandon Pillon, Amanda Popelar, Vidhya Prabhu, Maxwell Prisbrey, Ximena Pulido, Allison Reilly, Evin Rhee, Candace Rho, Dafne Rivero Granados, Aria Roach, Staicy Robles, Kylie Saal, Sian Salazar, Karan Samtani, Juliana Santiago, Katelyn Silva, Katrina Soria, Feoden Soriano, Celeste Summers, Andrew Tantzen, Sean Taulbee, Viviana Valenton, Ariel Van Buuren, Lydia Vance, Karen Vazquez, Vishal Venkatesh, Leslie Vera, Meadow Walton, Ashleigh Ward, Christian Webb, Camille Wigginton, Anna Willey, Samuel Wu, Devan Yarnell, Alicia Zhang

Career-Vocational Scholarship: Madelynn Burgess

Graduate Scholarships: Sofia Moufarrej, Michael Nelson, Kyle Wohlgemuth