$15,000 slated for students

A nonprofit that tries to foster and strengthen mother-daughter relationships is poised to hand out nearly $15,000 in scholarship money to dozens of graduating senior girls.

The Newport Chapter of National Charity League has released the list of this year’s recipients, each of whom had to apply for the scholarship by writing a personal essay and have at least a 2.5 grade-point average at one of the high schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

The scholarship committee considered academics, extra- curricular activities and the need for financial help, according to Suzanne Woods, a co-chairwoman on the committee.

Also taken into consideration were the recommendations made on behalf of the students’ counselors and teachers along with the number of hours the girls spent volunteering in the community.

The girls, who will attend a variety of colleges — from the University of Washington to UCLA — will be honored at their respective High School Senior Awards Presentations coming up in the next couple of weeks.

“Each student is unique,” said Woods, describing the process by which they were all selected. “Some of these young ladies participate in sports, take AP classes, are school leaders, work outside of school, have spent incredible amounts of time volunteering in our community or have overcome great financial and personal challenges.

“Their desire to continue to their education to work toward their futures and their positive outlooks on life are inspiring.”

The winners are:

 Back Bay High School seniors Chloe Hansen, Bailey Henderson, Lovelle Pulizzi, Paige Refino, Andrea Wheat and Hailey Zoellner;

 Corona del Mar High School seniors Calli Conti and Caroline Van Dyke;

 Costa Mesa High School seniors Stephanie Dye, Patricia Figueroa and Gabriella Suarez;

 Estancia High School seniors Diana Arevalo, Jillian Beck, Gracie Brestel, Mayra Diaz, Jaclyn England, Angelica Estrada, Amy Hartwell, Kim Haycraft, Nicole Irigoyen, Cassandra Jackson, Shona Lamb, Cassandra Ruvalcalba, Nushin Tasbihichi, Allyson Wallace; and

 Newport Harbor High School seniors Paige Anderson, Treana Haynes, Angelica Hernandez, Laura Portillo, Jacqueline Ragasa, Lauren Rojas and Anastasia Shuba.

The charity league is a nonprofit national organization of mothers and daughters who join together in community involvement within local chapters throughout the United States.

The daughters participate in a six-year program of philanthropic work, educational activities and cultural events.