05/27/2026
This was the second year that our family had the honor of giving out the Lily Garcia Appreciation Scholarship. This year’s recipients truly inspired us:
Amy Benihyas shared an essay centered on courage and sacrifice. Her compassion, vision, and commitment to serving others are inspiring, and I have no doubt she will continue making a meaningful impact wherever she goes.
Lizi Gabriel wrote an incredibly inspiring essay about becoming part of the small percentage of Latino physicians. One line especially stood out to me: she wants to serve the community that raised her and carry her culture proudly into every room she enters.
Jordan Kakish shared how, in his culture, family and community always come first, and that helping others is something he carries with him every day. Those values of hard work, compassion, and service to others clearly shine through.
Oscar Rivera’s essay truly resonated with me personally. He shared the story of his mother fighting every day to keep food on the table for their family, and as someone raised by a hardworking mother myself, I deeply connected with his story.
I cannot wait to see you accomplish your goals.
I also had the opportunity to recognize the DART seniors, a program I am deeply passionate about and proud to be a product of. Thank you for the hundreds of hours you all dedicated to serving your community.
As a Kiwanis member, we also had the privilege of giving out scholarships to Natalia, Julianna, Ema, Fabian, Stephanie, Adrian, and Daniella. Congratulations to all of you!
Falcons, your community is proud of you. 🦅
It was also a pleasure seeing former classmate Dr. Magallanes, who after earning her doctorate and opening her own practice, came back to give back to the community that raised her. Dios te bendiga y te dé más!
And Mr. Javier, congratulations on your retirement. You have made an impact on hundreds of students in our community.
Today reminded me why I am prouder than ever to be a member of this community. 💙
