14th Annual Community Breakfast
Scholarship Fundraiser Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 The Odyssey Restaurant The Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation Program Arrival of Guests Harpist Javier “Big X” Montes Welcome by Master of Ceremonies Ernesto Cárdenas Board Member Prsentation of Colors Van Nuys High School JROTC
Pledge of Allegiance Sylmar Cub Scout Pack 94
National Anthem Benjamin Cárdenas
Invocation Breakfast The Odyssey Restaurant
Presentation of Scholars AYMCFF Board
Student Speakers Donna Hernandez Luis Perez Larissa Shebroe
Guest Speaker Tony Cárdenas Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 6
Keynote Speaker Jose M. Hernandez Andrés y María Cárdenas NASA Astronaut and Philanthropist Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation Board of Directors Vanessa Narváez President Isabel Cárdenas Treasurer Lorena Bernal Secretary Gina Pérez Board Member Yolanda Fuentes Miranda Board Member Ernesto Cardenas Board Member May 23, 2010 Brian De La Rosa Board Member It is with great pleasure, that I welcome everyone to the Foundation’s 14th Advisory Board Annual Community Breakfast. Dr. Adriana D. Barrera President, Senior Vice Chancellor of LACCD Britt Ortiz Director, Early Academic Outreach, UCSB The Foundation achievement of 14 years would not have been possible without Kevin Tamaki External Affairs, AT&T sponsor donations, community involvement and volunteers, and willing educators. Dr. Fernando de Necochea Director, Southern California Edison Dr. Henry Yang Chancellor, UCSB This year’s scholarship recipients represent brave youth who despite rising tuition Joe Lucente Principal, Fenton Elementary Charter School, Ret. Executive Vice President, Macy’s West fees, restricted student occupancy, and limited educational resources, persevere to Louis Meunier attain their education.
With that, we invite you to join us as we recognize this year’s Andrés y María Our Mission Cárdenas Family Foundation 2010 scholarship recipients. The Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation was founded in 1997 to award scholarships to deserving and ambitious students, to contribute to From our family to yours and on behalf of the Foundation and all the recipients, community based non-profit organizations that provide needed services, and to Muchisimas Gracias!-Thank you very very much! supplement limited resources for cultural, educational and recreational programs in the San Fernando Valley. We look forward to many more years to come. Overview Believing that no student should ever be denied the opportunity to pursue their Sincerely, dreams through a collegiate or vocational school experience, the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation has embarked on a crusade to raise scholarship funds for needy and deserving students from the San Fernando Valley. This year, the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation has undertaken the goal of Vanessa Narvaez providing over $100,000 in scholarship opportunities to deserving students. President About Our Keynote Speaker Jose M. Hernandez
! ASA engineer Jose Hernandez wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American had been chosen to travel into space.
"I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, Calif., and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps," says Hernandez, who was a senior in high school at the time.
"I was already interested in science and engineering," Hernandez remembers, "but that was the moment I said, 'I want to fly in space.' And that's something I've been striving for each day since then."
One of four children in a migrant farming family from Mexico, Hernandez --who didn't learn English until he was 12 years old -- spent much of his childhood on what he calls "the California circuit," traveling with his family from Mexico to southern California each March, then working northward to the Stockton area by November, picking strawberries and cucumbers at farms along the route. Then they would return to Mexico for Christmas, and start the cycle all over again come spring. ! hile at Lawrence Livermore, Hernandez worked on signal and image processing applications in radar imaging, After graduating high school in Stockton, Hernandez enrolled at the computed tomography, and acoustic imaging. Later in his career, Hernandez worked on developing quantitative x-ray film University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering and was awarded a full scholarship to imaging analysis techniques for the x-ray laser program. Hernandez applied these techniques in the medical physics the graduate program at the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he continued his engineering studies. In arena and co-developed the first full-field digital mammography imaging system. This system has proven useful for 1987 he accepted a full-time job with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he had worked as a co-op in college. detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage than present film/screen mammography techniques. Hernandez has won recognition awards for his work on this project. He has also worked in the international arena where he represented Lawrence Livermore and the U.S. Department of Energy on Russian nuclear non-proliferation issues.
During the astronaut application process, Hernandez had to meet with a review board, where he came face-to-face with his original inspiration: Franklin Chang-Diaz.
"It was a strange place to find myself, being evaluated by the person who gave me the motivation to get there in the first place," Hernandez says. "But I found that we actually had common experiences -- a similar upbringing, the same language issues. That built up my confidence. Any barriers that existed, he had already hurdled them."
Hernandez, smiles. “Now it’s my turn!”
Indeed it was, when in May 2004, Jose got accepted to forgo Astronaut Candidate Training. In February 2006, Jose’s diligence paid off when he was able to be a part of the 128th Shuttle mission and 30th mission to the International Space Station to transfer 18,000 pounds of essential supplies and equipment to the station. He and his team completed the mission in 217 orbits of Earth, traveled over 5.7million miles in 332 hrs 52min and conducted three space walks while there.
Even with the title of NASA Astronaut, Jose is sure to give back to his community and encourage youth to pursue their dreams of reaching space. Through the non-profit foundation, Reaching for the Stars (RFTS), he encourages higher education, and supports programs that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. RFTS also provided scholarship opportunities to assist deserving student reach their educational goals.
Even while traveling to space and stopping by at the Cardenas Foundation Breakfast, Jose still makes time for his wife Adela, their 5 children, and their restaurant, Tierra Luna Grill, located in Houston., Texas.
Jose proves that the sky is not the limit, it goes beyond. In Memory of Juan Manuel Aguilera
!uan Manuel Aguilera was the third of six children born to Aurora Martinez de Aguilera and Adolfo Aguilera in El Gavilan de Abajo, Jalisco. His brother Bernardino and sister Victoria were older, while his sister Esther, and brothers Adolfo and Rojelio were younger. Juan, his mother Aurora, and his brothers and sisters joined their father in the United States in 1971. He lived in San Fernando on Mott Street and attended O’Melveny Elementary School and played little league through Santa Rosa Church.
As a teen, Juan attended San Fernando Junior High. Here, his love for music flourished and he learned to play guitar. Juan was very active in the Santa Rosa parish and began to seriously examine a religious vocation. High school took Juan far away from his home. He attended St. Anthony’s, an Oblate school in San Antonio, Texas. While in high school, Juan played football, soccer, and track. He graduated from high school in May of 1985 and stayed in Texas, attending St. Edward’s University in Austin. Juan returned to San Fernando and finished his studies at Cal State University Northridge, earning a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics. He received a fellowship and furthered his studies as a graduate student, receiving an M.A. from CSUN in the teaching of Mathematics.
Juan was an awesome math teacher. He saw teaching as his ministry and his students as his flock. In 1994 At Sylmar High School, Juan was the lead teacher for the Communications House. Every year he worked Juan began teaching mathematics at San Fernando Middle School. In 1999 he transferred to Pacoima with struggling Algebra students, helping them understand abstract mathematical concepts. He also Middle School and in 2005 he transferred one final time to Sylmar High School. Juan knew firsthand tutored students after school on a daily basis. As a lead teacher, he worked tirelessly to help teachers how difficult learning could be for many of his students. Few people knew that he was dyslexic. In spite of connect with the Sylmar youth and make learning relevant for them. He organized events such as Link this, Juan had a gift of making math accessible to everyone. His easy demeanor combined his math jokes Crew, McTeachers’ Nights, and turkey bowls for the students. Juan could have taught Math Analysis or with a passion for helping everyone make sense of x’s and y’s. Calculus. However, he chose to teach Algebra I to ninth graders and helped them see that math is part of their daily life. Juan was named a Los Angeles County Teachers of Mathematics Association Teacher of the Year in 2007.
Juan gave to his community with the same selflessness he showed at school. He played with a Santa Rosa church choir for the last nine years. Juan was passionate about ensuring equal rights for everyone, volunteering countless hours to the defeat of Propositions 187, 227 and 209. He participated in marches, walked the San Fernando community for Project GRAD, and volunteered with the Cardenas Foundation.
Juan was a loving husband and father. He met his wife Maria Elena in early 1998. They were blessed with two beautiful girls, Citlali in 2000 and Xiomara in 2002. Juan loved life and lived it to its fullest. Everything he did, he did with passion. Although he received a pacemaker in 2003, Juan faced his mortality with the belief that a life lived in fear of dying was not a life worth living. Juan died in an accident while on vacation, doing what he loved most, living for the moment. Juan left a legacy for selfless service and passion for helping all students learn.
May 30, 1965 – December 30, 2009.
Juan Aguilera continues to be in our thoughts and this valuable community leader, father, husband, son and teacher will be greatly missed. We thank you Juan for all you have done for students. In his honor the Cárdenas Foundation would like to dedicate a scholarship in his name to one of our Sylmar High School recipients.
May 23, 2010
The Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation would like to acknowledge Kim Benjamin for his contribution in the memory of his parents, Jacob Benjamin and Blossom Baird. This contribution to our foundation has provided us the opportunity to grant over $90,000, to date, in scholarships to the students of John H. Francis Polytechnic High School.
This special contribution on behalf of an alumnus of John H. Francis Polytechnic High School has challenged our foundation to meet the needs of every school we support. It also serves as a challenge to all alumni.
The Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation would like to thank Mr. Benjamin once again for his generous support.
--The Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation 9Wff[`Yfa=`aiAgdEUZa^SdeZ[bDWU[b[W`fe, 9Wff[`Yfa=`aiAgdEUZa^SdeZ[bDWU[b[W`fe, High School Seniors High School Seniors
Shirley Almendarez Carolina Cervantes Walter Garcia Alma Mendoza School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Cal State Northridge UC San Diego Harvard Cal State Northridge High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Sylmar High School San Fernando High School San Fernando High School San Fernando High School
Maryeline Alvarenga Rosa Cruz Karen Gonzalez Tapia Anayeli Morales School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Mount St. Mary's Mount St. Mary's Mount St. Mary's Mission College High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Polytechnic High School Panorama High School Panorama High School Sylmar High School
Cristina Barajas Alexander Deiongh Elmer Hernandez Eduardo Muñoz School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Cal State Northridge UCLA Duke University UC Davis High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: San Fernando High School North Hollywood High School Polytechnic High School San Fernando High School
Jessica Caballero Evelyn Delgado Yesenia Leon Reissa Noriega School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Stanford Pierce College Pasadena City College UC Berkeley High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Polytechnic High School Panorama High School Sylmar High School Polytechnic High School
Kimberly Campos Christian De Mauro Monira Mansoory Stephanie Ochoa School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Cornell Mission college Cal State Northridge UC Irvine High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: North Hollywood High School Panorama High School Sylmar High School Panorama High School
Herbert Castillo Melissa Garcia Rigo Martinez Moises Olavarrieta School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Harvard UC Irvine UCLA UC Davis High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: North Hollywood High School Polytechnic High School San Fernando High School North Hollywood High School 9Wff[`Yfa=`aiAgdEUZa^SdeZ[bDWU[b[W`fe, 9Wff[`Yfa=`aiAgdEUZa^SdeZ[bDWU[b[W`fe, High School Seniors High School Seniors
Ana Ornelas Moris Saravia Patricia Vargas School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Cal State Northridge UC Merced UCLA High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Sylmar High School Panorama High School San Fernando High School
Jose Ramos Larissa Shebroe Maria Vega School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: UC Berkeley University of Dubuque UC Santa Barbara High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Monroe High School Van Nuys High School San Fernando High School
Pilipinas Ramos fabiola Solano Sandie Villanueva School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Mission College Cal State Northridge Occidental College High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Monroe High School Arleta High School Polytechnic High School
Claudia Reyes Guadalupe Soto Melanie Zamora School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Pierce College Cal State Northridge UC Berkeley High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Panorama High School Polytechnic High School San Fernando High School
Sandra Robles Tiffany Valle Tiffany Zhu School to Attend: School to Attend: School to Attend: Pierce College Cal State Northridge University of Pennsylvania High School Attended: High School Attended: High School Attended: Panorama High School Sylmar High School Van Nuys High School
Daisy Rodriguez Angel Valles School to Attend: School to Attend: UC Santa Barbara Cal State Northridge High School Attended: High School Attended: Sylmar High School San Fernando High School 9Wff[`Yfa=`aiAgdEUZa^SdeZ[bDWU[b[W`fe, 9Wff[`Yfa=`aiAgdEUZa^SdeZ[bDWU[b[W`fe, Continuing College Continuing College & Graduate School
Cristina Castanon Alejandro Gutierrez Manolia Maldonado Carlos Torres School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: Cal State Northridge Yale Cal Lutheran UCLA Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Monroe High School Van Nuys High School Arleta High School Polytechnic High School
Marlin Chavez Donna Hernandez Daisey Miranda Ana Urena School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: Mission College Georgetown UC Santa Cruz Cal State Northridge Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: San Fernando High School Arleta High School Sylmar High School Kennedy High School
Wiler Cifuentes Mia Jamili Jennifer Morales Delmy Villegas-Delgado School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: UCLA UC Berkeley Amherst College Grinnell College Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: San Fernando High School Van Nuys High School Monroe High School Polytechnic High School
Juan Fuentes Araciel Juarez Nancy Pineda School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: MIT Cal State Los Angeles UCLA Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Polytechnic High School Los Angeles Mission College Kennedy High School Graduate School Recipients
Melissa Gomez Miguel Linares Camille Suarez Laiza Castillo School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: Cal State Los Angeles UC Berkeley Notre Dame Cal State Northridge Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: San Fernando High School Van Nuys High School Monroe High School San Fernando High School
Jacqueline Gramajo Fernando Lopez Raul Tadle Luis Perez School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: School Attending: Valley College UCLA UC San Diego UCLA Law School Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Qualifying School: Panorama High School San Fernando High School Van Nuys High School San Fernando High School
8[ijm_i^[ijej^[iY^ebWhi^_fm_dd[hiWij^[o \kb\_bbj^[_hZh[WciWdZWif_hWj_edi$ We salute the Andrés y María Cárdenas 5a`YdSfg^Sf[a`e Family Foundation and the excellent work of the scholarship recipients.
Laurel Canyon Holdings, LLC #ONGRATULATION ON WONDERFUL YEARS OF UNBELIEVABLE SERVICE
Providence Holy Cross Salutes Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation. Thank you for your continued dedication to the education of our children.
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It is with great pleasure that we congratulate The Andrés y María Cárdenas Foundation
CH2M HILL is honored to be a Gold Sponsor of the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation scholarship awards. We congratulate the Foundation on 10 years of enabling on 14 years of deserving, ambitious students in the San Fernando Valley to finance a college education.
As a global leader in full-service engineering, construction, and operations, CH2M HILL also supports education by contributing funds, employee volunteers, and gifts in kind. Many of making dreams come true... our 18,000 professionals worldwide donate time, energy, and resources to worthy causes in “ Education and hard work are their communities. the keys to opportunity and a prosperous future.”
– Andrés and María Cárdenas There’s no better foundation Best wishes from to build than the future of the next generation. The Amerland Group
www.ch2mhill.com CO042006018MKT © CH2M HILL 2006
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McDonald’s Corporation congratulates the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation scholarship recipients. Dz ǯ Ǥ ǦǦ Ǥdz ǦǦ ïÓ
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Congratulates the Andres y Maria Cardenas Family Foundation for making dreams possible. AADLEN BROS. AUTO WRECKING IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT BECAUSE TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD’S LIFE.
Is proud to support the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation and all the 2010 Scholarship Recipients Supporting You in Reaching Your Highest Potential
Tristar Risk Management recognizes the efforts of these extraordinary scholars and their families.
24 HOUR AUTO TOWING SERVICE SINCE 1946
Supporting the scholastic excellence of the Northeast San Fernando Valley and the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation A great event inspires more than just the attendees.
It inspires the entire community.
For this reason, U.S. Bank proudly supports the Andrés y Maria Cárdenas Family Foundation and the 14th Annual Community Breakfast. ¡Muchas Gracias! for your dedication to empowering people and making the communities we serve a better place to live. U.S. Bank is committed to supporting programs that honor Gracias por inspirar y servir diverse heritages and enrich the quality of life for everyone, a nuestra comunidad. and Andrés y Maria Cárdenas Family Foundation has our support ¡Muchas Felicidades! because they do so in an undeniably positive way.
usbank.com Member FDIC
FENTON AVENUE CHARTER SCHOOL
Appreciates the dedication of the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation toward our children.
A CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL
TO THE SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES. BEST WISHES TO THE ANDRÉS Y MARÍA CÁRDENAS FAMILY FOUNDATION
REYES CONSTRUCTION, INC. R CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT COMPROMISE Congratulations! to all of the 2010 andrs y mara cárdenas family foundation scholarship recipients. Congratulations on all of your success!
David Spiegel Foundation Walmart and the Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation understand what it means to give back to your community! FZS`]Kag For your continued support to making the dreams of many Northeast San Fernando Valley Scholars a reality.
Andrés y María Cárdenas Family Foundation Board of Directors May 23rd, 2010