AV Press: Camacho awards scholarships http://www.avpress.com/n/03/0703_s14.hts
OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS - Lancaster High School graduate Amanda Brooke Cruz is one of nine area students receiving scholarships June 21 from Gus E. Camacho, president of Camacho Auto Sales Inc.
Lon McCracken/Camacho Auto Sales
Camacho awards scholarships
Students helped on 'Road to the Future'
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Tuesday, July 3, 2007.
By TINA FORDE Valley Press Business Editor
LANCASTER - Gus E. Camacho, president of Camacho Auto Sales Inc. in Lancaster, Palmdale and San Fernando, on June 21 presented nine $500 academic scholarships to area high school graduates who are on their way to college.
Camacho made the presentation at his auto sales location at 44446 Sierra Highway. This is the eighth year the company has given
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scholarships.
He gave the scholarships to one 2007 graduate from of each of the area's nine high schools - Antelope Valley, Lancaster, Paraclete, Palmdale, Highland, Pete Knight, Rosamond, Desert Christian and Quartz Hill.
"Part of our mission statement is to give back to the community," said Camacho, 35, the son of company founder Gustavo G. Camacho. "I've chosen to push education to focus on. It is the thing that gives me the most pleasure."
He remembers his own struggles as a graduate in business school.
The students who earned the scholarships are Pedro Gonzalez of Palmdale High School, who will study pre-med at Stanford University; John Christopher Don of Antelope Valley High School, who will attend the University of California, San Diego, and plans to study law; Amanda Wilkerson of Quartz Hill High School, who will attend Azusa Pacific University; Amanda Brooke Cruz of Lancaster High School, who will attend San Diego State University to earn a nursing degree; Catherine Pourdavoud of Paraclete High School, who will attend the University of California, Los Angeles, with the goal of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon; Ashley Sinatra of Desert Christian High School, who plans to attend Antelope Valley College with the goal of teaching English in Morocco; Jamie Boyster of Rosamond High School, who will attend Antelope Valley College; Alexandra Reyes of Pete Knight High School, who will attend California State University, Northridge; and Mikael Miller of Highland High School, who will attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, to study linguistics and foreign relations with the goal of becoming an ambassador.
The owner and officers of the Camacho company selected the winners of the scholarship program - called "Road to the Future" - from more
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than 100 applicants determined by the schools' guidance counselors.
To accomplish the goal of providing scholarships for every school, Camacho said, "we will put aside a portion of the proceeds of each purchase Valley residents make from us."
"These scholarships are being offered in the hopes of advancement of knowledge, because knowledge can be the key to the future, he added.
"The purpose of Camacho Auto Sales 'Road to the Future Scholarship' is to award outstanding high school graduates who have demonstrated excellence in community service, work ethics and academics, and are pursuing higher education."
Camacho sells and finances pre-owned vehicles at 44446 Sierra Highway and 42907 Sierra Highway in Lancaster; 1358 E. Palmdale Boulevard in Palmdale; and 1661 San Fernando Road in San Fernando.
For details, call (661) 945-2609.
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