Thursday Club Awards $13,000 to Local High School Seniors

Thirteen talented seniors from four different local high schools were awarded $1,000 each from the La Canada Thursday Club, as Scholarship Chairwoman Sharon Combs announced the recipients at a Thursday Club Tea.

The requirement for earning a Thursday Club scholarship includes GPA, SAT or ACT scores, an essay, community service, interview in front of the scholarship committee and list of references. “All the winners proved their academic success, enthusiasm for community service and potential to succeed and make a difference in the world,” stated Combs. “This is the largest dollar amount the Thursday Club has ever awarded.”

Eleven students were awarded the Thursday Club Foundation Scholarship:

Catherine Cea attends La Canada High School and is excited to go to UC Santa Barbara. One day she would like to be a high school teacher. Her accomplishments include AYSO soccer, Girl Scouts (Gold Award), LCHS Track and Field, and co-founder of the LCHS Bookworm club. Her mother Marta de Paula Cea and father Guillermo Cea were present to see her receive her award.

Lacy Coan attends Flintridge Preparatory and will be at College of William and Mary in the Fall majoring in International Relations. She is Captain of the High School Cross Country and Basketball teams and was a Les Fleurettes Debutante La Canada Thursday Club.

Grant Haxton is a senior at LCHS and will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a major in History or Political Science. Grant is an Eagle Scout and LCHS Varsity water polo and swim team. He helped decorate the award winning La Canada Tournament of Roses float. His father David Haxton and Lori Moody attended the event.

Matt Olsen is a senior at LCHS and will attend UC Davis majoring in Business/Accounting. He was on the LCHS Varsity water polo and swim team and PTSA officer. Matt was also an Eagle Scout and part of the La Canada Youth Council. His parents Jeff and Julie Olsen attended the event.

Scott Platisa is a LCHS senior and excited to go to SMU while majoring in Business. He enjoyed being on the LCHS Varsity football and Ice Hockey teams and participating in Youth and Government at the YMCA. Scott completed a mission in Haiti with the Brothers and Sisters program. His father George Platisa and mother Jody Platisa attended the event. Jody is an active Thursday Club member.

Kaitlin Powers is a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart and will be attending Notre Dame in the Fall majoring in Environmental Science. She is a FSHA Ambassador, Captain of the softball team, Peer leader for the campus ministry leadership team and National Charity League. Kaitlin spent almost three weeks in Kenya with Discover the World Mission and helped build a home in Mississippi for Habitat for Humanity. Her parents Michael and Jodi Powers attended the event.

Kate Schiller attends Mayfield Senior School and will be at Bates College in Maine this Fall. She plans to major in history and work in education. She is a member of student government, the Habitat for Humanity club, on the Cross country track & field and earned her Gold award in Girl Scouts. Kate was also the admissions ambassador for high school. She enjoyed being a day camp counselor for Girl Scouts and volunteering at Kid Space. Her mother Carin P. Schiller attended the event.

Sarah Sellman attends LCHS and will be at Vanderbilt University this Fall majoring in Communications, International Relations or Music. Sarah is a Les Fleurettes Debutante, earned her Gold award in Girl Scouts, was on the LCHS Varsity Volleyball team, ASB and Athletic Leadership Council. She volunteered at Child Education Center, raised funds for the Komen Foundation, Dig for a Cure, Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and the Walter Hoving House in Pasadena. Her parents Kirk and Joy Sellman attended the event. Joy is a Thursday Club member.

Caroline “Carrie” Smith attends LCHS and will major in f ilm at the Chapman University, Dodge College Film and Media Arts. She wants to work in TV, film, writing and production. Carrie is a member of the LCHS Film Club, earned her Gold Award in Girl Scouts, Co-captain for the LCHS dance team and staff writer for the school newspaper. She volunteers at CC YMCA, Camp Oaks, Heal the Bay, Pasadena Humane Society and is a Co-founder of LCHS Outdoor Adventure Club.

Freya Strasburg attends LCHS and is excited to go to Wesleyan University and major in Political Science. She would like to be a Human Rights Attorney after attending Harvard Law School. Freya was on the LCHS Varsity Water Polo and Swim team. She enjoys Speech and Debate and the Youth and Government programs. She participates on the Equestrian team, Model UN, School newspaper and Drama club. Freya enjoys volunteering at therapeutic riding centers and working with disabled students. Her mother Heidi Strasburg was at the event.

Erika Weiler attends LCHS and soon will be at Loyola Marymount University to major in Business and Health Sciences. She competes nationally and internationally in Irish Dancing. She is part of the Engineering Club, Track and Field team, Tournament of Roses, and earned her Gold Award in Girl Scouts. She is an International Girl Scout Ambassador and Huntington Hospital volunteer. Her parents James Weiler Jr. and Carol Weiler attended the event.

Two students were awarded the Greenawalt Scholarship -

Margaret “Maggis” Barron is a LCHS senior and will attend University of Arizona and majoring in Retail & Consumer Science. She is involved in National Charity League and the Key Club. She has volunteered for Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, We Can, Doug Flutie’s Foundation and Autism Speaks. Her parents Andrew and Kimberly Baron attended the event.

Leo Neat is a LCHS senior and will attend UC Santa Cruz in the Fall. He plans to major in Computer Science and work as a computer programmer or in cyber security. Leo was on the LCHS Varsity Water Polo and Rose Bowl Water Polo club. He participates in the LA Science Olympiad and Math Club. He is a PCY volunteer as a teacher’s assistant and LCHS Mary Vale Helping Hands club. His mother Lisa Sievers was at the event.