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Local runner Tomas Rodriguez and the No Runner Left Behind Scholarship Foundation granted 15 scholarships to graduating Mammoth High Class of 2012 Seniors, marking the third year Rodriguez and his benefactors have given out the awards. The scholarships are given to student athletes, runners in particular, who achieved and excelled in sports during their four years of high school. Each student received $500 towards college education expenses. To apply, e-mail Rodriguez at tomasrdrgz@verizon.net or call him at 310.629.7263. –Press Release

Audubon scholarships

The Eastern Sierra Audubon Society is soliciting applications for two, $500 scholarships for 2012! The scholarships will be awarded to one graduating senior from both Mono and Inyo Counties whose work through higher education will promote the National Audubon Society’s mission: “To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.”

Higher education fields include, but are not limited to: science, habitat conservation, outdoor recreation, environmental justice, journalism, literature, law, public policy, art, education, and advocacy.

Eastern Sierra Audubon will be accepting applications until Monday, April 23. For scholarship program information and to download applications visit: http://esaudubon.org/education/scholarships/ or call Roberta Lagomarsini @ 760.872.7846.

Hospital series: “Heart Health”

Mammoth Hospital’s Lecture Series “Live Better, Live Longer: Heart Health,” sponsored by the Mammoth Hospital Auxiliary. From Sierra Nevada Cardiology on Friday, March 9: Kosta Arger, MD, presents “Alcohol and the Heart.” And from Mammoth Cardiology, on Thursday, March 22, David Baker, MD, presents “Live Smart for the Heart.” Both lectures will be held at 6 p.m. in the Family Medicine Clinic Lobby. Lectures are free; no reservations necessary. Refreshments served.

Info: Kiara Raazi, 760.924.4116.

Master Gardeners Workshop

Get your hands dirty during the University of California Cooperative Extension Inyo & Mono Master Gardeners Building Raised Beds Workshop this Saturday, March 10 from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Bishop Community Garden, behind Sterling Heights, in the southeast corner of Bishop City Park.

Those attending will receive an instruction guide for building their own raised bed.

A sample of the benefits of Raised Beds:

They warm up and dry out faster in spring, so plants get a jump-start on the season.

You can grow more vegetables in less space and have less area devoted to paths.

It’s less work, especially if you make permanent raised beds bordered with wood, bricks, or stone. You won’t have to remake the beds each spring.

Learn more of the benefits at the workshop in addition to soil preparation and soil mixes for a prosperous garden.

For more information: contact Gail Swain at 760.872.2428 or visit the Univ. of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners website @ www.ucanr.org/inyomono.

The Mammoth Lakes Foundation recently completed its review of scholarship applications for the Spring 2012 semester at Cerro Coso and, thanks to its supporters, awarded a total of 14 scholarships to local students. The recipients were, by requirement, local residents, maintaining a GPA of at least 2.5 and enrolled full-time, and on-the-ground at Cerro Coso, Mammoth Campus. In addition they must volunteer in the community for at least 20 hours. This spring’s scholarship recipients range from recent high school grads to long-time locals pursuing vocational nursing certification, to Mammoth transplants. For some of the scholarship winners it is their first semester, while for others it’s the last as next fall for them will mean transferring to a four-year university having successfully completed their two-year Associates Degree at Cerro Coso.

“We are thrilled to provide financial support to so many worthy residents allowing them to take a step forward in their life in the place they love,” commented Maya Weinhart, Executive Director of the Mammoth Lakes Foundation. “The Foundation takes its mission seriously and awarding scholarships for tuition and books is making it possible for these young people to attend college.” 

This semester’s scholarship winners are: Kelly Goodick, Priscila Guerrero, Angela Harvey, Lisa Hostetter, Lane Jacobson, Steven Kutsch, Michele Larson, Cesar Medina, Becky Monroy, Rebekah Rowan, Dwight Saunders, Taylor Strawn, Maria G. Vasquez, and Carla Weaver. 

As part of the application process students write a letter to explain what receipt of the scholarship will mean to them and their future. A sampling of comments include the following:  “… Asking for help is difficult for me since I pride myself in being completely self-sufficient … I come from a low-income family so the only support I receive from them is emotional and moral support … this scholarship would … help me move a step closer to my goal of educating others all over the world. I am very hopeful that my future has great things in store for me and in a few years I can be college educated with a rewarding career … Thank you.”

Another scholarship recipient wrote in part, “… I’ve reached a time in my life where I find myself extremely motivated to see what I can do to see my dreams come to fruition … Ultimately this place [Mammoth Lakes] restored my will to seek progress and constantly push myself. I’m proud to call this place my home and extremely grateful for this wonderful scholarship opportunity provided to the town locals.”

Maria G. Vasquez will complete her Cerro Coso education this spring and plans to transfer to a four-year university. Her time as a Mammoth Lakes Foundation scholarship awardee has seen her throw herself wholeheartedly into her studies and her volunteer work. She was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the Friends of the Foundation Dinner on Dec. 3, 2011.

 “We are proud of all our scholarship students and what they have achieved and are achieving today,” Weinhart added. “Seeing so many students successfully complete the next step in their education, assisted by the efforts of all who contribute to the Mammoth Lakes Foundation, is very gratifying for all of us who are involved.” -Press Release