The Imperial Irrigation District, during its meeting of July 21, awarded $19,250 in scholarship awards to 26 local high school students who are pursuing their education at an accredited college, university or trade school this fall.

“The IID Student Scholarship Program was established in 1991 to help high school graduates, dependents of IID employees, who will continue to further their education,” said Henry Martinez, general manager. “IID is very proud of this program and glad it can assist its hardworking employees and their families in a small way.”

The top scholarships, valued at $1,500 each, were awarded to Kendall Shields of Imperial High School, daughter of Tina Shields, and to Dominic Fiorenza of Calipatria High School, son of Frank Fiorenza.

The recipients are dependents of IID employees. Scholarships were also awarded to:

• $1,250 – Vanessa Kilps of Calexico High School, daughter of John Kilps.
• $1,250 – Lindsay Lemert of Brawley High School, daughter of Chad Lemert.
• $1,000 – Hadley Guillen of Holtville High School, daughter of Pete Guillen.
• $1,000 – Hannah Darr of Central High School, daughter of Tony Darr.
• $1,000 – Sebastian Ramirez of Calexico High School, son of Olivia Ramirez.
• $1,000 – Katherine Bramasco of Southwest High School, daughter of Eduardo Bramasco.
• $1,000 – Gabriella Hernandez of Brawley High School, daughter of Veronica and Frank Hernandez.
• $750 – Lynette Niebla of Calexico High School, daughter of Dalia Niebla.
• $750 – Paige Smelser of Brawley High School, daughter of Matthew Smelser.
• $750 – Oscar Cervantes of Calipatria High School, son of Roberto Cervantes.
• $750 – Haylee Ray of Imperial High School, daughter of Roger Ray.
• $750 – Priscila Valdez of CETYS High School, daughter of Hugo Valdez.
• $750 – Gordon Haskell of La Quinta High School, son of Robert Haskell.
• $500 – Gema Gutierrez of Imperial High School, daughter of Eduardo Gutierrez.
• $500 – Teresa Kay Druihet of Imperial High School, daughter of Terri Druihet.
• $500 – Jozeph Murguia of Imperial High School, son of Jose Murguia.
• $500 – Valeria Algravez of CETYS High School, daughter of Juan Algravez.
• $500 – Lexi Garduno of Imperial High School, daughter of Arturo & Linda Garduno.
• $500 – Jared Lemert of Brawley High School, son of Chad Lemert.
• $250 – Sara Nidome of Southwest High School, daughter of Eric Nidome.
• $250 – Danitza Duarte of Central High School, daughter of Lily Alvarez.
• $250 – Eduardo Mercado of Calexico High School, son of Jessie and Elsa Mercado.
• $250 – Marissa Huereque of Central High School, daughter of Mizael Huereque.
• $250 – Manuel Ortiz of Central High School, son of Manuel Ortiz.

Due to COVID-19, students were unable to express their appreciation directly to the Board of Directors, so they created a short video available at: https://youtu.be/GuhUyHczzuQ

Student scholarship winners pictured above (top row, from left): Lynette Niebla, Gabriella Hernandez, Dominic Fiorenza. Second row: Priscila Valdez, Marissa Huereque, Valeria Algravez and Kendall Shields. Third row: Katherine Bramasco, Jozeph Murguia, Danitza Duarte and Vanessa Kilps. Fourth row: Gema Gutierrez, Jared Lemert, Lexi Garduno, Teresa Kay Druihet and Sebastian Ramirez.