The Davis Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 169 recently awarded $19,000 in scholarships to high school and college students pursuing their higher education goals.
Davis Odd Fellows Charities Inc. Scholarship
Veronica “Phoenix” Pederson of Davis received a $5,000 scholarship through Davis Odd Fellows Charities Inc., a nonprofit corporation that provides funding for students who have gone through the foster care system while maintaining high grades.
“This is a special scholarship funded entirely by a major corporation back east,” said David Rosenberg of the Odd Fellows. “It targets deserving orphans and foster children who have struggled through those systems and have persevered.”
Pederson, a DaVinci High School graduate, will attend Sacramento State University in the fall.
Natalie Corona Davis Odd Fellows Memorial Scholarship
In addition, six students each received $1,500 from the Officer Natalie Corona Davis Odd Fellows Memorial Scholarship, created in honor of Corona, who was killed the line of duty on Jan. 10, 2019, while investigating a City of Davis traffic collision. The murder of the officer occurred just one block from the Lodge Hall.
These scholarships, bestowed upon graduates of high schools in Davis and Corona’s hometown of Arbuckle, recognize Corona’s hard work, community service and dedication to law enforcement that served as inspiration to her colleagues and the Davis community.
Scholarships went to the following students, who plan to pursue law enforcement, criminal justice or first-responder careers:
Davis High School
- Milena Kahan, Rochester Institute of Technology.
- Maya Moore. UC Santa Cruz.
- Mohamed Al-Ghlai, UC Davis.
Davis School of Independent Study
- Ahna Meyer, Ventura Community College.
Pierce High School
- Cynthia Corona, Sierra Community College/Sacramento State University.
- Dante Muzzi, community college/Sacramento State University.
Odd Fellows Lodge Academic Scholarship
The Odd Fellows Lodge also offers annual $1,000 academic scholarships to active members or dependents of active members attending colleges, universities or accredited trade schools.
This year’s recipients include:
- Mackenzie Walker, granddaughter of Mary Ann Doerzbacher. Walker is a 2023 Davis High School graduate who will major in molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley.
- Analiza Gonzales, granddaughter of Rick Gonzales. She’s a current Sacramento State University student majoring in nutrition science.
- Riana Gonzales, granddaughter of Rick Gonzales. A 2023 Davis High School graduate, Gonzales plans to major in psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- Dylan Raven, son of Jonathan and Jennifer Schramm Raven, currently majoring in engineering at UC Irvine.
Breakfast with Santa Scholarship
Another $1,000 scholarship went to Christian Omar Lara Villa, a graduate of King High School. Funding for this award came from the proceeds from the Odd Fellows’ annual Breakfast with Santa.
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