2010-2011 Scholarship Award Recipients

In the five years since inception of the Scholarship Fund, 52 scholarships have been granted to 32 students and we have 6 graduates! Plus we are supporting English as a Second Language classes for employees.

Angelica Pimental and Maribel Pimental – A Herculean Effort

Maybe we should start calling him "The Mighty Heraclio." Heraclio Pimental, who's been working in Mission Hills golf maintenance since 1990, is now the proud papa of not one, but two daughters in the California State University system. Angelica is in her junior year at Cal State University Fresno, where she knocked 'em dead last year with her outstanding grades. And her younger sister Maribel, is in her second year at Cal State University Channel Islands.

Both Pimental daughters have been awarded scholarships for a second year by the Mission Hills Employee Scholarship Fund. We intend to stick with them as they stick to their studies. And congratulations to Dad - that's truly a Herculean effort.

Augustine Cervantes – Looking Forward to a Career of Helping Others

When Rafael Cervantes began his career at Mission Hills in golf course maintenance in 1992, his son Augustin was only a baby. Now Augustin is a nineteen-year-old with a mission of healing in his sights. With the help of the Scholarship Fund, Augustin is majoring in biology at College of the Desert, beginning his journey to become a registered nurse. But Augustin's journey isn't going to end there. His long-term goal is to become a medical doctor. It's a noble journey and we're proud to be there to help him get started.

Carolina Lua – A Family First

Carolina has shown her friends and family that hard work and determination can help you overcome any obstacle. Juggling her roles as a teen mother and high school student, she excelled at both, becoming the very first person in her family to graduate from high school and go to college. Proud papa Jose Lua, who works in golf course maintenance, will watch along with all of us at the Mission Hills Employee Scholarship Fund as Carolina continues her educational efforts at College of the Desert to become a licensed vocational nurse. Good luck, Carolina.

Cesar Moreno – Man on a Mission

Young Cesar Moreno knows exactly what he wants. The twenty-year-old landscape maintenance worker at the tennis center wants to be the first person in his family to get a college education. And the many donors to the Scholarship Fund are going to help him. Working full-time, Cesar is also attending evening classes at College of the Desert. It may take a while, but Cesar has set his sights on a degree in business.

Jandie Buckley – A Fine Eye for Scholarship

Since her high school days at Beaumont High, Jandie has been thinking of boutiques – not to shop in them, but to own one. Now the 21-year-old server at Mission Hills is studying to make that dream a reality. With the help of the Scholarship Fund, she's a sophomore at Cal State San Bernardino, majoring in fashion merchandising.

Jim Robinson – Teed Up for Success

Becoming a PGA Professional is not just hard work; going in debt is par for the course. So the donors to the Scholarship Fund, many of whom Jim has helped sharpen their skills, thought it would be the right thing to return the favor. Jim will soon have that card, and we bet he aces his studies.

Junior Lua – Another Rung Up the Ladder

Junior was one of the Scholarship Fund's early success stories. The son of long-time Mission Hills employee Eleazar Lua, Junior successfully finished his trade school certification on a Mission Hills scholarship in 2008. Now a trusted member of the Mission Hills staff, Junior understands the importance of education and has asked the Fund to help him earn his AA degree in horticulture, with a specialty in golf course management. We are happy to help him take that next step.

Kelly Higgins – A Teacher, for Starters

For almost thirty years, Dennis Higgins has been "the voice of Mission Hills", the unflappable golf starter. Now Dennis and his wife Hollister, an aesthetician who works at the Spa and Fitness Center, have something else to talk about: their daughter Kelly has been awarded a scholarship from our Fund for the second year. Kelly, who graduated from El Camino College, where she was on the Dean's List, is in her senior year at California State University Dominguez Hills. She is pursuing her teaching certificate. Now that's an important announcement!

Lauren Le Pera – A Real Teaching Pro

Lauren, the daughter of well-known Mission Hills golf instructor Janet Le Pera, has already distinguished herself academically. Now the twenty-four-year-old recent graduate of San Diego State University wants to teach others, just like her mother. With the help of Mission Hills member contributions to the Employee Scholarship Fund, Lauren has enrolled in the two-year American Literature Graduate program at San Diego State, with a teaching career on the horizon. Keep your head down and follow through, Lauren. You'll be a pro teacher.

Louie Luna – A Just Cause

Louie, who works in outside services at the club, is highly motivated to do the right thing. After successfully finishing his studies at College of the Desert with a 3.03 GPA, he is using his Mission Hills scholarship to pursue a degree in criminal justice at Cal State University San Bernardino. After college he plans on a career in the FBI or the Navy. NCIS, Louie?

Susan Cabeje – A Nurse in the Family

After getting a boost from the Scholarship Fund last year, Susan, daughter of golf course maintenance supervisor Jesse Cabeje, will be finishing her studies this year at College of the Desert, on her way to becoming a registered nurse. The Cabeje family, and the Mission Hills family of members and staff are glad to know that we will soon be in good hands.