On Sunday, June 30, 2024 the Knights of Council 6031 announced the awarding of nearly $32,000.00 in scholarships to 22 deserving high school and college students. This year’s group includes 13 high school students and 9 ongoing college students. This group is devoted to our faith. Nine are attending Catholic Universities. For the second year in a row, this is the most we have ever seen. The majors of this talented class include Child Development, business, nursing, computer science, biology, civil and electrical engineering, radiology and statistics. This group aspires to make an impact in our world.
The Knights evaluate the candidates based on Academics, Church Service, Community Service and Need. This year we had a very diverse set of applicants.
The scholarship winners this year are Alex Lim, Banesa Martinez, Dillon Walters, Genesis Morales Aguillon, Iidah Golly, Jake Jaro, Joey Flores, Kaitlin Surber, Kayli Masso, Kiara Bowser, Layla Carrillo, Leo Graves, Madelynne Knowd, Maggie Woods, MaryJane Widjaja, Max Graves, Michael Salvatori, Miguel Baranda Chamu, Peyton Jaro, Richard Obert, Robert Salvatori and Thomas Campbell.
There are two special scholarships awarded.
The Jim Tom Cavanaugh Memorial Scholarship honors a very special man, and his long-term dedication to the Knights, this Parish, and his strong Catholic faith. Candidates for this Scholarship are students who demonstrate a strong faith and who have a major in Broadcasting, Communications or Business, which reflects Jim Tom’s many years of service as an Auctioneer and his successful career in the insurance industry. This student has had to grow in her first year at the University of San Diego. And she has flourished. In addition to making the Dean’s list she is involved with the Ambassadors, Tour Guides and the Campus Ministry at USD. She extends her Catholic faith as a Eucharistic Minister, choir member and will be Youth Leader for incoming freshman next year. She is working on a double major in Business Marketing and PR Communications. Our winner is Kiara Bowser.
Deacon Bob Troy was a marine, great husband and father, a Knight, and a Deacon here at St Gabriel. The Deacon Bob Troy Memorial Scholarship is an award that acknowledges the best of the best of our candidates and again this year we have an outstanding winner. She is an excellent student at San Diego State and completed 55 units this school year (30 would be typical). She was an altar server here and is now a Eucharistic Minister and sacristan. She has also been part of the youth group student leadership team, is active at the Newman Center. She is an artist, speaks 2 languages, and is working on 3 more. Our winner and future early childhood special education teacher is Mary Jane Widjaja.
Photos of the presentation are in the Parish Support Photo Gallery.