The annual McKinley Alumni Scholarship was awarded to graduating John Burroughs High School Senior Cheyenne Castro on Monday. Castro spoke to the students at her former elementary school while school staff and district personnel looked on.
“I’m honored to have been chosen to receive the award and it was great seeing my elementary school teachers again,” commented Castro. “It was a privilege giving advice to the younger students to help improve their future and the money will be a great stepping stone to my higher education.”
The McKinley Alumni Scholarship program was started in 2008 by a school parent, Suzanne Weerts, and teacher, Cherie Wescott. Nearly $14,000 has been awarded over the subsequent years to seven graduating JBHS seniors who started out at McKinley Elementary.
Castro attended McKinley Elementary from Kindergarten through fifth grade and graduates from Burroughs High School this month with an overall GPA of 4.3. At Burroughs, she participated on the water polo and swim teams for all four years.
Castro was also in the Key Club for a year, a member of the California Scholastic Federation for four years, has volunteered with the Burbank Tournament of Roses and is on the 2013-14 Yearbook Staff. She plans to pursue a career in genetic research at UC Davis.
