Awards and scholarships were given to Skylinestudents by the Scholarship Committee on the evening of Wednesday, May 9 at the Skyline College Theater.

The event was hosted by Phyllis Taylor-Gulbransen, professorof speech communications at Skyline College. She started off the night bywelcoming everyone and introducing the president of Skyline College, Dr. ReginaStanback Stroud. Stroud spoke about how proud she was of the students and hopesthey all achieve their dreams.

“I’m grateful for the people who gave me the opportunity to receive the money,” said Jesus Julian Rocha-Silva, a student at Skyline College. “(The scholarships are) an incentive for people to keep doing well in school.”

Honors students walked across the stage as theirnames were called to receive their medal for recognition of academicachievement. 33 honors students completed the requirements thissemester, the largest number of students Skyline has ever had receive the distinction. Special recognitionwas given to Phi Theta Kappa students as well.

Honors Transfer Program coordinator Katharine Harer felt that the awards ceremony was particularly important for the students, who felt the ceremony provided vindication for all of the work the students had done during the year.

“This event was important to the students,“Harer said. “All the invisible hoursthese students take to complete the requirements has been recognized.”

Stroud acknowledged the donors, saying each oftheir names and thanking them for their contributions. Scholarships wereawarded to the chosen recipients, and they were applauded as they walked across the stageto accept their grants.

Student award recipient and ASSC Commissioner of Publicity elect Jackeline Monrroy felt particularly honored to receive the award.

“I definitely felt happy and felt that it would honor (my parents and Skyline College) to accept the award,” Jackeline Monrroy said.

One student, Christian Etienne, was awarded the highest scholarshipof all. Etienne was awarded the Karl S.Pister Scholarship, worth $20,000. Stroud told of Etienne’s childhood inHaiti and how he fought to go to school even though his family asked him not to for his safety.

Etienne stood at the podium and humbly gave a speechaccepting his grant from Skyline. He talked about his plans for thefuture and how he appreciated all the help and support he received from thecollege.

At the end of the ceremony Heidi Hansen, President of theASSC, gave the closing remarks thanking everyone for attending the event andcongratulating the students on their success.