In their continued efforts to support youth education, the Angels have teamed up with the Orange County Office of Education and the AVID Program to create Angels Scholars. Developed in 2006, the Angels Scholars program has annually awarded college scholarships to five public middle school students in Orange County.

These outstanding eighth-graders have been chosen based on their academic excellence, financial need, and enrollment in the college preparatory program AVID. The Angels Baseball Foundation will award each Angels Scholar $4,000 (plus accrued interest) upon their acceptance into a four-year college.

The Angels have developed the program in conjunction with the Orange County Office of Education and the AVID Program. The AVID Program is an in-school academic support program for grades 6-12 that prepares students for college eligibility and success. It levels the playing field for minority, rural, low-income and other students without a college-going tradition in their families.

For more Information on the AVID Program, please visit www.avidonline.org.

Angels Scholars Selection

Each school in Orange County offering the AVID Program in eighth grade may nominate one student for the Angels Scholars scholarship. In addition to high academic and civic achievements, students must complete an application with one short essay. Financial stability of the applicant will also be considered. After all applications are reviewed, students whose applications are selected are required to be interviewed by the committee at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

A task force comprised of members of the Orange County Office of Education, AVID and the Angels Baseball Foundation will select the Angels Scholars. The task force takes into account grades, application quality, financial need and the students' social and academic achievements.

Honoring the Angels Scholars

During each season, the Angels and the Angels Baseball Foundation proudly recognizes the new class of Angels Scholars. Mark Merhab, Chairman of the Angels Baseball Foundation, Angels President Dennis Kuhl, and representatives from the Orange County Department of Education and the AVID Program honor the Scholars during a pregame ceremony.

Congratulations to the 2009 Class of Angels Scholars:

Manuela Herrera - Katella High School Class of 2013, Anaheim
Giahan Nguyen - Bolsa Grande High School Class of 2013, Garden Grove
Loi Nguyen - Marina High School Class of 2013, Huntington Beach
Adriana Martinez - Capistrano Valley High School Class of 2013, Capistrano Valley
Jesus Martinez - San Clemente High School Class of 2013, Capistrano Valley

These five Scholars join the first three classes of Angels Scholars:

2006

Jose Guardado of Garden Grove
Karlo Campana of Tustin
Nicole Doezie of Orange
Sherryl Bako of Tustin
Vanessa Paniagua of Anaheim

2007

Eric Avila of Anaheim
Edward Elizalde of Orange
Octavio Medina of San Clemente
Jose Mendoza of Tustin
Yolanda Rodriguez of Garden Grove

2008

Juan Roberto Abraham of Anaheim
Andres Cruz of Capistrano Beach
Alicia Gonzalez of Capistrano Beach
Melissa Lopez of Westminster
Mark Vega of Orange