The Votes Are In!
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View Winners → Education Apr 21, 2022
Back row, from left to right; Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Amy Wainscott, Citizens Business Bank President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Brager, Celeste Edell. Second row; Pasadena Unified School District Chief Academic Officer Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, Nagma Shakur-Frank, Matthew Fowler, Sergio Gonzalez, Citizens Business Bank Senior Vice President, Director of Treasury Management and Marketing LaVon Short, Front row: Cecilia Grane, Kennedy Hackett, Oswald Guerra, Gabriela Castillo. | Courtesy photo
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The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association has selected eight high school seniors as the 2022 ROSE Scholars. This year, the program awarded $20,000 in scholarships to eight graduating seniors from the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). ROSE Scholars, presented by Citizens Business Bank, is a program designed to help students in our community thrive and to foster their potential.
As part of the application process, students were invited to submit a creative piece that reflected their future dreams, goals and aspirations. A one-page reflection describing their thoughts and feelings about the piece was also required, as well as still images of their work and a video recording describing their inspiration.
The 2022 ROSE Scholars include: Gabriela Castillo from John Muir High School; Sergio Gonzalez from Rose City High School; Celeste Edell from Pasadena High School; Oswald Guerra from John Muir High School; Matthew Fowler from John Muir High School; Kennedy Hackett from John Muir High School; Cecilia Grane from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School; and Nagma Shakur-Frank from Pasadena High School.
“Citizens Business Bank is honored to support the 2022 Class of Rose Scholars. Our ongoing partnership with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association continues to make a positive difference in the communities we serve by providing scholarships to local students to pursue their education. We wish all the Pasadena Unified School District students who applied or were selected well in their future endeavors,” said David A. Brager, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Business Bank.
Instead of a minimum GPA requirement, applicants were asked to obtain a recommendation from a teacher, coach, counselor or community member.
“Congratulations to the 2022 Class of Rose Scholars! Through their hard work and determination, the recipients of the awards have demonstrated that they are prepared for the next part of their educational journey,” said Brian McDonald, Ed.D., Superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District. “I would like to thank Citizens Business Bank and the Tournament of Roses for their continued commitment to the students and schools of the Pasadena Unified School District.”
Applications were reviewed and scored based on the structure of their art, the organization and language of their written reflection, and the recommendation from an educator, coach or community member. The review committee was composed of Tournament of Roses members, staff and PUSD representatives.
The Association and the Tournament of Roses Foundation are focused on positively impacting the Pasadena community with charitable giving, volunteerism and community involvement. As part of this work, the Association has partnered with Citizens Business Bank for ROSE Scholars and other signature community programs.
