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The Community of Character Collaborative rewarded four 2022-23 high school seniors in Pleasanton with the 2023 Juanita Haugen Memorial Scholarship.
The award winners were selected based on their commitment to the Community of Character values, outside experiences, things they’ve overcome, and service to their school, family and community, organizers said.
The scholarships were awarded to Shree Billa and Tony Wang from Amador Valley High School, Isaac Gavino and Arian Moghni from Foothill High School and Tyler Dawe from Village High School. Applicants were required to explain how their actions demonstrated compassion, honesty, respect, responsibility, integrity, and self-discipline characteristics, along with displaying a strong record of civic engagement.
Since a young age, Shree Billa has endured many complications at home and learned how to deal with difficult situations at any moment, scholarship officials said. From self-injuries ending up in the hospital to moving from one house to another throughout high school, Billa attended intensive therapy to learn about abuse and dealing with emotional burdens.
Billa received the Banyan Tree Award which recognized her “ability to endure and survive the unimaginable, to turn challenges and obstacles into strength and passion, and to show empathy to others.” She wants to use her experiences to help others and become a school guidance counselor in the future, advocating for young people.
Throughout high school, Tony Wang has worked hard through his leadership efforts and volunteer activities in the community. He was president and leader for many programs and continuously embodied character traits that define a strong leader.
Aside from his many accomplishments, Wang’s dedication, personal morals, and commitment to expanding educational access have earned him the Juanita Haugen Memorial Scholarship, and a testament to his character and leadership.
As the president of Foothill’s Pilipinx Youth Organization, Isaac Gavino caused a shift that helped identify himself, becoming more comfortable with his identity despite little understanding of his background or culture. Gavino has helped others with their respect and self-confidence for themselves, just as he’s working on building his own.
Through his own experiences, Gavino has learned to be supportive, empathetic, and compassionate towards others, taking the time to listen and understand those he’s working with. He understands the importance of showing compassion and has been encouraged to strengthen his true values and beliefs through internal situations.
Arian Moghni faced many challenges moving to California from Iran at the age of 13, but he’s always found ways to distract himself in spite of them. He thoroughly enjoys reading and learning about astronomy, and ultimately used this passion to create the Cosmos Club at Foothill.
Moghni teaches both high school and middle school students about astronomy and is always willing to inspire the youth through his extensive knowledge. He hopes to study astrophysics and physics, looking to make a large impact in this subject and inspire the younger generation.
Tyler Dawe, a standout student at Village, was noted by scholarship officials for having a “great personality of being very compassionate and caring. Tyler is kind, smart, leads by example and is a perfect example of a student who embodies the character traits that Juanita Haugen valued.”
As a member of the leadership program, Dawe was able to contribute to difficult conversations by helping “shed light on the bigger picture, see all sides of issues and bring people together … When he sees something that needs to be done Tyler always steps up,” according to scholarship officials.
Inquisitive, productive and “always looking for ways to learn”, Dawe also found a particular niche for baking in the Village catering class, officials said.
Donations to the scholarship funds are used to increase the value and amount of awards given out. Visit www.communityofcharacter.org/scholarships for more information about the Juanita Haugen Memorial Scholarship and to donate for future scholarships.
