O’Melveny Awards Warren Christopher Scholarships to 16 Outstanding Los Angeles High School Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES—June 7, 2024—Sixteen outstanding Los Angeles Unified School District 10th graders each received a US$20,000 college scholarship at the annual Warren Christopher Scholarship Program awards ceremony on June 7 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

This event marks the 30th year that the international law firm O’Melveny & Myers has awarded scholarships to exceptional LAUSD sophomores who embody the spirit of Warren Christopher, the firm’s late chairman and former US Secretary of State who was a tireless champion of higher education opportunities for disadvantaged students and an LAUSD alumnus himself. 

The 2024 recipients—honored as “Warren Christopher Scholars”—were selected from 131 nominees whose schools recognized their academic promise, record of community service, and financial need.

“These Scholars are incredible young achievers,” said O’Melveny partner Cassandra Seto, who led the 2024 Scholar selection process. “Each student is remarkable and an inspiration not only to their classmates and community, but to all of us. We hope the scholarships they receive will help them achieve their academic goals and continue to strive, grow, and shine.”

Since its inception 30 years ago, the Warren Christopher Scholarship Program has awarded more than US$7 million in college scholarships to more than 300 Los Angeles-area students. The program recognizes rising academic stars in the 10th grade with the goal of motivating them to excel throughout high school and to attend and graduate from college. Each Scholar receives US$5,000 per year during their four years in college to help cover tuition and other educational expenses.

“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Warren Christopher Scholarship Program, we are honored to help these inspiring young learners and leaders as they pursue their dreams,” said O’Melveny partner and Warren Christopher Scholarship Committee Chair Matt Kline. “They are tremendously talented students, with determination to succeed and limitless potential to change the world for the better.”

Warren Christopher Scholars have attended and graduated from some of the country’s most prestigious universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and nearly all of the UC schools. Many have become teachers, public servants, doctors, lawyers, and more.

The Warren Christopher Scholarship Program reflects O’Melveny’s commitment to support promising high school students during their college careers. The program is managed by the Warren Christopher Scholarship Committee and the California Community Foundation in Los Angeles.

Below are profiles of the 2024 Warren Christopher Scholars:

Fairouz Abuamreih
Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
“I live years ahead. I hold out for something good.” Fairouz has pledged herself to clubs and been an active planner. She’s a member of M.E.S.A., Girls Who Code, the Computer Science Honor Society, and the Future Medical Professionals club. These STEM-focused opportunities are helping to prepare Fairouz for a career in medicine. She has set her sights on specializing in pediatrics with a double major in creative writing. “I want to write. I’ve written stories before; all incomplete and on a loop in my mind, trying to fit an ending to a puzzle with missing pieces. But maybe that’s because my story hasn’t played out in full yet. It is my goal, then, to finish that story.”

Livier Andrade
Panorama High School & Magnets
Livier credits sports with changing her life. After COVID, Liv joined the cheer, softball, flag football, and wrestling teams. She said, “I have gained empathy, communication skills, sportsmanship and leadership traits which can be used in and out of sports.” One of her coaches praised her ability to break barriers, “pave the way for generations of athletes to come,” and be “an example to the students on campus of what they can achieve with hard work, dedication, and perseverance.” This dedication led to her being named the most valuable player on her wrestling team. She ultimately wants to serve her community as a homicide detective for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Angel Arevalo
Academy of Medical Arts, Carson Complex
“A person’s personal success in whatever they wish to take up is all dependent on the effort that is exerted into wanting to achieve their goals. No matter your situation in life, no matter what you may have or don’t have, greatness comes to those who chase it with a drive and ambition that outworks all obstacles in their way.” Angel has embodied that work ethic to achieve his dreams. As valedictorian of his sophomore class, a member of the HOSA community service club, the human rights club, the gay-straight alliance, and the wrestling team, Angel is praised by teachers for his exceptional time management skills and pursuit of excellence. He wants to pursue a career as a nurse.

Mikea’Lynn Bailey
Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School
As a volleyball, basketball, and track athlete, Mikea’Lynn had a scary injury while playing off-season basketball that gave her a focus for a future career path. She plans to become a sports psychologist working with athletes recovering from injuries and is taking a sports medicine class to help hone her skills. In addition to her dedication to athletics, Mikea’Lynn works with City Pride Magazine taking photos, editing videos and reporting on local news. Her teacher said, “She is a compassionate and driven individual who not only excels in her pursuits but also uplifts those around her through her positive attitude and collaborative spirit.”

Liliana Beltran
David Starr Jordan High School Visual/Performing Arts Magnet
Liliana is an artist. She views handmade cards and crafts as her love language, and she loves to see the joy they bring. “In the long term, I want to be in a career where I can have an impact on others directly and spend daily time with them.” Liliana already achieves that goal with her role on the softball team, where she strives to motivate and cheer on her teammates. She also plays tennis and works with incoming freshmen at the Boys & Girls Club. Her teacher said, “What truly makes her rare, especially at her age, is her willingness to flow and fit into a community, while helping others, and pushing the bar of excellence.”

Axel Berganza
Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School
Axel’s favorite item in his house is a bucket of white paint. Every time gang members tag the side of his apartment building, Axel and his mother paint over it as “a small act of defiance against the ugliness” that allows them to “reclaim a sense of pride.” For Axel, higher education is a way out of the cycle. “Receiving this scholarship signifies a transformative opportunity that shatters the relentless cycle of poverty because higher education is visible. It is more than a gateway to a bachelor’s degree; it symbolizes a path to my ultimate dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.”

Angel Blanco
Nathaniel Narbonne Senior High School
Angel is a survivor. He was diagnosed with brain cancer as a child, and eight years of chemotherapy left him legally blind. Despite these challenges, his teacher explains that “Angel does not let anything stop him.” Monday through Friday, Angel wakes up early to work in his school’s cafeteria packing breakfast carts. He then attends AP classes at his high school, along with college courses at LA Harbor College. In the afternoons, Angel practices with his school’s track team. Angel hopes to attend college and become an advocate for the visually impaired community.

Omar Godinez
STEM Academy of Hollywood at Helen Bernstein Complex
Omar plans to turn his passion for Sonic, Star Wars, and all things video games into a higher purpose. With a dream of becoming a software engineer, he already is thinking of programs to help the blind after an illness left his sister without her sight. “I want to help my little sister and other people who, despite their problems, can always decide to continue fighting to achieve their dreams.” Omar is a member of the Robotics Club. During their first competition, Omar helped the team problem-solve to ensure their entry was competition ready. His teacher praised his positive attitude and calm demeanor under pressure.

Paola Henriquez
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies
When both of Paola’s parents suffered serious medical conditions in the past few years, she stepped up to be their caretaker. They call her the nurse of the family. So it is not surprising that Paola feels called to work in the medical field. “The same way I cared for my parents, I want to be able to do that for families and allow them to see their loved ones for longer.” Paola also fills that caretaker role for her younger sibling, balancing home responsibilities with her schoolwork. Her counselor describes Paola as “resilient, determined, hardworking, independent and an exemplar student, who at the sight of need immediately stepped up to ensure her family thrived.”

Nathaniel Johnson
Los Angeles School of Global Studies at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
Nathaniel’s family made a big move from Detroit to California halfway through his freshman year of high school. Despite being the new kid, Nathaniel is already a leader among his friends, recruiting new students to join the school’s cross country and track and field teams. His teacher highlights Nathaniel’s compassion and empathy in difficult social situations and his impulse to always recognize the good in others. “He immediately stood out because of his daily commitment to his individuality, personal growth, and the betterment of his peers.” The move also gave him the travel bug as he dreams of attending an Ivy League college to study engineering and travel the world.

Dereon Jones
Downtown Magnets High School
Calling math a strength in her academic powerhouse, Dereon plans to study business basics in college, including money management, statistics and economics in order to be able to launch her own business. She has already displayed the entrepreneur spirit by leading sales for the Black Student Union, serving as treasurer for the creative writing club, organizing a food drive for the Vision Church and performing in a grassroots dance and drill team. Her counselor said, “Dereon has shown grit and determination on a level I rarely see. I am so impressed with this young lady and her steely determination to do better for herself.”

Breanna Lamountain-Raya
University Charter High School Math, Art, Science, Technology Magnet
Breanna has grand plans to get a master’s degree in education and become a middle or high school English teacher. She credits her love of reading to helping her overcome a condition of being selectively mute until middle school. Now, Breanna volunteers at the school library and loves to give out book recommendations and encourage others to keep reading. Breanna is also president of the literary club and a winner of a poetry contest. Her teacher said, “Breanna has the capacity to work towards her own healing while simultaneously working towards a broader understanding of art, literature, and society. This understanding is based on her appreciation of beauty, her compassion, forgiveness, and the ability to see the darker side of the world for what it is without being consumed by it.”

Zolah McDonald
West Adams Preparatory Senior High School
Zolah has a unique way of giving back to her community. As a volunteer for the Threshold Organization, which provides resources for women with children who are leaving incarceration, Zolah works with women and children to reconnect through artwork. “I was able to experience a different side of the world and aid women that were hurting and wanted change.” She plans to parlay the knowledge she has learned through this experience into her ultimate career of education. Zolah has her sights set on majoring in education and becoming a fourth or seventh grade teacher. Zolah also participates on the school’s varsity basketball, softball and volleyball teams and tutors elementary school children.

Oscar Moran
Sonia Sotomayor Arts and Science Magnet
Oscar lives with his father in East LA and has been inspired by his dad’s work ethic and his ability to handle and overcome difficult situations. He is already embodying that hard-working spirit. Oscar taught himself to cut and style hair and was able to build a neighborhood clientele by promoting his skills via social media. When he’s not working, Oscar is studying for his AP classes or competing on his school’s football and track teams. He strives to have a career in aerospace engineering. Oscar is determined to rise above his circumstances and credits the “warrior mentality” learned from his father to keeping him on track. His teacher praised this spirit as well, noting Oscar’s “exceptional level of dedication, discipline, and passion in every aspect of his life.”

Thakur Singh
Leadership and Public Service Virtual Academy
Even though Thakur is a student at an all-virtual high school, he has worked hard to build a culture of community among its students. As a member of the yearbook club, he is putting together a shared history for the school. Thakur also serves as a representative on student council, is part of the leadership on the YouTube club, has created assemblies for heritage months, joined the school’s positive behavioral interventions and support committee, and is part of the school’s committee for the WASC accreditation program. Due to his multiple extracurricular duties at school, he was chosen to receive the Congressional Award this year. Thakur said, “After graduation, I would love to use my education, work ethic, and determination to make the world a better place, being a champion for equal justice and the representation of those who need a voice.”

Carla Tottress
Middle College High School
“I have understood for as long as I can remember that academics were my path to be successful.” Driven by a love of reading and an affinity for learning, Carla’s favorite place has always been the library. She now volunteers at the Los Angeles County Public Library reading to children and also runs a support group for girls of color. This desire to help others is driving her future plans as well. Carla wants to pursue social work to help children in distress. Her counselor wrote, “Carla’s commitment to do [social] work helps tip back the balance for kids in distress. I believe she will make a difference that would be incalculable to imagine.”

About O’Melveny

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Contact:

Brandon Jacobsen
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 213 430 8024
bjacobsen@omm.com

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