Each year, the Friedberger Educational Fund Scholarship is awarded to those outstanding graduating seniors.
In all, 22 students from the Class of 2017 were recipients of the gift established in 1963 by William Friedberger, a prominent Stockton physician and longtime medical director at San Joaquin General Hospital.
He did so as a memory of his parents, Arnold and Lotta Friedberger, who were 19th-century pioneers to the Mother Lode and Stockton.
This year, several local students – included were valedictorians Lejla Pepic (Manteca High) and Natasha Prasad (Lathrop High); salutatorian Mary Vang (Weston Ranch High); and Emely Rodriguez (East Union High), Kaylee Scholten (Ripon Christian High) and Andrea Anaya (Sierra High) – were among the recipients of about $2,750 each to be paid out in installments over four years, according to the San Joaquin County Office of Education.
The Friedberger scholarships were awarded to those who had a need for financial assistance, did excellent school work and had outstanding character, leadership, public service, and enrolled in one of California’s institution of higher learning.
Each high school, private or public, in the county had a chance to nominate one applicant.
This year, $61,000 went to graduating students, with the selections made possible by a three-member awards committee, consisting of Superintendent of School James Mousalimas, Stockton Unified Superintendent Eliseo Davalos, and San Joaquin County board member Peter Ottesen.
Other recipients of the Friedberger Scholarship included Israr Ali (Tokay High), Mariela Sanchez (Venture Academy), Jamie Castellanos (Pacific Law Academy), Kayla Davis (Stockton Collegiate International), Kevin Gines (St. Mary’s), Rania Ibrahim (Kimball), Asia Jamosmos (Lincoln), Sabah Khan (Stockton Early College Academy), Colby Leiske (Tracy High), Megan McDonald (Lodi High), Amairani Silva (West High), Adia Munoz (Health Career Academy High), Christian Ochoa (Escalon High), Marcos Oropeza (Aspire Benjamin Holt College Prep Academy), and Ana Saechao (Cesar Chavez High).