Scholarship Awards

The English Division announces our 2021 scholarship recipients with excitement, and we offer congratulations to our awardees. This year we awarded over $7,000 to our top students in honor of their work and commitment to studying English composition and English literature. Below are pictures and short biographies for scholarship recipients and English honors students.

Ilissa Herrera is the recipient of the Huang Future English Teacher award. Ilissa has been accepted to the University of Laverne as an English major and education minor and plans on transferring in fall 2021. She is an instructional aid for Colton Joint Unified School District, where she works in varying levels of English courses to assist high school students with their academics. Ilissa thanks Prof. Trisha Herrera and Dr. Mikage Kuroki for teaching her to love literature and express her thoughts in writing. During the pandemic, reading several novels got her through and gave her an outlet. Ilissa loves teaching and spending time enjoying the outdoors with family.

Juan Hernandez is the recipient of the Mary Alice Fox Scholarship award. Juan is majoring in Natural Sciences at Pasadena City College and will be transferring to UC Santa Barbara this Fall. Juan was a member of the CLAVE program and was a Dean's Honor this past Fall semester. Juan would like to thank his transfer advisor William Wright for assisting him throughout his overall transfer process. Away from school, Juan enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, and spending time with friends.

Junyang Xu is the recipient of the Raymond P. Davis Scholarship, and he majors in mathematics at PCC. Though having not yet officially initiated his transfer application, Junyang’s prefered campuses for transfer are UCLA, UCB, or Pomona College, and he wants to be a mathematics teacher in the future. Junyang is in the Honors Program in PCC, and he got into the top five in PCC during the second round of the 2019-2020 nationwide AMATYC Math Contest. Junyang would like to thank Professor Valerie De Carvalho, Professor Cj Johnson, and Professor Brian Kennedy. All of whom have given considerable guidance and help to Junyang in learning English reading and writing by encouraging him to adapt to English speaking environments and classrooms. Outside of school, Junyang enjoys swimming and cooking for his family nearly every day.

KC Young is the recipient of the Marion Murphy Scholarship.

Alexis Corine McGowan is the recipient of the Richard Scott Handley Memorial Award. Alexis Corine McGowan is a multiracial disabled person who is a loving individual. Alexis Corine McGowan spent her whole life writing, which all started with vampires. Alexis Corine McGowan would like to leave a legacy that makes her cat-children proud and inspire the following generations. Created by stardust supported by the people is designed as a reminder for Alexis Corine McGowan to stay humble and enjoy life’s prosperous galaxy. 

Katherine Wall is the recipient for the Richard Scott Handley Memorial Award. Katherine is studying English with a focus on creative writing at Pasadena City College, and is hoping to get accepted into an MFA program in the near future. Katherine would like to thank Prof. Akilah Brown, whose awesome class both greatly improved her writing and encouraged her to write the award winning poem. Katherine would also like to thank her best friend, Nicolette, whose pandemic wedding which Katherine couldn’t attend inspired the poem’s theme and events. Outside of school and her work at a brewery, Katherine enjoys writing and performing sketch comedy, and playing music with her band, “Women Tied to Railroad Tracks.”

Dalida Mosesi is the recipient of the Richard Scott Handley Memorial Award. 

Britt Warner is the recipient of the Jane S. Long Memorial Scholarship. Britt is majoring in English at Pasadena City College after putting academia on hold for 20 years. She wrote for The Malibu Times as a high school senior, self-published her first novel of fiction at 22, then went on to have a career as a singer-songwriter, with her songs appearing in commercials, film, and television. She is currently working on a metaphysical science fiction novel and a collection of poetry and prose, respectively. When Britt is not writing English essays, books, or songs, she is building decks and painting houses as Ms. Fixit, east-side L.A. handywoman. She enjoys riding her bike along the river, reading for pleasure, and connecting with people.

Kienan Aguado is the proud recipient of the John Q. Copeland Memorial Award. Kienan is an English major and he plans on transferring to UC Davis to focus on Literature and Creative Writing. Due to the fact that he started at PCC in January 2020, he was not able to immerse himself in the college experience as much as he had hoped to. However, he found a silver lining in all the time spent at home as he was able to earn 76 credits in a year and a half. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, photographing nature, reading memoirs, traveling and drinking coffee. Kienan would like to thank the incredible Dr. Krista Walter for her warmth, kindness, personal interactions and ability to integrate modern issues and topics into all of her curriculum. Kienan would also like to thank the incredibly talented Janna Ireland for helping keep his creativity alive during the darkest months of the pandemic and the wonderful Simona Supekar for inspiring him to pursue Creative Writing. Lastly, he would like to give a special shoutout to Miró Justad– a fellow (and phenomenal) English major– who befriended him in his only in-person class at PCC in Winter 2020.

Tamara Rios is the recipient for the Scholarship in Honor of Retired English Faculty. Tamara Rios majors in Business Administration and has taken several English classes because of her passion for literature and writing. As part of the Honors Program at Pasadena City College, she plans to transfer to UCLA or UC Irvine in 2022. In addition, she’s involved in the STARS program, and in the future looks forward to mentoring and encouraging students to pursue their educational and professional goals. Outside of school, Tamara enjoys reading, writing, hiking, and playing sports. She volunteers as an Athletic Director for my son's youth football team and looks forward to volunteering with his soccer team this upcoming fall.

David Getzen is the recipient of the Hanvey Scholarship for Excellence. David has taken an assortment of STEM and humanities classes at Pasadena City College and has plans of transferring to Brown University in Fall of 2021. Having earned the William Miller Award for Mathematics and presented research at the Honors Transfer Council of California conference in 2020, David continues to pursue his academic interests in and outside of the classroom. David would like to thank Professor Underwood, Professor Loritsch, and Professor Hanvey for their continued support and exemplary instruction. Outside of school, David enjoys skateboarding, watching and writing movies, and tending to his pet fish, Fabrizzio. 

Albert Tran is the recipient of the Robert Browning Memorial Award and the Susan Isabel Frazee Award. Albert is majoring in Communications at Pasadena City College and is planning on transferring to Cal State Long Beach in the upcoming fall 2021 semester to obtain his Bachelor’s in Communication Studies. Having earned numerous scholarship awards at PCC and holding several leadership positions such as being a Student Facilitator for Associated Students’ Cardinal & Gold Leadership Retreat, having a Vice-Chair position on one of the Associated Students’ committees, and being a Jam Leader and Peer Tutor for the Pathways Program, Albert continues to demonstrate outstanding leadership in his academic journey. Albert would like to thank Prof. Karina Medrano, Prof. Bri Broady, Taleen Seropian, and Manuel Teposte for playing an important role in supporting him academically throughout his time at PCC. Besides completing homework assignments all night long, Albert enjoys working out, watching movies and television shows, playing online games with his friends, and doing arts and crafts. Fun fact, he discovered he has double-jointed thumbs.

Holly Baer is the recipient of the Honors for Superior Achievement in English award. She will continue her academic journey at Azusa Pacific University in the fall where she will major in English and minor in theater arts. Throughout her time at PCC, Holly was an active member of the Improv Club, and a participant in the Honors Program. In 2019, she received the Robert Westerbeck Scholarship. Holly is incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from the phenomenal professors in the English Division. She would like to thank Prof. Bryan Gonzalez, Prof. Juan Mendoza, and Prof. Marjorie Smith for constantly challenging and supporting her during her time at PCC. Away from school, Holly loves to hike, paint, act, write poetry, play sports, and teach acting.

Sunny Jong is the recipient for the Honors for Extraordinary Achievement in English Award. He is majoring in Political Science and has plans of transferring to UCLA in fall 2022, then possibly pursuing a graduate degree in law. As a published writer and Editor-in-Chief for PCC’s Inscape magazine publication, Sunny is keen on practicing his writing craft in any medium, and with every chance he gets, having adapted this fervor toward debate team and political canvassing work. Sunny would like to thank Jay Arnston and Allan Axibal-Cordero for being the most caring, attentive and professional speech and debate coaches he could ever ask for, as well as Prof. Kristin Kaz for giving him wonderful guidance and inspiration to partake in the Inscape editorial team. Beyond writing and schoolwork, Sunny enjoys practicing digital art and playing the violin, having competed for nine years and performed in a multitude of places including Carnegie Hall.

Miró Justad (she/her) is the recipient for the Honors Extraordinary Achievement in English award. Miró is graduating from Pasadena City College this semester as an English Major. Miró Will be transferring to UCLA in the coming fall as an English Major with a concentration on Creative Writing and a minor in Literature and the Environment. Miró would like to thank Professor Miralles, Professor Montalvo, Dr. Walter, Professor González-Bohórquez, Dr. Ling O’Connor, Professor Staylor, and Professor Marheine for their encouragement which made her return to academics an unforgettable experience. When Miró is not at school she loves to hike, read fantasy novels, try food around LA, shoot music videos, and write poetry.

Juliette Sandoval is the recipient of the Honors for Superior Achievement in English. Juliette is an English major at Pasadena City College, and plans to transfer to university in Fall 2022. During her time at PCC, Juliette has worked as a tutor at the Writing Support Center, and completed an internship with the Hixon Teacher Preparation Program in partnership with Reading Partners Los Angeles. Juliette would like to thank Dr. Shane Underwood, Yasmina Danic, David Machen, Dr. Derek Milne, Dr. Brian Kennedy and all the other wonderful professors and mentors that she has had the privilege to work with during her time at PCC. Away from school, Juliette enjoys painting, writing poetry, making music, watching movies and looking after her plants.

Chloe Johnson is the recipient for the Honors Superior Achievement in English Award.

Marsden Lyonwahl is the recipient of the Honors Extraordinary Achievement in English.