The Lake Elsinore Valley Education Foundation awarded $30,500 in scholarships to 16 graduating seniors across the Lake Elsinore Unified School District during a recognition event May 19.
The scholarships, which ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, were awarded to students from Temescal Canyon, Lakeside, Elsinore and Ortega high schools, as well as Keith McCarthy Academy. Three additional students received scholarships through the Rosemarie Cionni-Mary Pastore Educational Trust.
According to LEVEF Chairman Chris Killiany, this year’s total was the largest amount awarded in the foundation’s history.
“This year was the best year in the whole history of LEVEF,” Killiany said. “We were able to put out about $30,500 worth of scholarships, which is almost double what we’ve done in the past.”
Established in 2007, LEVEF was created to help Lake Elsinore Unified students pursue higher education. The foundation was founded in honor of former LEUSD Superintendent Dr. Sharron Lindsay and has provided scholarships for graduating seniors for nearly two decades.
Killiany said increased support from local donors helped expand the foundation’s scholarship program this year.
“We had a lot of new contributions from community members, volunteers that are slowly stepping up to the plate and saying, ‘Yeah, we need to help our kids go on to their next step,’” he said.
Recipients were selected through an application process coordinated with school counselors throughout the district. After applications were submitted, LEVEF board members reviewed them, considering the criteria as well as each student’s circumstances and financial need.
“We want to make sure we reach those that are in need as well,” Killiany said. “You have a lot of kids that actually not only go to school, but they’re one of the primary financial supporters of their families as well. It’s heart-wrenching reading some of the applicants that we go through, but it’s also rewarding at the same time to learn we can help.”
Among the largest awards were the $5,000 Stephen E. Killiany Jr. Scholarship awarded to Karla Lopez of Lakeside High School and the $5,000 Maliha Williamson Family Scholarship awarded to Safa Hakim of Elsinore High School. Allyson Pineda of Lakeside High School received the $1,500 Dr. Sharron Lindsay Teacher Scholarship.
In addition to student scholarships, LEVEF recently expanded its efforts by creating the Educational Support Fund, which provides teacher scholarships and funding for programs within LEUSD. This year, the foundation funded five grants supporting projects including robotics programs, community gardens and family math nights.
Looking ahead, Killiany said he hopes the foundation can continue growing both the number and value of its scholarships.
2026 LEVEF scholarship recipients include:
Temescal Canyon High School
- Addisyn Myers – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
- Rashel Campos – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
Lakeside High School
- Karla Lopez – Stephen E. Killiany Jr. Scholarship ($5,000)
- Ariana Nava – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
- Jeremiah Norman – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
- Allyson Pineda – Dr. Sharron Lindsay Teacher Scholarship ($1,500)
- Gerardo Juarez Jr. – PRG Scholarship ($1,000)
Elsinore High School
- Nathan Garcia – PRG Scholarship ($1,000)
- Riley Rivera – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
- Nicole Villa – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
- Safa Hakim – Maliha Williamson Family Scholarship ($5,000)
Ortega High School
- Cody Closs – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
Keith McCarthy Academy
- Zachary Wagoner – LEVEF Scholarship ($1,000)
Rosemarie Cionni-Mary Pastore Educational Trust Scholarship Recipients
- Jessilyn Fonseca ($3,000)
- Roxanna Osario ($4,000)
- Nicole Villa ($2,000)
