ORANGE, CA, June 04, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mark 1 Real Estate & Mortgage, a prominent Southern California independent agency, presented three El Modena High School seniors with $1,000 scholarships Friday, May 29, during a special awards ceremony at Chapman University. The Mark 1 scholarship recognizes extraordinary students in the community and provides them with critical funds that may be applied toward college tuition, a laptop computer and textbooks.
"Communities are only as strong as their people, and that's why it's so important for companies in those communities to give back" said Mark Prather, CEO of Mark 1 Real Estate & Mortgage. "Our students represent the future, and when given extra support, they are able to develop successful careers that benefit themselves, their families and their communities."
Mark 1 has a longstanding history of supporting the communities in which it conducts business, including local high schools, service groups and human service agencies in Orange, La Palma and surrounding cities. Senior students from El Modena High School, located in Orange, submitted essays for consideration. Judges selected three students who provided the most compelling essays.
Mark 1 scholarship recipients were:
• Alfredo Vasquez, of Orange, plans to attend Santiago Canyon College. Alfredo has been working part-time while in school to provide extra funds for his family. The Vasquez family moved to the United States, despite having stable jobs in Mexico, to be able to give their children more opportunities in this country.
• Kenya Ramirez, of Garden Grove, is the first person in her family to attend college. Her family had a successful business, but lost everything in the 2008 recession. Despite this, Ramirez continued to excel in school and recently was recognized by the principal for exceeding a 4.0 GPA. She plans to attend Santiago Canyon College.
• Beau Aunger, of Orange, will attend community college in the fall with plans to transfer to a four-year university. He has been self-sufficient while in school, working part-time to pay for rent, food and phone bills. He will major in English and hopes to become a book editor.
Prather's company has been providing college scholarships for students at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma since 2013 and this is the second year of support for El Modena High School. Support for college scholarships comes from the company's own agents, as well as its corporate office. In addition to providing college scholarships to students from the Orange County community, Mark 1 also donates and hosts various fundraising events for charities and organizations annually.
About Mark 1 Real Estate & Mortgage
Mark 1 Real Estate & Mortgage is one of Southern California's fastest growing, independent companies with divisions that provide both real estate and mortgage services. The company began in 1974 and continues to be a family business, now led by CEO Mark Prather. Agents guide their clients through the buying, selling and mortgage processes while taking the time to ensure they understand every step of the transaction. Mark 1 offers a full spectrum of services that save both time and money, enabling its clients to experience fewer headaches along the way. http://mark1socal.com/
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