UKIAH, Calif. – Mendo Lake Credit Union, or MLCU, is honoring top high school students in Lake and Mendocino counties with scholarships and achievement awards for the 2016-17 school year. 

MLCU representatives visited the high schools to make the award presentations.

Receiving the credit union’s $1,000 Arlene Colombini Scholarships in Lake County were Johnathon Martinez of Lower Lake High School and Cristal Nieves of Upper Lake High School.

In Mendocino County, the Colombini Scholarships were awarded to Sophie Swan-Edlund of Mendocino High School and Olivia Consterdine of Mendocino College.

Named for Arlene Colombini in recognition of her 50 years of service to Mendo Lake Credit Union, the $1,000 scholarships are awarded to four Lake and Mendocino County high school or community college students each year. 

Each recipient of the scholarship must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, be enrolled for 12 units or more in a college or university, and submit a personal statement that describes his or her need for the award and the goals in his or her life.

In announcing the MLCU Achievement Awards for this year, MLCU Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Jamey Gill said, “Our Achievement Awards program honors outstanding high school seniors whose scholastic attainment, sense of responsibility, community service, and evidence of leadership give the most promise of success and service to society.” 

All comprehensive high schools in Lake and Mendocino counties are invited to participate in the program.

Honorarium awards in the amount of $50 each are awarded to two students who represent “the highest level of attainment overall” at each high school. 

Schools choose to participate in the program and how many certificates they award students.  Honorees are selected by school staff.

“On behalf of the Mendo Lake Credit Union staff at all four of our branches, I congratulate all of the Achievement Award winners and Arlene Colombini scholars,” said Gill.

The winners at each of the high schools are:

– Clear Lake High School (Lakeport): $50 honorariums to Christopher Lasher and Sarah Pope.

– Kelseyville High School (Kelseyville): $50 honorariums to Victor Cacho and Katie Terou.

– Lower Lake High School (Lower Lake): $50 honorariums to Brie Moran and Eric Graves.

– Middletown High School (Middletown): $50 honorariums to Olivia Glosser and Justin Hignston.

– Upper Lake High School (Upper Lake): $50 honorariums to Casey Herman and Chelsie Valdez.

– Anderson Valley High School (Boonville): $50 honorariums to Mathis Weyrich and Tony Pardini. 

– Fort Bragg High School (Fort Bragg): $50 honorariums to Myles Anderson and Annika Kao.

– Mendocino High School (Mendocino): $50 honorariums to Emily Symonds and Theeraphol Ruangsak.

– Potter Valley High School (Potter Valley): $50 honorariums to Cassandra Ashley and Gina Dashiell.

– Willits High School (Willits): $50 honorariums to Izak Walker and Camryn Christensen.

Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah. 

For more information, contact Gill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-467-4809.