The Orange Elks and the Youth Appreciation Awards
by: Bill Neessen
Published: May 6, 2024
ORANGE...The Orange Elks celebrate National Youth Week with our annual Youth Appreciation Night program to honor the youth of our community by showcasing the many programs the Lodge has for our young people.
Our volunteer kitchen crew prepared street tacos, rice, and beans for our guests.
Exalted Ruler J C Cortez welcomed our award winners, their parents, guests, and lodge members. He gave a recap of all the youth activities that the lodge does during the Elk year.
J C then turned the program over to our master of ceremonies Loyal Knight Gary Doebereiner.
The pledge of Allegiance by our Girl Scout Troop1475 was followed by Paloma Cortez singing our National Anthem.
“What can I give back” was the challenge by Dan Slater, Mayor of Orange, and an Orange Elks member to our youth attendees.
Our guest speaker was Orange Police Chief and an Orange Elks member Dan Adams. Dan was impressed by the quality of participation of the young people and the generosity of the Orange Elks toward our youth programs.
Dan challenged the young people Be a hard worker, Be a team player, Be a leader and Follow the rules.
Gary mentioned our lodges Dictionary Program. We deliver a dictionary to every third grader in the Orange Unified School District. In eighteen years, we have delivered over thirty-six thousand dictionaries to the third graders.
Presenting the awards were Miss City of Orange Elizabeth Raburn.
Chris Michaelis, Americanism Chairman, stated this year the essay theme was “What the Bill of Rights means to me”. Our Americanism program helps to promote Americanism and each of our winners received a $50 Scholarship and a Certificate of Appreciation. The award winners were.
5th Grade: Alaya Lawson, Giuliana Torres, Alicia Vine
6th Grade: Aubrey Boniaby, Logan Duff, Olivia Halter
7th Grade: Anderson Jeng (a 3 time winner), Emma Ruppel
Bella Tobias
8th Grade: Isabella Granados, Tristan Spanner, Val Vega Padilla
Our lodge Scouting Chairmen, Joe Medina gave a brief update on our Girl Scout, Boy Scouts and Cub Scout 1475 Troops. Joe mentioned that our scouts help shape and make our city a better place. This year our scout troop produced two new Eagle Scouts and 17 for Troop 1475 since 2006. The troop also had 93 awards and advancements.
Our Girl Scout Troop awarded a Gold Award (like an Eagle Award) to Bhavna Malladi.
A Bronze Award to Malana Pelasky.
Our Scholarship Chairmen Lynda Einstein introduced seven outstanding high school seniors. They are Jazmin Alvarado, Cassidi Casco, Elizabeth Han, Spencer Kerr, Martin Tadros and Arianda Vidal. Each student had their bio read. This included their extracurricular activities, community service, work experience, grade point average, where they are headed to college and their major. The lodge awarded $5,000 in scholarships.
Gary summed up the evening, what an amazing night celebrating our youth! Gary mentioned a new Antler Program the lodge was forming for the youths of our community.
Thanks to all our volunteers that made this night happen. Photos:OrangeElks