Total Scholarships Awarded: $290,900
This year, the Pasadena Educational Foundation helped facilitate $290,900 in scholarships for graduating Pasadena Unified School District students—a remarkable total made possible by long-standing partnerships and an extraordinary wave of generosity in response to the Eaton Fire.
PEF coordinated 241 scholarships across all secondary schools, including new awards created specifically to support students impacted by the fire. In a powerful act of community kindness, an anonymous donor provided $1,000 scholarships to every graduating senior heading to college who had lost their home. This new Eaton Strong fund totaled $107,000 and reached 107 students across the district. PEF is honored to share that these donors have also pledged to match scholarships again for the Class of 2026.
The support didn’t stop there. John Muir High School’s Class of 1966 raised an additional $7,500 through a heartfelt email campaign, and the new Press On scholarship contributed another $10,000 to this growing wave of support.
Counselors observed how the fire impacted students’ ability to focus on applications and deadlines. Yet, despite everything they endured, these students showed up—resilient and ready to move forward. Thanks to the community’s support, those award ceremonies became moments of joy and recognition for students who had been through so much.
PEF remains deeply committed to expanding opportunity and supporting all students in the Pasadena Unified School District.
2025 Scholarships Awarded
| Scholarship Name | # Awarded | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Eaton Strong Scholarships (new) | 107 | $107,000 |
| Blair HCA Scholarships (sponsored by Huntington Hospital) | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Carson Scholarships | 5 | $1,250 |
| The Nancy Scott Scholarships | 2 | $4,000 |
| The J. Davis Scholarship | 3 | $7,500 |
| The Nancy and Richard Esbenshade Scholarship (sponsored by Munger, Tolles, and Olson) | 1 | $2,500 |
| The Trudell Skinner Memorial Scholarship | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Robles Family Scholarships | 2 | $5,000 |
| Sierra Madre Rotary Club Service Scholarship (new) | 7 | $6,650 |
| Hopes and Dreams Scholarship | 2 | $1,500 |
| The Patricia Kavanaugh Memorial Scholarship | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Manwani Family Scholarship | 4 | $20,000 |
| Retired Math Teacher Award | 4 | $4,000 |
| JMHS Bradford Scholarship | 2 | $6,000 |
| JMHS Class of ’65 Scholarship | 5 | $2,500 |
| The Johnson Family Scholarships | 6 | $3,000 |
| The Sheryl Orange Scholarship | 10 | $10,000 |
| The Trivers Family Legacy Scholarship | 1 | $500 |
| Phoenix Rising JMHS Class of ‘66 (new) | 7 | $7,000 |
| Leola and Thomas Kennedy Memorial Scholarship | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Joseph P. Zeronian Memorial Scholarship | 1 | $1,000 |
| EESA Scholars Award | 3 | $7,500 |
| The John R. Martin Memorial Scholarships | 4 | $10,000 |
| Press On Scholarship (new) | 4 | $10,000 |
| Wark Scholarship | 5 | $5,000 |
| McZeal/Davis Memorial Scholarship | 1 | $500 |
| The Reid Gorecki Memorial Scholarship | 1 | $500 |
| The Phyllis Smith Memorial Scholarships | 4 | $4,000 |
| The Angela Parris Scholarship | 1 | $500 |
| The Brian O. McDonald Scholarship | 2 | $1,000 |
| Dr. Hesmat Shariary Memorial Scholarship (new) | 2 | $1,000 |
District-Wide Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | # Awarded | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Marion Wullschlager Memorial Scholarship (sponsored by the Altadena Chamber of Commerce) | 6 | $9,000 |
| The Harris Bacor Foundation RISE Scholarships | 12 | $24,000 |
| The Norman Schmidt Memorial Art Scholarship | 5 | $2,500 |
| PAASE | 7 | $6,500 |
| LIFT (Latinas Inspired for Tomorrow) | 5 | $2,500 |
Ongoing Scholarships
Continuing awards to students who previously received the scholarship
| Scholarship Name | # Awarded | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Angela Parris Scholarships | 3 | $1,500 |
| Esbenshade Scholarships | 3 | $7,500 |
These scholarships are more than financial awards—they’re reminders to students that their community stands behind them, especially in moments of hardship. To all who gave: thank you for your compassion, commitment, and belief in our students.
Want to help fund next year’s scholarships? Learn more and donate here ➝
