Greater North County Chamber Awards Six Scholarships to Area Students

The honored six North County seniors during its monthly luncheon meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Six seniors received $1,000 scholarships to use toward their collegiate education next year.

Since the program started in 2004, the chamber has distributed more than $35,000 in scholarships to area seniors.

Each recipient is listed below:

• Carolina Cruz,

Cruz plans to attend Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO and study broadcast journalism. At Hazelwood West, she’s stayed busy as a cheerleader, class president her junior year and student council vice president her senior year. Cruz was unable to attend the luncheon, but he sister Alex Barrera and mom, Adiela Cruz,accepted on her behalf.

• Lia Hanenburg, Hazelwood West High School

Hanenburg has been accepted to the American Jewelers Institute in Portland, OR. She hopes to open her own jewelry design business. At Hazelwood West, she has played on the varsity lacrosse team, where she was captain the past two years, and swim team. She resides in Florissant.

• Travis Johnson, McCluer South-Berkeley High School

Johnson plans to attend a four-year university and major in computer engineering. At school, he participates in a number of activities such as Hi-Step, where he mentors younger students about staying drug free; the College Click Club, which helps prepare students for college and he currently serves as vice president of the Student Council.

• Nicholas Nemerguth, Trinity Catholic High School

Nemerguth stays busy at school with playing varsity baseball and being the varsity soccer captain as well as a member of the National Honor Society, student council and senior class president. He has decided to attend Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville and study construction management.

• Ennis Randle, Riverview Gardens High School

Randle received the chamber’s Perseverance Award, which is a new award the chamber created this year. He plans to study architecture, civil engineering, computer science or computer technology. He participates in varsity basketball, chess club, National Honor Society, A+ Program and a student ambassador. Randle had a number of responsibilities at home, including chores and watching his siblings while his mother worked and attended school. Randle could not attend the luncheon.

• Mia Watkins, Crossroads College Preparatory School

Watkins is a busy student as she participates in a number of activities, including Student Ambassador, chief reporter for the school newspaper, co-editor and founder of the school’s web newz and co-founder of the Pep Squad. She’s also a self-published author of Edens Valley Land of Life. She’s been accepted to Elan University in North Carolina and major in communications. She resides in Ferguson.