OverviewThe Propeller Club of Los Angeles–Long Beach will grant scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000 to graduating high school seniors. In 2019, the Board of Governors established two scholarships in memory of ILWU Local 13 Longshoreman David Arian and former Port of LA Chief Harbor Engineer and Propeller Club Board Member Adam Birkenbach, each awarding $1,000. In 2025, a third $1,000 scholarship was added in memory of John Ochs, USCG Commanding Officer and Chief Labor Relations Officer of APMT. In 2026, the Board further expanded its commitment to supporting future maritime leaders by establishing the Monika Wegener Memorial Scholarship, honoring her extraordinary legacy and decades of service to the Propeller Club and the broader maritime community. The recipients of these awards will be invited to the Annual Harbor Cruise and Scholarship Award Ceremony. | Qualifications
This scholarship is open to high school seniors currently residing in and/or attending schools located in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City or Carson and demonstrating deserving academic records, outstanding citizenship and school and community service. | REFERENCESPlease provide two letters of reference; one from a teacher or counselor and one from an adult who is familiar with your schoolwork and activities that should be considered in reviewing eligibility for scholarships. Do not include relatives or fellow students. The letter of reference does not have to be specific to this scholarship. |
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
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DONATE TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND TODAY! Help us empower the next generation! The Propeller Club of Los Angeles-Long Beach is dedicated to supporting ambitious high school currently residing in and/or attending schools located in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City or Carson through our scholarship program. Your generous donation will provide deserving students with the financial support they need to pursue their educational dreams. CLICK HERE TO DONATE |
Co-Chairs: Daniella Ruiz and Sue Dvonch
Committee members: Jaime Avina, Cesar Sanchez, and Andrea Trucios
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!
Chukwuebuka Chukwudi, John Ochs Winner My name is Chukwuebuka Chukwudi, and I’ve recently graduated from King/Drew Magnet High School. In the fall, I will attend UC Berkeley and major in Mechanical Engineering with hopes of doing work to give back to marginalized and underrepresented communities, and eventually pursue a career in the automotive industry. I am extremely honored to receive this scholarship. This scholarship will help me on my academic journey by assisting me in overcoming the academic hurdles and challenges that my family has been faced with over the past year. I am very grateful to the Propeller Club for granting me this scholarship, as every dollar makes a huge difference.
Erinne Park, Adam Birkenbach Winner I am very honored to be a recipient of the Propeller Club LA/LB Scholarship. This fall, I will be attending Cornell University as a Human Biology, Health, and Society major. At Cornell, I plan to continue my research on the behavioral factors that impact our healthcare system, and as a future physician, I intend to promote healthcare equity for both my patients and community. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden that I face in university and allow me to immerse myself in my work and advocacy. Thank you to Propellor Club LA/LB for supporting me and my future.
Denisse Uribe, Monika Wegener Winner First and foremost, it is with great pleasure that I receive the Propeller Club Scholarship this year as a first-generation Latina. I will be using my award toward my first year of college at Loyola Marymount University this fall. While attending university, I plan to study Business Administration with a minor in Communications, with long-term goals of working at the Port of Long Beach, inspired by my internship with the port last year. I aim to work within the public sector of a city that has helped shape me as an individual. I carry this recognition with joy as I am proud that my personal and professional efforts have been rightfully recognized. Once again, I proudly acknowledge the impact receiving this scholarship will make on my studies, and I thank the Propeller Club of Long Beach for this recognition.
Dylan Curamen, Scholarship Award Winner Isabella Franco, Scholarship Award Winner
Milagros Garcia Lopez, Scholarship Award Winner
This fall, I am incredibly excited to begin my next academic chapter at California State University, Long Beach, where I will be pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse. Receiving this prestigious scholarship from the Propeller Club of Los Angeles-Long Beach is an immense honor that significantly eases the financial transition of entering college. It provides invaluable support as I dedicate myself to my nursing studies and work toward making a positive impact on the health and well-being of my community. I am deeply grateful to the Scholarship Committee for recognizing my story and supporting my educational journey. Thank you once again for your generosity and belief in my future. I look forward to celebrating with you at the Harbor Cruise in August!
Jake Lemus, Scholarship Award Winner I'm immensely grateful to have even been considered for the LA/LB Propeller Club Scholarship. This fall, I intend to dorm at Cal Poly Pomona, one of six schools in California offering Industrial Engineering, so that I can go on to become a Continuous Improvement Analyst. Cutting waste from supply lines through math is an extracurricular of mine, and by following this major, I can further what I love. It will be my biggest challenge yet, but with the generous financial support, I'm given more time and motivation to focus on my studies. Again, thank you for the opportunity Propeller Club of LA/LB!
Yasmin Lopez, Scholarship Award Winner This Fall, I will be attending El Camino College to major in Fire Science. My goals is to enroll in El Camino's Fire Academy, obtain my EMT license, Paramedic license, transfer to a four year university, and continue to serve my community. As a woman interested in pursing a career in the Fire Service, I am passionate about the idea of proving that women are capable of succeeding in a male-dominated field. Growing up, I was afraid of achieving higher education, concerned about debt, increase tuition cost, and questioned my abilities of becoming a firefighter. With the scholarships support it will allow me to focus on my studies, increase my motivation, and help me accomplish my goals. The generous support will alleviate some of my financial stress and enable me to school expenses. Thank you for this honor and believing in me to stay focused on my aspirations and goals! Noel Marin, Scholarship Award Winner
Marin Marnani, Scholarship Award Winner Hello, my name is Marin Marnani. I’d like to thank the Long Beach Propeller Club for funding a part of my university tuition. During the fall, I plan to head to UC San Diego to study human biology. I hope to use this degree to pursue a career in the medical field. The propeller club scholarship means a lot to me because I will need all of the help I can get to accomplish these lofty goals. It takes a village, and I have learned the importance of giving back to the community that raised me. I’d once again like to thank the Propeller Club for supporting me in my academic journey.
Layla Nayfeh, Scholarship Award Winner This fall, I will be attending Long Beach City College to begin my nursing prerequisites. My goal is to become a Physician Assistant so that I can make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Receiving the Propeller Club scholarship makes me feel honored, and will support my educational expenses as I begin this new chapter of my life. I am extremely grateful for the generosity of the Propeller Club of Los Angeles-Long Beach, and its commitment to helping students achieve their academic goals.
Micah Rachal, Scholarship Award Winner
Hello, my name is Micah Rachal. This fall, I will be beginning my studies at the University of Southern California(Fight On!), where I'll be studying music performance with a focus on woodwinds, mainly saxophone. My goal is to grow as a musician at a professional level while continuing to build on my experience performing in ensembles, leadership roles, and community-based music programs. Outside of performance, I am also interested in using music as a way to connect with and serve others, especially through education and composition. Receiving this scholarship would directly support my transition into college by helping offset the financial burden of attending USC and allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and performance opportunities around LA, and hopefully further. It would also be an important encouragement as I continue working toward a career in music and performance, where I hope to contribute both artistically and through community engagement.
Alvin Reyes Cordero, Scholarship Award Winner I am a student who not only values learning from the classroom, but also finds value in the experiences life has to offer: from working with youth across the US alongside the Sandy Hook Promise to shaping the City of Long Beach's youth initiatives and resources. My interest in advocacy has allowed me to impact millions of lives across the United States and even be recognized by the United State's Department of Education & the Long Beach Board of Education. This financial support will allow me to continue to remain focused on my advocacy endeavors, while also prioritizing my academics, due to my financial burdens being alleviated because of this scholarship! This fall, I will be attending the University of California, Berkeley: GO BEARS!!!
Christopher Ramirez, Scholarship Award Winner
Cindy Rodriguez, Scholarship Award Winner This fall, I will be attending the University of California, Irvine, where I will major in Biological Sciences. My future aspiration is to become a neonatologist so that I can dedicate my life to caring for newborns and supporting families during some of their most vulnerable moments. Thanks to this scholarship, I will be able to bridge any remaining financial gaps, cover the costs of school supplies and housing, and continue pursuing my education with greater financial security. Thank you for your support and bringing me one step closer to achieving my academic and career goals.
Angheli Zalameda Leonor, Scholarship Award Winner I’m deeply grateful to the Propeller Club of Los Angeles-Long Beach for selecting me as one of this year’s scholarship recipients! This generous support will allow me to focus on my studies and engage more fully in community service, rather than prioritizing part-time employment to fund my education. This fall, I will be attending Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, as part of the Class of 2030. I plan to pursue interdisciplinary studies in Computer Science and Linguistics under the Symbolic Systems major, along with a coterminal Master’s program in Public Policy. My ultimate goal is to become a lawyer focused on the technology sector, ensuring that technology usage is properly regulated and that misuse is properly addressed, especially in the exponentially growing field of AI. I also hope to help mitigate AI’s disproportionate negative impacts on people living in poverty. I am honored to receive this opportunity and look forward to broadening my perspective and leading our world toward a brighter future, especially for individuals and families caught in the cycle of poverty. This scholarship will surely propel me toward my lofty aspirations. Thank you! |
THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS





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