In June, Berger Kahn Partner and Project Youth Associate Board Member Erin Ezra attended a virtual ceremony held by Project Youth Orange County Bar Foundation (PY OCBF) to honor this year’s scholarship recipients.

Project Youth provides academic guidance and planning for higher education to over 1,500 at-risk Orange County youth every year. 100% of the program’s high school seniors enroll in college after graduation.

Brandon Creager, the Lead Mechanical Engineer at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was this year’s keynote speaker. Growing up, Brandon was passionate about tinkering. Through higher education, he was able to turn his childhood interests into a lifelong career. Brandon received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Irvine’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering.

Congratulations to Mellissa Aceves (attending Chapman), Maria Mendoza (attending Cal State Fullerton), and Jose Magana (Vassar College) for receiving the three student scholarships offered by the Project Youth Associate Board. Erin Ezra contributed to the scholarship fund sponsored by the Associate Board.

A big round of applause to all HEMA’s class of 2021 graduates for their exceptional academic achievements in high school!