Scholarships

As part of its support of students in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, the Saddleback Valley Educational Foundation (SVEF) is proud to present many scholarships that are offered to deserving graduating seniors in our local high schools.

Dr. Walter Cascell Memorial Scholarship

The Cascell Scholarship is given to a deserving student attending one of our Saddleback Valley Unified School District high schools. The scholarship is endowed by the Cascell family in memory of Dr. Walter Cascell, in thanks for educating their children.

2022 Dr. Walter Cascell Scholarship of $1000 was awarded to Ethan Knoll.

Ethan Knoll attended El Toro High School and will be going to UC Berkeley this fall. He is interested in becoming a data analyst, an econometrics expert or a cyber security specialist. He attended Saddleback College while in high school and earned an AA degree in Global Studies and Political Science & Honors English. He also interned at several political offices and was involved in many student boards. He is grateful for this scholarship and believes this is an investment to his future.

Mission Viejo Company Scholarship

The Mission Viejo Co. Scholarships are given to one deserving student from each high school in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, residing in Mission Viejo. The recipients for this scholarship are selected by their school counselors.

2022 Mission Viejo Company Scholarship of $500 each was awarded to Hailey Winston (Mission Viejo HS), Jacob Tescher (Trabuco Hills HS) and Devin Limon (Silverado HS).

Hailey Winston is a hardworking, kind, determined, and well-rounded senior student at Mission Viejo High School. She has accumulated around 1,300 hours of community service in high school. For the last three years, she has worked with the MVHS Sports Medicine teacher as her Sports Medicine Assistant, where she has learned medical terms, how to assist an injury, and many other important medical responsibilities. Hailey has balanced attending classes while helping with the athletes after school, contributing to some 12-hour days. Hailey also works coaching an 11 and 12-year-old girl’s football team and works with 8-month-old to 14-year-old children at Cal Elite Kids. Working with children and learning about medicine are two passions of hers which is why her goal is to be a Pediatric Nurse. She plans on attending Saddleback College and hopes to transfer to a four-year university to pursue pediatrics. 

Jacob Tescher attended Trabuco Hills High School. Jacob is one of the most well rounded students at THHS. He is humble, caring, helpful, and goes above and beyond to be a positive role model on campus. He is academically strong, has been a valued member of THHS varsity basketball team and a leader in the film program. What sets him apart from other students is his passion for wanting to make a positive difference in the world, especially for children/youth in regards to fighting the war on drugs. He has a vision for creating more awareness and hopes to work for the FDA someday to really put his passion to work. He will be attending Saddleback College in the fall. 

Devin Limon attended Silverado High School. Resilience is Devin’s number one quality. Her strong work ethic, caring attitude towards others and determination to become a psychologist helps to define who she is. Life and circumstances have not always been kind or gentle for Devin, but she is a survivor and wants to help others who are struggling. She knows what it is like to not have someone you can trust and confide in. Devin does not want others to experience the kind of challenges she had to deal with. She will be attending Saddleback College to study Psychology and hopes to become a Clinical Psychologist.

SVEF Scholarship

Every year the foundation board members interview many outstanding students all exceptionally qualified not only for their academic abilities, but for their sheer determination.

2022 SVEF Scholarship was awarded to Theodore Thai ($1000), Sarah Harris ($500) and Kelly Houlihan ($500).

Theo Thai is very passionate about music. He has been involved in music throughout his school years and has been part of several universities’ honor bands and orchestras. He attended Mission Viejo High School and was part of the symphonic band, wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz band and marching band. He wants to become a music professor and to inspire and impact others through music. He plans to attend Cal State Long Beach, home to the reputed Bob Cole Conservatory of Music.

Sarah Harris attended Trabuco Hills High School. She was involved in several clubs, volunteered at various non-profit organizations, a member of a ballet company for many years and an author of a children’s book, “Riley’s New Best Friend”. She wrote the book for children to help them with mental health. Her goal is to get a degree in psychology and go to medical school so that she can get her medical license and certification to practice as a psychiatrist. She will be attending Irvine Valley College this fall. 

Kelly Houlihan attended Trabuco Hills High School. Ever since she was a little girl, she wanted to be in the medical field. She plans to become a nurse practitioner. She has taken some nursing courses at the community college to get a head start. She feels that it “takes one person to change something” and she wants to be that person. She has been involved in cheer for over ten years and continues to compete. She has volunteered in various roles at church and has worked while going to school. She plans to attend University of Nevada, Las Vegas.