Spotlight on PSP senior: Erick Pech
November 18, 2016 in Articles by Dikla Tuchman
Hawthorne Academy senior Erick Pech has been keeping himself busy this year with school clubs, a part-time job and, most importantly: Upcoming college decisions. Erick has proven himself to be an outstanding student and was nominated by Partnership Scholars Program to be a 2016 Posse Scholar earlier this year. One of three nominees from PSP’s senior class, Erick underwent a highly competitive, rigorous interview process and is now amongst a small pool of semifinalists.
With his mentor, John Ely, Erick has been able to visit several college campuses and participate in activities that he calls a “nice distraction” from the pressures of school. Erick is exploring many college possibilities, focusing first on his University of California and California State University applications. “At the moment I’m thinking about biomedical engineering,” says Erick, considering private, out-of-state options as well, including Dickenson College. After visiting the school during PSP’s New York trip in the summer of 2015, Erick became interested in Dickenson’s three-two year program. “You do three years at Dickenson and then finish off two years at their partner school,” says Erick. In the meantime, Erick is working with his mentor and John’s wife, Meg Sanchez, on applications and letters of recommendations.
Although Lennox Middle School — located beneath the landing path of Los Angeles International Airport — is just a mile away from the Pacific Ocean, many of its students have never been to the beach. This hard-to-believe, yet telling, truth is what most struck Dr. Glenn Langer ’50 when he got to know the students of the school through a volunteer program established by UCLA. Having grown up during the Great Depression, Langer “immediately identified” with the poverty-stricken students, most of whom come from immigrant families. He decided to do something to help.
“I couldn’t imagine what was possible for me before I entered the Partnership Scholars Program. I became aware of alternative ways of thinking and aware of new opportunities for my life,” said Niko Gomez, a senior at Mendocino Community High School.
