Students at the three Catholic high schools of the Diocese of San Bernardino have collectively earned more than $13 million in college scholarships this year.

 The 128 seniors at Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert have earned $5.6 million in scholarships; the 124 seniors at Notre Dame High School in Riverside earned a total of $5.2 million; Aquinas High School, with 83 seniors, earned $2.5 million in scholarships.

 College going rates at the three high schools are above 95% with many students attending state university system campuses and some attending prestigious private universities throughout the country.

PASADENA—The highest award a Girl Scout can earn was presented to St. Joseph, Upland parishioner Jacqueline Withey at a reception in Pasadena on June 8. 

 Her Gold Award Project, organizing a community food and blanket outreach to the poor, was sparked by her concern for the underserved poor in her community. 

 “Because of unemployment and a poor economy, food banks are receiving less food donations,” Withey said. 

CLAREMONT—St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School in Temecula is one of the top five middle school debate teams in the country, following their recent finish at the Middle School Debate National Championships in Claremont, CA. 

 The national tournament was held April 26 at Claremont McKenna College. It was open only to top-qualified teams from each of the 15 middle school debate leagues around the country. Approximately 255 debaters on 85 teams participated, arriving from as far away as New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. 

REDLANDS—The young adults at The Holy Name of Jesus parish arrived at 9 a.m. on April 12 to make 200 sandwiches and provide water for the homeless in San Bernardino and Redlands.

 They visited shelters, parks, and alleys to share Christ’s love with the poor, and on several encounters, they prayed over them and their intentions.

 Most of the homeless the young adults encountered were appreciative of the food, but the ones whose hearts changed the most were the young adults.

CORONA—St. Edward School sixth grader Nicholas Perez followed his strong regional showing in science fair competition with great results at the California State Science Fair held at the California Science Center in Los Angeles April 28-29. His project “Polymer:  The Ultimate Barrier to Fire and Smoke,” had captured a gold medal in the junior division at the RIMS Inland Science & Engineering Fair. 

SAN JACINTO—St. Hyacinth Academy sent three science projects to the 32nd annual RIMS Science Fair in San Bernadino County April 1-2 and all three received medals for their acheivements. Fifth grader Jazmine Hernandez received silver for her project “Homemade Wind Turnbines” in the Elementary Division. Seventh Grader Matthew Howell received silver for his project “Going Bananas with Ethylene Gas” and Seventh Grader Andres Gonzalez received Gold for his project “School Milk: Carton or Plastic.“ Both Howell and Gonzalez participated in the Junior Division. Andres will go on to the State Competition in May in Los Angeles.