By Darla Martin Tucker
Eighteen-year-old Veronica Felix was a bit nervous while dining on Chinese noodle-and-orange salad at Riverside’s Mission Inn on May 14. She was about to stand before 200 of the Riverside area’s elite to receive a $1,000 Athena scholarship toward her La Sierra University tuition.

When it was her turn, La Sierra’s President Emeritus Larry Geraty introduced Felix by giving a brief talk depicting her strong academic standing, her extensive community work and career interests. Debbi Huffman Guthrie, chair of the Athena event steering committee, then presented a check to Felix as the audience applauded.

“That wasn’t so bad,” the psychology major said quietly after returning to her seat.
Athena of the Inland Valleys and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce presented its 24th annual event honoring female professionals from the Riverside and San Bernardino area. Honorees are women who have contributed significantly to their communities and respective fields and who have mentored and inspired others.

The organization also awards $1,000 tuition scholarships to students from the Riverside Community College District’s three campuses, California Baptist University, the University of California, Riverside and La Sierra University. The scholarships are granted to students who exhibit educational excellence and a high level of community involvement.

La Sierra’s Carol Bradfield, associate vice president for university advancement and chair of the university awards committee served on the Athena event steering committee.
“I was definitely surprised [to win the award] because I wasn’t aware of it,” Felix said after the awards event. “I’m really thankful.”

Felix’s scholarship was the latest award the young La Sierra student and Riverside native has received. In 2007, Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge honored her with an Outstanding Community Service Award.

While in high school, Felix completed 400 hours of volunteerism. She helped seniors at a retirement home and worked with children at a community park. She served as a jury member for the Riverside Youth Court program that metes out consequences for minors who have committed misdemeanor crimes. Felix was also an active member of the Riverside Youth Council. She participated in a variety of events including the Martin Luther King Day celebration and worked as backstage director for the city’s public access television production of “Teen Scene Riverside.”
Currently, the former high school volleyball captain plays on La Sierra’s NCAA Division III volleyball team. While maintaining a grade point average above 3.8, she works 11 hours a week as a bilingual assistant at Foothill Elementary School.
In conjunction with a La Sierra class, she serves two hours a week in an after-school program at her elementary alma mater, Arlanza Elementary School. Her work at the school is in fulfillment of service-learning program requirements for the course, Growing up in America. Felix tutors second graders on their homework and helps other students master the English language. “It’s kinda’ neat to go back,” she said.

Felix grew up in Riverside the daughter of a single mother and the youngest of three older brothers and an older sister. She attended Arlanza, Wells Middle School and Norte Vista High School.

When it came time to choose a college, La Sierra University presented her with a “really good” financial aid package, Felix said. During her first few months on campus she met many people and made friends in part by participating on the volleyball team. “It’s been really neat,” Felix said.
Felix’s career interests initially centered on criminal justice. However she enrolled as a psychology major aiming to help children following her experiences with service-learning activities at Arlanza Elementary and with kindergartners at La Sierra Elementary last quarter.

In conjunction with a Developmental Psychology class, Felix helped the kindergartners learn their letters, make crafts and play at learning centers. The university’s service-learning program links service at community organizations with classroom work for various courses.

After completing college, Felix plans to enroll in a master’s degree program. “I want to pursue something with psychology and link it somehow to working with children,” she said.

Athena of the Inland Valleys selected Rose Mayes, executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, as this year’s Athena Honoree. As executive director of the fair housing council, Mayes has expanded programs and is currently helping homeowners deal with the mortgage crisis.
Her lengthy list of volunteer activities includes her current role as secretary for the La Sierra University Foundation Board. She is also president of the African-American Historical Society and of the Riverside East Rotary Club. Her accomplishments include helping found the Martin Luther King Jr. Visionaries, a group that established the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial statue in downtown Riverside.

“I sometimes wonder if she ever stops,” Riverside attorney Jack Clarke said in a video testimonial about Mayes’ life. “…If we had more people like that we would be in a lot better shape than we are now.”

“When she takes up a cause, you can’t say no to her,” said Jim Erickson, president and chief executive officer of The Community Foundation Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Erickson is also a member of the La Sierra foundation board. “She has really enhanced the quality of life throughout our region,” he said.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)