Moorpark High Thrives With Activity This Week

The end of the school year means a bustle of activity at Moorpark High School. It’s the time of year the performance groups show their stuff and, of course, it’s time for the annual senior scholarship awards night.

The ceremony honoring Moorpark student scholarship winners will take place on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Moorpark High School Performing Arts Center.

Coordinated by Diana Prickett, MHS college career advisor, the scholarships are sponsored by 50 very diverse organizations, including the Moorpark Rotary Club, the Moorpark Historical Society and West Point Academy.

“It’s intended to honor seniors who have won monetary scholarships from colleges, sports teams, academic and community service organizations,” said Prickett.

The scholarship awards ceremony is an annual event that has been going on for many years. This year 107 students have been invited to the ceremony. Recent winners have received scholarships totaling more than a million dollars per year.

To qualify for the scholarships, students must fill out a “Moorpark High School Universal Scholarship Application.” The applicants may also have to fulfill additional requirements listed by the scholarship organization, such as providing a transcript of grades, composing an essay or writing a personal statement.

According to Prickett, any organization can volunteer to provide scholarships. To set the ball in motion, all they have to do is contact her office. All parameters for scholarships are left to each individual organization.

Some scholarships are small and some, like West Point or other military academies, may total up to $900,000. Last year, 5 MHS students received military academy scholarships.

Prickett emphasized, however, that all scholarships are important.

“It helps,” she said. “Even $100 to $200 may help them pay for a book.”

The event is free and open to the public. It does include an element of surprise, since no one knows who actually wins the scholarship until their names are announced at the ceremony.

Here are listings of other events happening over the next two weeks at the MHS Performing Arts Center:

• Grand Finale Band Concerts: Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
• Chorus, Viva Las Vegas concert: Wednesday at 7 p.m.
• Grand Finale Jazz Band Concert: Tuesday at 6 p.m
• Dance Recital: Friday, time TBD.

For ticket information, contact Moorpark High School at 805-378-6305.

If you would like to list other school events happening this week, feel free to add them to the Patch events calendar or contact us at Rebecca.Whitnall@Patch.com.