{"id":73699,"date":"2025-06-24T16:18:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T23:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73699"},"modified":"2025-06-24T16:18:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T23:18:29","slug":"barger-honors-los-angeles-county-commission-on-disabilities-scholarship-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73699","title":{"rendered":"Barger Honors Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities Scholarship Recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"m_724702507204951432govd_template_image CToWUd a6T aligncenter\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYZSeWbLgDUTHBlQ48TGgjLSD0fnDynfU1UPQQyBaws-qRI5wT2SxFWKuMswAAdIEoY7C_KPkRUNit4d91Y2lBpaZiy3LppBcN-spjFZ-03I--7lphcH55qy5jBh-fRM-lGXBylxsM44be30bJe3BnmIGC0ws6hGHjp-Cm48kiOFSRv=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/CALACOUNTY\/2025\/06\/11846996\/6268576\/mz95627_crop.jpg\" alt=\"Click here to view image. \" width=\"560\" height=\"373\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><em>Supervisor Kathryn Barger stands alongside Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities&#8217; award recipients during recognition ceremony (Photo credit: Martin Zamora\/L.A. County)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger proudly recognized this year\u2019s recipients of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/links-1.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%2F%2Fad.lacounty.gov%2Fcommissions%2Flaccod%2F%3Futm_content=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_name=%26utm_source=govdelivery%26utm_term=\/1\/01000197a400c531-b25b094b-d69d-4f7f-a76c-5c8bb22f6a9a-000000\/gPeimuACROAcFizdnrnTyp425ARQ6Zlh3jyYMASHx1k=411\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/links-1.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%252F%252Fad.lacounty.gov%252Fcommissions%252Flaccod%252F%253Futm_content%3D%2526utm_medium%3Demail%2526utm_name%3D%2526utm_source%3Dgovdelivery%2526utm_term%3D\/1\/01000197a400c531-b25b094b-d69d-4f7f-a76c-5c8bb22f6a9a-000000\/gPeimuACROAcFizdnrnTyp425ARQ6Zlh3jyYMASHx1k%3D411&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1750889614356000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0cJwNZk75Yc6gStXKcNfqc\">Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities<\/a>\u00a0Scholarship Awards during a special presentation today at a Board of Supervisors meeting.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">The ceremony honored 14 extraordinary individuals whose determination, resilience, and talent exemplify the very best of Los Angeles County. \u201cThis is one of the most meaningful recognitions we host each year in our County,\u201d said\u00a0<strong>Supervisor Kathryn Barger<\/strong>. \u201cOur Commission on Disabilities scholarship program reflects our collective commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to the resources they need to pursue their academic and professional goals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Launched in 2003, the scholarship program provides financial support to students and veterans with disabilities, helping to break down barriers to higher education and career development. This year\u2019s<strong>\u00a0Bernard Siegel and Bill Tainter Scholarship<\/strong>, named in honor of two former commissioners who were champions for disability advocacy, was awarded to eleven outstanding recipients:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Halmar Chavez<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Michael Diaz<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Isaac Esquibel<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Luna Sarai Gonzalez<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Jos\u00e9 Lopez<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Paola Melena<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Charles Newman<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Alexander Piedras<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Luiz Ramirez<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Ignacio Rivera<\/li>\n<li>Cole Terry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">In addition to these awards, Supervisor Barger presented three specialty scholarships. The\u00a0<strong>Ernest T. Hamilton Jr. Memorial Scholarship<\/strong>\u2013a special scholarship specifically for veterans\u2013was awarded to Ignacio Montoya. The\u00a0<strong>Ruben A. Rios Creative Arts and Design Memorial Scholarship<\/strong>\u00a0for the arts was awarded to Derrick Ricafrente, and the\u00a0<strong>President\u2019s Award<\/strong>\u00a0was presented to Gary Gregory III.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"m_724702507204951432govd_template_image CToWUd a6T aligncenter\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NZ3cnRs-4-WPyxXCXFfxD_-3LyIZiV4VkU6jGTfEcXnEeD8ID-2jCKwRWgupkbK4_l_6_NeCYBxC8KyQge4apWZbqnVto7MT-TzXm80BKYfHllJqc6HVwWW8nU5uNl6AXvkQjn0WVlG1GAZyQzA29YyE83DAIZCyaoLDuB4dgY_CSb2=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/CALACOUNTY\/2025\/06\/11847038\/6268577\/mz92380_crop.jpg\" alt=\"Click here to view image.\" width=\"560\" height=\"373\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><em>Flanked by award recipients, Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities President Carlos Benavides comments on the significance of this distinction (Photo credit: Martin Zamora\/L.A. County)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Supervisor Barger expressed her gratitude to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/links-1.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%2F%2Fad.lacounty.gov%2Fcommissions%2Flaccod%2F%3Futm_content=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_name=%26utm_source=govdelivery%26utm_term=\/2\/01000197a400c531-b25b094b-d69d-4f7f-a76c-5c8bb22f6a9a-000000\/H5z58UkL0xAxFpAsbKYfySKzF2pAv-3RRtTBHBrt16I=411\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/links-1.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%252F%252Fad.lacounty.gov%252Fcommissions%252Flaccod%252F%253Futm_content%3D%2526utm_medium%3Demail%2526utm_name%3D%2526utm_source%3Dgovdelivery%2526utm_term%3D\/2\/01000197a400c531-b25b094b-d69d-4f7f-a76c-5c8bb22f6a9a-000000\/H5z58UkL0xAxFpAsbKYfySKzF2pAv-3RRtTBHBrt16I%3D411&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1750889614356000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0gL1DxpXUh7TeXQo7rTik9\">Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities<\/a>\u00a0for its leadership and dedication. She also acknowledged the ongoing partnership between the Board of Supervisors, the Department of Aging and Disabilities, and the Commission in advancing accessibility and inclusion across the County.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">\u201cAlthough 35 years have passed since the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted, our work continues,\u201d said\u00a0<strong>Supervisor<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Barger<\/strong>. \u201cToday\u2019s honorees remind us of what\u2019s possible when we remain committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society. I am proud of each scholarship recipient\u2019s achievements and excited for the bright futures that lie ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supervisor Kathryn Barger stands alongside Los&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ca-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=73699"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73701,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73699\/revisions\/73701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=73699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=73699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=73699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}