DWSOC 2024 Scholarship Winners


2024 marks the 7th year of our scholarship program. The DWSOC continues its focus on Defending Democracy as it stands up for Public Education at the local, state, and national levels.  Our Scholarship Program is now named the Ruth Clark Honorary Scholarship Award in recognition of San Juan Capistrano resident Ruth Clark for being our Program’s Inaugural Donor and major supporter of Public Education in CUSD for decades!

This is also another year of first’s…  In 2024, we opened-up support of our Scholarship Program fundraising to the entire DWSOC membership.  Due to YOUR overwhelming donations and the very generous matching donation of $2,500 of two DWSOC members (who wish to stay anonymous), we raised the most ever for our Scholarship Program.  We are therefore proud to announce that this year’s DWSOC Scholarship Awards are the highest amount since we started the program in 2018. 
Heartfelt thanks to each of you!

2024 DWSOC Scholarship Committee:
Trudy Podobas, Co-Chair
Margie Black, Co-Chair
Amy Baxter
Susanne Dachgruber
Susan Goggins
Molly Kempson
Eileen Vansell


San Clemente High School
SCHS Senior Awards night with DWSOC Committee Member Amy Baxter  and scholarship winners Tyler Pearce, Josie Burke, Cloe Gerhard, Lauren Burror, Trent Hermann, Mollie Naylor and DWSOC Committee Co-Chair Trudy Podabas.
San Juan Hills High School
SJHHS Senior Awards night with DWSOC Scholarship Co-Chair Trudy Podobas, Awardee James Florentino, and DWSOC Committee Member Eileen Vansell.
Dana Hills High School
DHHS Senior Awards night with our two winners and with  DWSOC  Scholarship Co-Chair  Margie Black, Awardee Evelin Chavez and DWSOC Committee Member Amy Baxter.
June 3, 2024
​General Meeting & Annual Scholarship Presentation
David Hogg Guest Speaker with Award Winners:
Left to Right:
  • Evelin Chavez - Dana Hills HS
  • Lauren Burror - San Clemente HS
  • Cloe Gerhard - San Clemente HS
  • Mollie Naylor - San Clemente HS
  • Josie Burke - San Clemente HS
  • Trent Hermann - San Clemente HS
  • Tyler Pearce - San Clement HS
Not shown: James Florentino - San Juan Hills HS
At the June 3 2024 meeting, the Awardees were presented with their Scholarship Award Checks and Certificates.