Culver City Observer -

By David W. Myers, Contributing Editor

Five local students were awarded thousands of dollars in college-scholarships by the Culver City Elks Lodge last Wednesday, helping the teenagers to pursue degrees-and careers-in fields ranging from education to veterinary medicine.

The scholarships were presented at the Elks' Lodge on Washington Place as part of its annual "Youth Awards Night," which honors some of the area's top-performing students for both their scholastic achievements and service to the community.

"As Elks, we're very proud to help these five outstanding young men and women to further their education," said C. Michael Melton, chairman of the Lodge's Scholarship Committee. "These students represent America's future."

Kelsi D. Parsons, an 18-year-old senior at Culver City High, was one of the evening's biggest winners. She will attend Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., this fall but hasn't yet declared a major.

The teen, who plans to seek a career in the arts and entertainment business, is the daughter of Marni and Michael Parsons. They live in the Veteran's Park area.

Joseph S. Strull, another Elks scholarship winner, is an 18-year-old senior at the independent Palisades Charter high school in Pacific Palisades. He plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona to study biology as his first step in the long journey toward becoming a veterinarian.

The West Los Angeles young man is the son of Donna and Steve Strull.

Carlos Sanchez Jr. of L.A.'s Manual Arts High will attend Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Penn. He plans to major in either Business Administration or Education, and then pursue a career as a youth counselor.

The 17-year-old lives in Los Angeles with his parents, Delia and Carlos Sanchez Sr.

Grace A. Song also resides in Los Angeles but attends John A. Rowland high school in the San Gabriel Valley community of Rowland Heights. She will attend Eugene Lang College in New York's Greenwich Village this fall to pursue dual degrees in History and Fashion.

Grace is the daughter of L.A.'s Joo and Seung Il Song. And though she's only 17, she already has her career path planned out: First she'll become a teacher, advance to the administrative level, and ultimately become a school superintendent.

Quincy O. Robinson, a 17-year-old senior at the charter Da Vinci Design School in Hawthorne, is headed north to California State University East Bay. He'll major in Environmental Sciences, with plans to make a career by documenting wildlife in their natural habitat.

He lives with his mother, Tanea Robinson, in Los Angeles.

The Elks preceded the awards by providing a complimentary dinner for the recipients and their families. Culver City Cub Scout Pack 461 followed with an impressive flag-posting ceremony and then led the audience of about 75 in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members of the Culver City Elks Lodge operate a variety of other community-related programs throughout the year. They include ongoing support for local military veterans, fundraisers for disabled kids, a "dictionary drive" for local elementary schools, and drug-prevention efforts aimed at teenagers.

The Culver Lodge was incorporated in 1954 and is part of a network that has more than 870,000 members across the United States. Information about joining can be obtained by dropping by its facility at 11160 Washington Place or by calling its on-site office, (310) 839-8891.