The 2024 Laura Scudder Grant Awards Luncheon was held on June 15 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Monterey Park

Marie Montanez welcomed the guests to this very special event.

She introduced John Scudder to the guests.

John Scudder introduced Salma Medina as his Scholarship Winner.

Selma Medina recalled writing a paper about Laura Scudder as a very successful business woman in High School.

She said that is why she applied for the Scudder scholarship.

She introduced Magda, her mother and Martha, her grandmother to the guests.

Selma Medina is attending East Los Angeles Collage.  She will be studying Political Science and Law.

John Scudder recalled his grandmother Laura was a nurse, attorney and a very successful businesswoman.

She learned the law and passed the bar in California before she could vote.

John Scudder presented a $3,000 scholarship to Selma Medina in the presents of her mother, Magda and her grandmother, Martha.

John Scudder presents a $3,000 Scudder Special Award Scholarship to Robert Gin, Monterey Park Library Foundation President, Carol Sullivan, Monterey Park Library Foundation Vice President and Leonis Jordan, Monterey Park Senior Librarian in Memory of Larry C Sullivan.

John Scudder is very happy to have known his grandmother for the last 35 years of her life. It is their family’s honor to grand scholarships to help young students receive their education.

In 1915 their family moved to Lake Mead and his grandmother opened a café. It was located across the street from the Courthouse. She worked on be an attorney for 2 and 1/2 and passed the California bar before she could vote.

In 1920 their family moved to Monterey Park. Their shop was located at Garvey and Atlantic.

Premium Quality since 1926

Throughout her lifetime, Mrs. Scudder’s was credited for many innovations in the food industry. Most notably was the introduction of wax paper bags as a packaging solution for potato chips. Historically, potato chips, prior to wax paper bags, were packaged in barrels or tins.

His grandmother determined the salary for each of her employees. If the person did a good job, they would get  pay raise.

John Scudder is the family historian. He spoke about his grandmother who valued hard work. He also recalled meeting Annie Oakley in the 1950s. He was a big fan of hers.

Salma Medina thanked John Scudder and  the Awards Committee for this scholarship. She was raised by a single mother. Her father died when she was younger. She also was seeking jobs to help pay for her education.

John Scudder  posed for a picture with Salma and her mother, Magda and her grandmother, Martha.

John Scudder presented a $3,000 Scholarship to the Library Board in Memory of Larry C Sullivan. Bob Gin, Carol Sullivan and Leonie Jordan accepted the Award. Our city library is supported by the Library Foundation. They thanked John Scudder for this Award.

The Grant Committee members: Marie Montanez, Dolores Seidman, Sandy  Hidalgo and Theresa Amador surrounded John Scudder and Salma Medina for a group picture.

Members of the Monterey Park Historical Society Board members: Jim Iwaki and Schufed Sokhom surrounded John Scudder and Salma Medina for a group picture.

John Scudder thanked everyone for attending this very special event. See you all next year.