The American Legion School Awards Program is designed to place emphasis on the development of character and scholarship in school students, and selection is made on the basis of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service in the community. San Gabriel Post 442 has announced the 2009 recipients, representing the educational symbolism of the School Medal Award Program, and awards will be presented to the following students selected by their representative schools as most representing the ideals of the program: Lydia Deng and Anis Adul-Karim, San Gabriel Academy; Adrian Acevez, Angelica Avila, Cherish Inflatable Water Slide Carrillo and Fmorest Padilla, Saint Anthony’s; Emilio Uranga III and Erin MacDonald, San Gabriel Mission Elementary; Emily Prince, Stacy Ruiz, Pavin Trinh, Jessica Nguyen, Richie Wong, Tori Vollaire, Selena Dovalina and Keshan Sirimane, Jefferson Middle School.

Post Commander Jim Courson of San Gabriel reports that annually these awards are presented by Post 442 to the students displaying a high quality of citizenship and true Americanism. Similar programs are carried out by Posts throughout the San Gabriel Valley, the State of California and the Nation.