2011 Bruin Scholarship Recipients


Michelle Hsu Michelle Hsu is a senior at Maranatha High School. She has been recognized for her academic accomplishments by being named a National Merit Finalist, National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Honor, Scholar Athlete, Dean's List Highest Honors and Dean's Distinguished Student Scholarship for four years, National Honor Society, California Scholastic Federation, Scholar Athlete (10th and 11th grades), Girl's State 1st Runner Up as an 11th grader, and Discus Awards Winner this year. She currently has an unweighted GPA of 4.0 and scored a perfect 2400 on her SATs. In addition to her rigorous class schedule, Michelle has been involved in a wide variety of artistic pursuits and community service. She is a member of Maranatha's Art Club and won recognition in the 2010 Congressional Art Competition, "An Artistic Discovery". She has also achieved Piano Certificate of Merit Level 7 and Voice Certificate of Merit Level 2. Michele has volunteered in the Children's Summer Reading Program at the Arcadia Public Library, serves as a Sunday School Teacher's Aide and has helped out at the Joni and Friends Disability Clinic. Michelle began playing basketball with the Bruins Shooting Stars in 2nd grade and has served as a volunteer coach at the Pasadena Bruins Pee Wee clinic for the past four years. She is a three-year varsity basketball player and has also been on Maranatha's JV Track and Field squad. Her high school basketball coach and Honors Composition teacher describes Michelle as "an excellent teammate, works hard, and is an amazing role model to her younger peers". Michelle plans to continue playing basketball while attending a four-year university. She plans to major in biology and minor in business, and is considering a career in medicine.

Kelsey Lee is a senior at South Pasadena High School. Her passion for basketball began in 1st grade, when she joined the Bruins Shooting Stars, and drove her to excellence all the way through high school. A four-year varsity player, Kelsey has served as South Pasadena's team captain for the past two years and has been selected to the All Rio Hondo League basketball team each year. Her high school coach has lauded her as "one of the finest student-athletes I have observed" and describes her as "our coach on the court". But Kelsey's athletic talents extend beyond the basketball court. She has also been on the school's varsity track squad since her freshman year, and has qualified each year for the Rio Hondo League meet. Kelsey has been involved in South Pasadena High School's activities committee and the school's PINK Club. "Whether in the classroom as a student, as an academic coach, or on the basketball court, I have found Kelsey Lee to be of superior character, a tenacious pursuer, and a natural leader," her mathematics teacher wrote. Kelsey has given back to the Bruins as a volunteer Pee Wee Basketball Clinic coach for 6 years and is currently an assistant coach for the 4th grade Bruins Rising Starz team. She is also active in other community service. Kelsey participated in the Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program, volunteered at the Aria Montessori pre-School and at Keiro Senior HealthCare and has served as co-president of the Pasadena Buddhist Church's Junior YBA. She is a recipient of the 2010 Amy Utsunomiya Community Service Award.

Thomas Ichinose is a senior at Gabrielino High School. He is a "lifelong" Bruin, playing on the Air Bruins team since 1998. Thomas credits team basketball and his 13 years of participation in the Pasadena Bruins for helping him become a more outgoing and involved person. He boasts a GPA over 4.0 and his academic honors include the Golden Eagle Award (GPA 4.0), Soaring Eagle Award (GPA 3.5-3.99), Scholar award for Frosh and JV basketball, Mathematician's Award, California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society. In addition, Thomas has been active in several community programs, including the Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program, Asahi Gakuen and Pasadena Kyodo Gakuen. In music he has found his true passion. Thomas is a talented piano player and is active in Gabrielino's Marching Band. His piano teacher of more than 12 years has said of Thomas: "... the music sheets that he plays are beyond belief in difficulty ... only a true student who is self-propelled and active can play as he does". Thomas plans to attend a four-year university, majoring in music and/or applied mathematics, then pursue a Master's degree in that major. He aspires to use his education, skills and passion to someday become an educator for young adults. By doing this, he hopes "to give back to the community what I absorbed over the past 15 years."

Nolan Tcheng is a senior at Gabrielino High School. His academic honors include National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, Varsity Volleyball Scholar Athlete in 9th grade and School Student Scholar Athlete of 10th grade. Nolan is a three-year varsity basketball and four-year varsity volleyball player. He was named to the Mission Valley League 2nd Team in basketball and the Rio Hondo League's 2nd (10th grade) and 1st Team (11th grade) in volleyball. Last year, he was recognized as both the varsity volleyball team's Most Valuable Player as well as Gabrielino's Outstanding Athlete of 11th grade. Nolan began playing Bruins basketball in 1st grade and has coached the 6th grade Bruins Thunder team for the past three years. A parent-coach from the Thunder team has said of Nolan, "Nolan is an outstanding role model of a student athlete for our boys. He exemplifies the values that are the foundation of our organization: responsibility, integrity, and academic and athletic excellence." After graduation, Nolan plans to attend a four-year university, majoring in athletic training or physical therapy and possibly pursue an advanced degree in education. He aims to play college volleyball.

Scholarship Information
In 2001, the Pasadena Bruins held their first annual Pasadena Bruins Scholarship Golf Tournament. Funds raised during this tournament directly support the scholarships. The inspiration for this tournament is our youth. The Pasadena Bruins provide scholarships to graduating seniors who have participated in our program. The scholarship acknowledges a Bruin who best exemplifies integrity, responsibility, and values and who can be a role model for all of the participants in the organization. The scholarship rewards well rounded individuals with accomplishments academically, athletically and in their community. The organization would like to assist and encourage our future generations to keep striving towards their goals.


2011-2012 Bruins Scholarship Application
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