The Kiwanis Club of Mission Viejo this week awarded six $750 scholarships to graduating seniors in the area.

During the club’s awards breakfast Tuesday, Mayor Trish Kelley spoke about the importance of spending a lifetime making a difference in the community.

The honorees included:

Brooke Henderson was nominated from Silverado/Mira Monte High School. She began independent study after a serious family car accident and several subsequent surgeries put her behind in her schooling. The medical care she received led her to decide to pursue a career as a nurse. She is taking several courses at Saddleback College while still in high school, and will start classes full-time at Saddleback this fall. While at Mira Monte, she launched the “Coats for a Cause” drive to gather winter clothing for youths in foster care. She has also volunteered for five years at the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center helping adults and children with horse-riding therapy.

Alexis Britch was cited for her academic achievements at Mission Viejo High School and for her practical experience earned through the Coastline Regional Occupational Program. She has a 4.34-grade point average and has taken several advanced placement classes in physics, English literature, calculus and German. Alexis has been on the principal’s honor roll every semester. Her true love is animals, specifically horses. She placed fifth in the U.S. in a competition involving knowledge of horses. Her work at a veterinary hospital made her decide to pursue a doctorate at a veterinarian college, specializing in emergency surgery. Alexis will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Eileen Vo is an Advanced Placement scholar and an International Baccalaureate candidate at Mission Viejo High School. She has been involved in the Model United Nations program, string orchestra and the pit orchestra for musical theater productions. This year she is the president of the community service Key Club and was named most outstanding president. She has been an officer with the California Scholarship Federation for three years and the National Honor Society for one year. Eileen has received the Chancellor’s Scholarship at the University of California, Riverside. Ultimately, she plans to become a pediatrician and work internationally.

Jonathan Hong is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate diploma at Capistrano Valley High School. He is a long jumper on the varsity track and field team and co-president of Music for Seniors, a group that plays at a senior center. Jonathan has played the violin since the fourth grade and has served as concert master for the school’s chamber orchestra. He was president of the Key Club last year and has amassed more than 370 hours as a volunteer at Mission Hospital. He has been a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. Jonathan plans to study bio-medical engineering at the University of Southern California.

Vladislav Iotov has earned a 4.67-grade point average at Tesoro High School while nearing the completion of 10 advanced placement courses, five this year alone. He is captain of the tennis team and participated in the Awesome Math Summer Program at UC Santa Cruz focusing on number theory and abstract math. He has been treasurer and vice president of the Key Club during his three-year membership. Vlady is a youth member of the Mission Viejo Activities Committee and has been on the principal’s honor roll every semester. He has been accepted at the University of California, San Diego.

Allissa Becker, a student at Capistrano Valley High School, was recognized for her achievements through the South Coast Regional Occupational Program. She was placed in foster care in her early life and was eventually adopted. Because of her beginnings, she has made a commitment to pursue a career helping others through nursing. She has 4.0 GPA and has taken kinesiology, medical terminology and other medical-related courses through ROP. Allissa is a volunteer at the Kinship Center where she mentors foster and adoptive children. This fall, she will attend Sonoma State University to study nursing.

The scholarships are based on community service, financial need, scholastic achievement, character, extra-curricular activities, advanced education plans and educational improvement.

The Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday at 7 a.m. at Denny’s on Alicia Parkway at Interstate 5. For more information, call 949-364-0672.