Arturo S Candelaria Memorial Scholarship awarded to ALLEN DAVID R. CAMANGIAN

The Second Annual Arturo S. Candelaria Memorial Scholarship, given in partnership with Grants High School, is upon us. While there were many deserving scholarship applications, upon reading Allen David’s, we felt an immediate connection. It could have been written by our dad/tata, Arturo. Raised in a small farming town. Working in the rice fields and thirsty for water. Skin burned from the sun. Like Allen David and his family, Arturo worked in the rice and carrot fields as a youngster (to help his family financially) with many Filipino families he came to know as friends. Working in the fields “cultivated” dreams of a better life for both families. Like Arturo, Allen David and his parents learned that education was key to a better life. Allen David was inspired to DREAM BIG! Allen David says “I don’t want this kind of life. I will study”. Arturo also dreamed big…for his children and grandchildren – a legacy that will live on with his great-grandchildren and future generations. Arturo strongly encouraged (more like mandated) that his kids and grandkids pursue higher education; and they did with his help, encouragement and support. We were blessed to witness his and mom’s/nana’s (Mary Lou) pride and delight, as each family member reached their own goals and dreams through education. Arturo was a brilliant self-educated man with major accomplishments of his own – rancher, farmer, miner, County Commissioner, mentor, teacher, though we believe the one he was most proud of was “Tata”. Allen David, also motivated by his own father’s hardships and eventual success through education, is studying hard to make his dreams come true. The Arturo S. Candelaria Memorial Scholarship was created so that he could continue to inspire and support those, like Allen David, who are willing to work hard to achieve a better life. On behalf of Arturo, we wish Allen David much success in his goal to become a nurse, thus helping to fulfill his mother’s dream. We hope he continues to play basketball. We hope he never stops dreaming big and will always strive to make his family proud. We also hope he continues Arturo’s legacy of inspiring, motivating, and supporting others as they aspire to achieve their dreams of a better life.