Past & PRESENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

MASON HUNT

Mason is graduating as a valedictorian from Newport Harbor High School and heading to Harvard University in the fall to major in biomedical engineering. Mason was a Newport Beach junior lifeguard from the time he was a D (9 years old) until A’s. Mason was part of the 2022 CIF championship waterpolo team and will continue to play Division 1 waterpolo at Harvard. During high school Mason was highly involved in community service and activities, was an AP scholar with distinction, has been recognized for academic excellence, works part-time and makes his family a priority over everything else. Mason truly embodies the spirit and independent character of this scholarship.

RODERICK MENDENHALL

Roderick is graduating from Huntington Beach High School and heading to University of California, Irvine in the fall to study business economics. He is completing his real estate license and is also an EMT and California State Lifeguard. In addition he finds time to work for the City of Huntington Beach Search and Rescue Explorers. Roderick demonstrates the incredible resilience and ambition in the face of challenges. Roderick maintained over a 4.0 GPA all of high school and while participating in Varsity Waterpolo, swimming and wrestling.

VICTORIA ORCUTT

Victoria is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky and is part of the Air Force ROTC program as she is pursuing a degree in Psychology with hopes to become a pilot. Victoria is currently part of the Division 1 Kentucky Women’s swim team and was awarded the 2019 Heisman National winner as the top female scholar athlete. She is also a Destin Beach Safety lifeguard and has competed in USLA Nationals. Her military upbringing and frequent moves have develop a sense of independence, servant leadership, and focus on serving and helping others.

ELIZABETH LOVAT

Elizabeth attended Huntington Beach High School and is a Huntington Beach City Lifeguard. She currently attends Iona College in New York and plays D1 Women’s Waterpolo. She was recognized as an All-American Athlete and received numerous athletic awards. She has been on the Dean’s List (4.0) in the last year and graduated with honors from high school. Elizabeth has a passion for helping others and has learned and used her communication skills with American Sign Language to help her community, which has in turn shaped her career and educational goals. She knows what it takes to overcome life's most challenging setbacks and persevere. Her dad taught her “not to be afraid of failure” and her attitude has inspired those around her.

Elizabeth will continue as a sophomore studying Speech Pathology at Iona College in New York.

LUKE MAKSHANOFF

Luke is a Lifeguard with the California State Parks in Orange County. Luke plays D1 Water Polo and is currently a pre-engineering major at UCLA. Luke was the Valedictorian at San Clemente High School, passed seven AP exams, and competitively participated in activities such as the National Wordwright Challenge and the Picerne Foundation Global Sustainability Project as a finalist. Luke volunteers and serves the community through his church and has helped lead projects in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico that include construction and community outreach. His experiences have shaped his belief that the “hard things are worth doing” and he demonstrates a high level of commitment to achieve whatever he puts his mind to.

Will continue as a sophomore studying Engineering at UCLA.

EDEN UEBELHOR

Eden is studying Chemical Engineering at Norte Dame. She enjoys the challenge and her classes. In addition to her studies, she’s the President, of ND Women in Engineering Club. Eden works as an ocean lifeguard in San Diego. She’s a Junior Guard instructor and was the top of her rookie class. In high school, Eden was a tri-sport HS athlete and received Senior Athlete of the Year. She works with special needs students and coordinated the Best Buddies Club through high school and Wounded Warriors fundraisers.

ZANE GRENOBLE

Zane is attending University of Pennsylvania as a dual major in Business and International Studies. He is a member of the Wharton Honors program/Huntsman. Zane is a competitive open water swimmer and competes as part of the schools’ triathlon team at elite level and representative for USA Triathlon. For 6 years Zane was apart of the JLA County Junior Guard program and a Lifeguard Cadet. Zane is very resilient as he overcame a major illness in high school. Currently, he works as a tutor and in business internship programs. In his free time, Zane enjoys biking. He completed a 400-mile ride through Spain.

TANNER CURNOW

Tanner will be starring his sophomore year at California Baptist University where he will continue to work on a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. He is currently a lifeguard for the California State Parks in San Diego California. He also works as an EMT at Paradise Valley Hospital and volunteers with the River Rescue lifeguards out of Bullhead City.

JESSICA MOORE

Jessica will her sophomore year at UCLA as a political science major. Jessica is a Newport Beach Lifeguard and competes in distance ocean swims and Club swimming at UCLA.

TAYLOR GRAY

Taylor Gray recently graduated as a senior from Edison High School, in Huntington Beach, California and will be attending the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland to study engineering. Taylor played was the captain her senior year and played varsity volleyball for three years and maintained a stellar academic record. Her academic and extra-curricular activities include participation in National Honor Society, Model United Nations, Make a Wish Club, numerous academic and character awards, and a rigorous course schedule while maintaining a 4.71 GPA. Taylor was a Huntington Beach junior lifeguard and works to help save money for her future expenses. Taylor displayed to integrity, humility, and a strong level of independence and an incredible work ethic. We are very pleased to help support Taylor in her future endeavors.

TRISTAN CURNOW

Tristan Curnow is a starting his final year as a business major at Point Loma University. Tristan is a California State Beach Lifeguard as well as a volunteer river rescue lifeguard in Laughlin, Nevada. Tristan was on both the Varsity swim and water polo teams in high school, was part of the CIF division championship teams during his freshman and senior years. Tristan earned 4.71 GPA in high school and was part of eight clubs in high school as well as the ASB athletic commissioner and representative to the board of trustees. Tristan started his own landscaping business at the age of ten and has interned in a law firm and in a marketing position and volunteers in orphanages in Tijuana. Tristan stood out as exceptionally hard working, independent, and driven to succeed despite life's obstacles.

ERIN HAYDEN

Erin Haden attended high school at Indian River High School in Dagsboro, Deleware. She earned a 4.67 GPA in high school and will continue her studies in human anatomy and physiology as a premedical student at Boston University. Erin volunteers in the emergency department of a local hospital and also works as a lifeguard at Middlesex Beach. In addition she is the captain of both the varsity swim and field hockey teams at her high school. Erin demonstrates a strong passion and drive for success and manages to overcome obstacles and challenges. One of her personal goals is to give back by becoming a surgeon and serving in the the US military.

ADAM FULLER

My first two years at Brown have been awesome! I’m enjoying my new experiences on the east coast, but have a new appreciation for California and look forward to making my way back west. I’ve been taking a full and difficult course load, and have made solid progress on my Biology major requirements. This past Spring semester was a tough one, but I did well and have completed all of the keystone Pre-Med requirements. While at school I work for a private ambulance company called Med-Tech after getting my EMT license last summer. This summer I am working at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute as an intern and I enjoy the exposure to the clinic and the doctors, as well as the patient interaction. I am also helping out with Santa Barbara Junior Lifeguards and City aquatics events on my days off.I continue to be extremely grateful for all of your help in making my life-changing experiences at Brown possible.

LUKE ERLBECK

Luke Erlbeck graduated from University of Southern California. In high school he was a water polo player and swimmer as well as an AP Scholar. Luke received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and was on the Dean's list for the Marshall School of Business. In addition Luke is a Del Mar Lifeguard and received awards his exceptional skills as a boat operator.

PETER CROCKER

Peter Crocker was one of the 2016 Ben Carlson Memorial Scholarship recipients. Peter represents the Huntington City Beach Lifeguard department where he was a Lifeguard I for four years. After moving to Huntington Beach when he was 16, his swimming background quickly led him to lifeguarding where he developed a love for the ocean that permeated his daily life. Through his experience as a lifeguard, he learned invaluable lessons about hard work and respect but most importantly was introduced to the powerful and loving community that surrounds the ocean.

Peter is entering his fourth year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is interested in robotics and is spending the summer working on autonomous vehicles at Uber ATG in Pittsburgh. While he no longer lifeguards, he spends every moment at home out on the water and even braves the cold Boston ocean when he can get out for a weekend. After graduation, Peter plans to complete his Masters in Computer Science at MIT and from there see where the tides take him!

ERIC HERNANDEZ

Eric was a recipient of the Ben Carlson Scholarship in 2016. He is currently working for a marketing agency in Costa Mesa, the Brand Amp. He is also a Newport Beach lifeguard (reserve status) working on the weekends. Outside of his professional life, Eric is pursuing his creative passions of shooting photos and video of surf and wildlife. Eric is also volunteer on the oncology floor at CHOC Children's hospital once a week.