High school seniors who dream of making a difference in the world through STEM studies are invited to apply to Edison International’s $1.2 million Edison Scholars Program.

Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, is awarding $40,000 scholarships, paid over four years, to 30 high school students planning to major in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields at four-year accredited U.S. colleges and universities.

Applicants must live in SCE’s service territory and plan to be a full-time undergraduate college freshman majoring in a STEM field in fall 2019. Eligible students must be a high school senior, have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Students from underserved communities and ethnic minorities are encouraged to apply. Dependents of Edison International and SCE employees and retirees are not eligible for the Edison Scholars Program.

“I’m the beneficiary of a STEM education, and I know it changes lives,” said Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International. “At Edison, we are proud to play a role in helping local students realize their academic dreams.”

Scholarship recipients will be announced next spring. They may also be eligible for summer internships at SCE after completing their second year of college.

Since 2006, Edison International has awarded more than $8.7 million in scholarships to 610 students’ higher education through the Edison Scholars Program.

Edison International’s support of charitable causes, including the Edison Scholars Program, is funded entirely by Edison International shareholders. SCE customers’ utility bill payments do not fund company donations.

To apply and get additional eligibility information, visit: edisonscholars.com. Scholarship applications are now being accepted through Dec. 14.

Thirteen year old 8^th grade Cabrillo Middle School student Carson Peterson has been chosen from thousands of kids to compete on ‘Top Chef Junior’ airing on Universal Kids for their second season. Top Chef Junior, the cooking competition spun off from the popular Top Chef last year,

He is 1 of 11 contestants competing for $50,000 and the title of Top Chef. Peterson applied to be on the show in January and made it through two rounds of eliminations.

Said Peterson. “It was a lot of hard work and more hard work to come, but I was really happy.” Carson credits his grandmother for teaching him how to cook when he was younger. “She is a really big inspiration for my cooking and she’s taught me a lot.”

Top Chef Junior, Season 2, airs on Saturday, at 6 p.m. on Universal Kids. For more information, visit www.universalkids.com/shows/top-chef-junior. Follow Carson Peterson on Instagram at @topchefcarson.

Meet Carson! He’s a 6’3 gentle giant with a heart of gold and a passion for cooking. He fell in love with it while watching his Italian grandmother in the kitchen. He has great respect for tradition and the importance of passing down recipes. When he’s not in the kitchen you can find him getting straight A’s, shooting hoops, or playing one of five instruments!

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark Lunn encourages local schools to participate in High School Voter Education Weeks. Lunn stated, “High School Voter Education Weeks provides an opportunity for educators to highlight the electoral process and build excitement among future voters.”

The California Education Code designates the last two full weeks in April and September to be High School Voter Education Weeks. This provides an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with county elections officials to promote civic education and foster an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens. This year, High School Voter Education Weeks began September 17 and continues through September 28.

The Ventura County Elections Division contacted high schools throughout the county to provide information and recommendations to recognize High School Voter Education Weeks. Schools can hold a mock election, nominate students for the County’s Student Poll Worker Program, or coordinate a voter registration drive on campus.

In recent years, Ventura County Elections has implemented several programs to encourage civic engagement including creating a mobile app, launching a texting program, and offering pre-registration to 16 and 17-year olds, making them automatically eligible to vote on their 18th birthday.

For more information on programs, High School Voter Education Weeks, or to partner with local elections officials, visit http://www.venturavote.org or call the Elections Division at (805) 654-2664.

On August 28, California Lutheran University partnered with the City of Ventura and the Ventura Botanical Gardens to help protect and restore the gardens after the devastating Thomas Fire destroyed the area. Incoming first-year students worked to spread mulch around the affected areas to protect the soil from further damage and prepare grounds for new plantings. Approximately 600 students and faculty members, including CLU University President, Chris Kimball pitched in.

You Got Served has been a part of CLU New Student Orientation for 11 years now. The great partnership with the City of Ventura started based on the city’s initiative and interest in finding service projects large enough for the hundreds of incoming CLU students who attend each year. Even with such a large group, the city has continuously found need and space throughout Ventura for the student participants for a day of service.

City of Ventura Communications Manager Kelly Flanders stated “Cal Lutheran has a longstanding partnership with the City of Ventura, and every year the students make a real impact on our community.  Once again, they brought their A game and did a fantastic job. We were touched by their enthusiasm to restore and improve the park.”