The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Foundation and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla celebrated the efforts of 15 students seeking healthcare-related careers by granting them scholarships for the new school year on Aug. 3.

The joint scholarship program, now in its 12th year, provides assistance for underprivileged youths.

The scholarship recipients come from high schools throughout coastal North County, according to an announcement from organizers:

• From San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas: Sophia Hernandez is going to Biola University and will be studying human biology.
• From Sunset High School in Encinitas: Sara Velez is attending MiraCosta College and plans to become a nurse.
• From La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad: Natalia Price will attend CSU San Marcos with an emphasis in women’s studies. Jacklyn Vasquez will attend MiraCosta College and plans to become a nurse.
• From Carlsbad High School: Christina Flores-Lopez will attend CSU San Marcos to study political science. Beenish Ismail will also attend CSU San Marcos to study nursing.
• From Oceanside High School: Oreana Diaz, Stephanie Murillo, Maryjane Arroyo, Jennifer Casarrubias Rendon, Jackelyn Carrillo and Ashley Campos all plan to attend CSU San Marcos and become nurses. Monica Mozo plans to attend MiraCosta College to study nursing. Jennifer Magbata will attend Grand Canyon University and wants to become a pediatric nurse.
• From El Camino High School in Oceanside: Steven Avalosmontes will attend MiraCosta College with plans to become a nurse.

Students receiving a renewal of their scholarships are:

• Georgina Akuffo graduated from La Costa Canyon High School and is in her second year at MiraCosta College studying kinesiology.
• Rebekah Chung, a 2012 graduate of Carlsbad High School, is attending her fourth year at San Diego State University, where she will be entering SDSU’s nursing program.
• Alexander Flores graduated from Oceanside High School and is in his second year at UCLA and wants to become a nurse.

The scholarship program was sparked by Leonard Polster, a supporter of Scripps La Jolla and the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, and a longtime member of the club foundation’s board of trustees, the organizations said in their announcement. Polster brought the organizations together to form the scholarship program with the goal of encouraging students to pursue careers in the medical field to help offset the shortage of healthcare workers.