Ashley Villagrana

This exceptional young lady is an all-year athlete through her participation on the Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Soccer, and Varsity Track teams.  In volleyball she was the 2019 and 2020 MVP and chosen for the All-League team in 2019 and 2020.  In soccer she was the 2018 and 2019 MVP, on the All-League team in  2019 and 2020, received the Keeper of the Year Award in 2019, and a member of the All-CIF team in 2020.  She has been recognized as a scholar athlete for all four years at Loara. 

Not only does Ashley excel on the court, field, and track but in the classroom as well.  She is a four-year Honor Roll student (‘17, ’18, ‘19, & ’20), a Fleet reserve essay award winner (’19), and an Avid Scholar Award winner (’19).  To round out her school years, she took on a leadership role as the co-athletic commissioner for ASB.  She and her co-commissioner created the SAMS Club (Saxons Athletic Mastery Symposium).  This group meets monthly to discuss how ASB can further support athletics.  What a great way to give back and support her fellow athletes and show her civic leadership!

When it comes to being a civic leader outside of school, Ashley is just as active.  She states, “While I love athletics, especially the sports in which I participate, I am also equally interested and vested in giving back to my community.”  She has been in Girl Scouts since was 5 years old and is currently in Horizons Senior Troop 1325.  Along with Scouts, she is “able to live my faith by volunteering every Saturday to distribute food and to make on-the-go meal packs for the needy.”  Every summer she volunteered to assist in registration at Anaheim High School.  She is also an active member of the Leos Club, a youth organization of Lions Club International.  Her favorite project with them was the Downtown Anaheim Fall Festival, where she enjoyed setting up the booths, decorating, and assisting the vendors with their tables and materials. She was able to work behind the scenes to ensure that the Festival was a success for the city, vendors and community.

Ashley has accomplished so much over the past four years at Loara.  When it came time to apply for college she decided to go for it and was accepted to UCR, UCSB, UCSC, UC Merced, CSUSM, CSUF, CSLB, CSDH, Hawaii The Pacific, Hawaii Hilo University, Greensville University, and La Sierra University.  She is very excited to attend La Sierra University in the Fall where she will major in Biology.

We can’t wait to keep in touch with Ashley and hear about her college adventures and share her accomplishments.  Congratulations Ashley!

Once a Saxon, Always a Saxon!

Anna Kunkle

LSAA President

Congratulations to our 1st Tommy Thomason Civic Leadership Scholarship recipient! ...

The Tommy Thomason Civic Leadership Scholarship: 

Orville Glen "Tommy" Thomason was Loara's first principal, and his educational legacy and influence stretches over his 97-year life span.  Tommy was born on December 5, 1907 in Adrian, Missouri, then moved to LaVerne, California in 1918, where he starred in football, basketball, track and baseball at Bonita High School and La Verne College.  Tommy began his career as teacher and coach in Baldwin Park, Claremont and at his alma mater, Bonita High School.  Tommy's Christian principles called him into work with the YMCA, first in Hollywood and then Anaheim, where he served as General Director for six years.  In 1953, Tommy returned to education as an Administrator at Anaheim High School, Fremont and Crescent Junior High Schools.  His final position was at Loara High School, where he served as the first Principal from 1962 to 1973.  

The LSAA Tommy Thomason Civic Leadership Scholarship (TTCL) was created to honor his dedication to Loara and its students, and to offer financial support to 12th grade students continuing their education after graduation.

The $1,000 Scholarship is available to qualified Loara High School seniors who exemplify well-rounded qualities and civic responsibility, and acknowledges their on- and off-campus achievements.