County Fair and National Date Festival Announces 16 Scholarship Recipients

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - This year's Date Festival Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to 16 Riverside County high school seniors and season passes to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, officials announced today.

Although 16 finalists impressed judges by the students' academic achievement, leadership and community commitment, 10 finalists were named as scholarship recipients. Through a contribution of$6,000 by judges Becky Bailey- Findley and Gary Findley, the remaining six finalists were named as scholarship honorees and also received scholarships.

"This scholarship program is an investment in Riverside County's students and the future of our community,'' Chris Pickering, CEO of Pickering Events, said in a statement. "Each year, the interview process reinforces how much talent, heart and promise exists in our local schools."  

The program awarded $2,000 scholarships to 10 seniors in the class of 2026, which will be distributed directly to each recipient's college or university. In addition, all finalists are invited to participate in the Presidents' Day parade on Feb. 16 as honored guests alongside local elected officials and community leaders.   

The following scholarship recipients named are:
   -- Bella Barone -- Palm Desert -- Palm Desert High School;
   -- Joanna Bushnell Crist -- Indio -- La Quinta High School;
   -- Preston Ellis -- Palm Desert -- Palm Desert High School;
   -- Emmanuel Garcia -- Riverside -- Ramona High School;
   -- Elizabeth Guerra --Indio -- Indio High School;
   -- Erik Huerta -- Mecca -- Desert Mirage High School;
   -- Paola Miranda -- North Shore -- Desert Mirage High School;
   -- Kaden Ren -- Riverside -- Martin Luther King High School;
   -- Pratham Sanghu -- Corona -- La Sierra Academy, and
   -- Ines Yanez -- Temecula -- Temecula Preparatory School.

   The following were named as scholarship honorees are:
   -- Anahi Canesco -- Jurupa Valley -- Rubidoux High School;
   -- Jahzara Dansby -- Lake Elsinore -- Murrieta Mesa High School;
   -- Alexander Diaz -- Indio -- Indio High School;
   -- Mario Irrera -- Indio -- Indio High School;
   -- Rachel Anne Madrid -- Aguanga -- JCS-Pine Hills High School, and
   -- Roberto Sanchez -- Indio -- Indio High School.  

"Programs like the Date Festival Scholarship help open doors for students who are working hard to shape a better future for themselves and our region,'' Supervisor Manuel Perez said in a statement. ``It's inspiring to see local institutions step up year after year to invest in education and opportunity.''  

The Date Festival will be held from next Thursday through March 1 at the county's Fairgrounds in Indio.