Rafael Gallardo (left) and Johnson Co, seniors at Mater Dei High School, each received
$1,000 scholarships from Waste Management of Orange County.

SANTA ANA, Feb. 20, 2006 - Waste Management of Orange County presented Santa Ana Chamber Scholarships to two high school seniors from Mater Dei High School on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Johnson Co and Rafael Gallardo each received $1,000 scholarships from Waste Management to utilize in their educational endeavors after they graduate from high school.

"We are proud to support the goals and dreams of students in the communities we serve," said Silvia Edwards, Grant Administrator for Waste Management of Orange County and Chair of the Scholarship Committee for the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. "Johnson and Rafael are two of the outstanding scholarship recipients honored on Thursday night who we believe have very bright futures ahead of them."

The Santa Ana Chamber Scholarship Program began 16 years ago and has recognized more than 500 students from within the Santa Ana Unified School District, Orange County High School of the Arts and Mater Dei High School. This year, 43 students were honored with scholarships.

Scholarship candidates are recommended by their teachers, counselors and principals and complete an application that is reviewed by the Chamber's Scholarship Committee. Recipients are selected based on their records of academic achievement, participation in extra-curricular and/or community services, written essays and school commendation letters.

Both Johnson and Rafael plan to attend four-year colleges or universities. Johnson is undecided on his course of study; Rafael plans to major in civil engineering.

Waste Management, Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. For more information about recycling, log onto www.wm.com.

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