State Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Yucaipa, recently announced that Celi Orozco of Menifee and Halle Aldrich of Yucaipa, both residents of Bogh’s Senate District 23, have been selected to receive 2024 Minerva Scholarships. The Minerva Scholarships, distributed by Women in California Leadership in collaboration with the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, are awarded to female students admitted to or currently enrolled at accredited colleges or universities. The winners are selected based on their intellectual energy, scholastic achievement, community involvement and work history, according to a news release from Bogh. Celi Orozco is a student at UC Berkeley and attended Paloma Valley School in Menifee. In high school, she was a wrestler and mentored new athletes, according to the news release. She also served as secretary of the Latin Culture Club and the Interact Club, organizing events and volunteer opportunities. At UC Berkeley, she has contributed to the Medical Journal, interviewed researchers and volunteered with the Red Cross and Raices Retention Center, encouraging students of color to pursue higher education. She is beginning her second year at Berkeley where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cell biology. Halle Aldrich will attend UC Irvine as a junior this year, majoring in biological sciences with a minor in medical humanities. In high school, she was captain of her basketball team and this spring she was selected as a squad leader in an EMT program. As squad leader, she was responsible for preparing her peers for skills stations, maintaining uniform standards and ensuring appropriate behavior. “I am truly overjoyed to support scholarship opportunities, especially those that empower women through higher education,” Bogh, who is vice chairman of the state Senate Education Committee, said in the news release. “I am incredibly proud of Celi and Halle for their leadership, determination and resilience.” The Minerva Scholarship program was established in 2015 by Women in California Leadership, a nonprofit organization. For information, go to wicl.us.