By K.P. Sander

Kababayan Today host G. Töngi poses with award winner Marie Rosario. (Photo Courtesy: Rosario Family)

Eastvale – 2014 Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate, Marie Rosario, was recently selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Filipino-American Senior Students (TOFASS) in California.

On Dec. 29, 2016, Rosario appeared on the television show, “Kababayan Today,” on channel LA18, where she was awarded with a check and a special plaque by show host G. Töngi, commemorating her selection as a TOFASS recipient.

The TOFASS award comes from the Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) of Greater Los Angeles Alumni Association (APOGLA).  It is the flagship project of the association, with the objective of recognizing and awarding outstanding senior students of Filipino-American descent for their academic and scholastic achievements so that they can serve as a role model for other young people to emulate.  According to their website, they also provide scholarship grants to help assist college-bound students.

Dan E. Niño, Vice-President – and incoming 2015 President – of APOGLA, appeared with Rosario on Kababayan Today, and spoke of the selection process for the TOFASS award.

“There were 30 applicants, with only four selected.  There are very rigorous and strict [guidelines] in the selection.  Those selected are very deserving,” said Niño.

Niño also commented that the biggest supporters of the system are the parents.  Rosario appeared on Kababayan Today with her parents, Martin and Clarissa Rosario.  Proud mother, Clarissa, said, “We are very thankful and blessed to have four girls.  She (Marie) is the eldest, and we are very blessed.”  Both parents agree that Marie is a wonderful example for her three sisters.

Rosario is currently a freshman student at the University of California, San Diego, and studying Environmental Systems.

“The environment and our world is something that I’m very passionate about,” said Rosario when asked about her major.

Passion as a student is nothing new to Rosario.  She is reportedly on full scholarship at UCSD, received an additional $1,000 scholarship from Century Gold 21 Realty for education expenses, was honored at ERHS’s Senior Awards as President of the California Scholarship Federation, and received an award in the National Honors Society for four semesters of straight As.

In high school, Rosario was a student of ERHS teacher, Patty Bickel, in Honors and AP Chemistry over two years.  Bickel had some good memories to share:

“Not only was Marie a very diligent student, but her biggest attributes had to be her strong work ethic and having the ability to be a self-starter.  I also remember Marie as always being available to help out her fellow students, and she was not afraid to speak her mind when she did not agree with the ‘majority,’” said Bickel – traits that have obviously been an asset to this fine student.

The future does indeed look bright for Marie Rosario.

If you would like to watch Rosario receive her award on Kababayan Today, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrZu8JWFrWg.  For more information on TOFASS, visit http://alphaphiomega.org/tofass.