The San Fernando High School Alumni Association held the Distinguished Alumni Awards on Saturday, May 4. At the breakfast event, the organization honored, Jesus Perez, Jose Razo, Flora Mendoza and Violet Indjeyan Mardirosian.
“Chuy’ Perez, a SFHS graduate, class of 1995, earned a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later a master’s degree from Stanford University. He now serves as the Senior Principal Engineer at Raytheon Airborne and Space Systems. “Chuy” also serves on the DIY (Do It Yourself) Girls board of directors, a nonprofit organization which encourages girls to explore STEAM careers in engineering and technology. Perez directly encourages students by holding workshops and visiting classrooms and sharing his story. “I made my way through college with scholarships and financial aid, it’s only right for me to return the favor,” he said.
Jose Razo, a SFHS graduate, class of 1992, served in the Marine Corps, earned a bachelor’s degree from CSUN and is the principal of Telfair Elementary school — the school he attended as a boy. Razo has shined an important light on Telfair, speaking out about the school’s high percentage of homeless students and its impact. “My students deserve the best education possible and each day I work very hard to provide them with a high quality education,” Razo said.
Flora Mendoza-Werner, a SFHS graduate, class of 1988, earned a B.A. from UCLA and a law degree from UCLA Law School. After practicing law for a year, she became a teacher to work directly with the community. She returned to SFHS as a social studies teacher, became a program coordinator, was later promoted to assistant principal, then became the school Principal. “I have the best job I could imagine,” Mendoza-Werner said. “I love my job, I look forward every day to coming to work. I enjoy my job so much I don’t consider it work.”
Violent “Mardi” Mardirosian is not a SFHS alumnus. But in 1996 she became a math teacher at the school, and currently serves as the coordinator of the SFHS math and science magnet program. Born in Iran, she couldn’t realize her dream of earning a college degree in her home country, then torn by a civil war. She emigrated to India, later to France and finally to Modesto, CA where, for a time, she worked in the fields. “Mardi” has also been recognized as “Tiger of the Year” by her students. “She inspired me to become an engineer. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I would be where I am today,” said Vanessa Reyes Thompson, a former student who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from UCLA.
Since its inception in 2003, The SFHS Alumni Association has provided $180,000 in financial aid for programs and scholarships.
For more information go to: https://www.sfhsalumni.org.