The Desert Valley Charitable Foundation donated over $100,000 in scholarships to outstanding students seeking a degree in a medical field. Several Desert Valley employees received scholarships along with local students at the awards ceremony.
Among the recipients was Sahmon Chinichian who is currently a fourth year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. He completed his Bachelors of Science at the University of California, Irvine and is pursuing his ambition of becoming an ophthalmologist. At Western University, Sahmon was involved in various community service activities including the Pipeline to Health careers program designed to spark interest in local 6th graders to pursue a career in healthcare. He also held the position of class vice president during his first year of medical school. Currently, he is assisting with research projects at University of California, Irvine on the topic of Age Related Macular Degeneration. He will be applying to residency programs this fall and graduating with his D.O. Degree in 2012 with hopes to return to the High Desert region of Southern California to start his practice in the future.
Desert Valley Charitable Foundation Scholarship Program was created to reward students who have achieved academic excellence while being involved in school and community services. The program is open to all High Desert residents who are enrolled in an accredited program leading to a Health Care or medical related field. Desert Valley Charitable Foundation has given over $100,000 annually for the last 6 years.