For 2026, the Club has named 34 Club Members and their family members as honorees for its annual Joannie Mukai Scholarship Program. Approximately 135 students applied.
The Club’s Scholarship program was named for the late Joannie Mukai, the former Club Board Member and Harbor Retiree who passed away in 2010. This is the 16th anniversary of her death.
Recipients received stipends of $750 each.
“The Club’s scholarship committee celebrates the impressive quality of the applicants, and is honored to award these worthy recipients with the Club’s Mukai Scholarship,” said Committee chair Mariana Guevara. “We send congratulations to recipients of the Mukai Scholarship this year, and we thank all applicants. We know you will shine brightly.”
“The Mukai Scholarship program is one of the Club’s most prominent method of returning value to our Members and their families,” said Association CEO Robert Larios. “Joannie Mukai would be so proud of the honorees and applicants this and every year. We are delighted to honor our Club families.”
Those eligible included Club Members, their spouses and their children who are in college full-time or will be attending an accredited college or university in Fall 2026 (under the age of 24).
Below are the 34 recipients of the Joannie Mukai Club scholarships for 2026.
About Joannie Mukai
Joannie Mukai was a pioneer as the LA Port’s Director of Construction and Maintenance. A passionate supporter in the Employees Club and longtime Club Insurance Board Member, she died in March 2010. The Club’s annual scholarship program was named in her honor. “She believed in education and preparing for success,” Association President Robert Larios said. “We honor her legacy and many years of service with the City by naming the scholarship after her. It’s a perfect way to keep her memory alive.
2026 Scholarship Winners
Ethan Alvarado
Incoming student at Oregon State University, and child of of Carlos Alvarado-Chavez, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Paahavet Arvizu Carmelo
Incoming student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and child of Benjamin Rivas, Public Works/Street Lighting, City of Los Angeles.
Justin Broussard Jr.
Incoming student at California State University, Northridge, and nephew of Jessye R. Scott-Stafford, Retired, Los Angeles Police Dept, City of Los Angeles.
Jack Christopher
Incoming student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and child of James Christopher, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Louis Farias
Incoming student at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, Kansas, and child of Louis G. Farias, Los Angeles Police Dept., City of Los Angeles.
Elin Gharibian
Incoming student at the University of California, Los Angeles, and child of Adis Gharibian, Public Works/Sanitation and Environment, City of Los Angeles.
Eva Grichanyuk
Current student at the University of California, Riverside, and child of Mikhail Grichanyuk, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Lauryn Harden
Incoming student at Clark Atlanta University and child of Darlene Gray, Los Angeles World Airports, City of Los Angeles.
Jacob Hillard
Incoming student at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, and child of Erika Hillard, Personnel, City of Los Angeles.
Kalie Jimenez
Current student at the University of California, Berkeley, and child of Benjamin Jimenez, Retired, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Thomas Kim
Current student at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, and child of Sang Kim, Los Angeles World Airports, City of Los Angeles.
Gabriel Landeros
Current student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and employee of the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, City of Los Angeles.
Jesselyn Lee
Incoming student at Claremont McKenna College, and child of Charlton Lee, Los Angeles Fire Dept., City of Los Angeles.
Jacquelyne Lomeli
Incoming student at the University of California, Irvine, and child of Rodolfo Lomeli, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles.
Zoey Mendoza
Incoming student at California State University, Fullerton, and child of Joseph Mendoza, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Sophia Mendoza-Zepeda
Incoming student at San Diego State University, and niece of Ricardo Zepeda, Los Angeles Police Dept.
Giselle Montiforte
Incoming student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and child of Philip Montiforte, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Renata Ossorio Salazar
Current student at California State University, Los Angeles, and child of Mayra Salazar, Public Works/Sanitation and Environment, City of Los Angeles.
Mia Ponce
Current student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and child of Cesar Ponce, Dept. of Transportation, City of Los Angeles.
Elisa Ruiz
Incoming student at the University of Southern California, and child of Roberto Ruiz, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Jacquelyn Segura
Incoming student at Santa Clara University, and child of Jose M. Segura, Los Angeles Airport Police, City of Los Angeles.
Jeffrey Suarez
Incoming student at Biola University in La Mirada, and child of Geovanny Suarez, Los Angeles World Airports, City of Los Angeles.
Reyes Velasco
Incoming student at California State University, Fullerton and nephew of Candace Velasco-Montgomery, Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles.
Skye Youngblood
Current student at Howard University, Washington, D.C., and niece of Teona Williams, Los Angeles World Airports, City of Los Angeles.
Sebastian Jimenez
Incoming student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and nephew of Elba L. Salazar, Dept. of Aging and Disabilities, Los Angeles County.
Kanye Williams
Incoming student at the University of California, Riverside, and child of Kenya Williams, Dept of Parks and Recreation, Los Angeles County.
Sophia Canela
Incoming student at California Baptist University and child of Jesus Montano, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California.
Aleric Herzog
Incoming student at the University of Redlands, and child of Franz W. Herzog, California Dept. of Transportation, State of California.
Raymond Kato
Incoming student at Ndejje University, Kampala, Uganda, nephew of Florence Karungi, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California.
Maria Maguellal-Calvillo
Incoming student at Nightingale College, Salt Lake City, Utah, and spouse of Guillermo Calvillo, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California.
Reedley Mallard
Current student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and child of Jared Mallard, Retired, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California.
Crystal Valdez
Incoming student at California State University, Bakersfield, and child of Blanca Valdez, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California.
Daisy Albarran
Incoming transfer student at California State University, Fresno, and child of Melchor Albarran, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California.
Brandon Rubalcaba
Current student at California State University, Fullerton, and child of Gabriel Rubalcaba, California Dept. of Motor Vehicles, State of California.