Long Beach Bar Association honors scholarship recipients at 67th annual dinner

The Long Beach Bar Association held its 67th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner in Long Beach on June 9, 2026, recognizing high school seniors and the sponsors that help fund their education. The program aims to expand tuition support and mentorship for students facing academic, personal and financial barriers.

Why it matters: - The scholarship program helps high school seniors pay for higher education and build connections that can lead to mentorship, internships and career opportunities. - The Long Beach Bar Association says the effort is part of a broader investment in Long Beach’s future workforce, local economy and community leadership. - The Association wants to expand both the number of recipients and the amount of tuition assistance available.

What happened: - The Long Beach Bar Association hosted its 67th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner at Recreation Park Golf Course in Long Beach on June 9, 2026. - Legal professionals, community leaders, educators, students and supporters attended the event. - Randall Fudge, president of the Long Beach Bar Association, opened the evening with welcoming remarks. - Ana Maria Quintana, Councilwoman for the City of Bell, gave an introduction. - Hon. Carlos R. Moreno, former Justice of the California Supreme Court, served as guest speaker. - The event honored scholarship recipients as they prepared for the next stage of their education and careers. - Randall Fudge and Martha Iturrioz delivered closing remarks.

The details: - The scholarship awards went to outstanding high school seniors selected from a highly competitive applicant pool. - The Association evaluates more than grades when choosing recipients. - The selection process also considers personal, family and financial challenges students have overcome while staying committed to their education. - The 2026 Scholarship Fund received support from sponsors and contributors. - Recognized supporters included the Law Office of Gerri D. Marshall, the Law Office of Salvador Sanchez, Trejo Attorneys at Law, Morrison LaRossa Price & Iturrioz, the Law Office of Robin D. Perry, One Call Bail Bonds and the Port of Long Beach. - The Association has operated its scholarship program for 67 years. - The program has provided opportunities to hundreds of high school seniors over that time.

Between the lines: - Justin Leach, a director of the Long Beach Bar Association, said the goal reaches beyond writing scholarship checks and is meant to create lasting opportunities for young people in the Long Beach community. - The program is designed to connect students with established professionals who may offer guidance and exposure to paths they had not considered. - Those relationships can extend into mentorship, professional guidance, internships and networking. - The Association sees the scholarship program as a way to strengthen community ties and support the next generation of educators, business owners, public servants, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders. - The organization says that broader impact can contribute to a more educated workforce and a stronger local economy.

What’s next: - The Long Beach Bar Association plans to grow the scholarship program and increase tuition assistance. - The Association is seeking more volunteers, community partners and donors to support future scholarships. - Additional funding would help more deserving students access educational opportunities in the years ahead.

The bottom line: - The annual dinner was both a celebration of student achievement and a fundraising-and-relationship-building effort aimed at widening access to higher education in Long Beach.