Las Lomas Student Receives Michael W. De Sa
Memorial Scholarship

Sam DeSa, award recipient-Jason Zavaleta, Lisa De Sa, Caitlin De Sa

(Walnut Creek, Calif., May 28, 2009) - The third annual Michael W. De Sa Memorial Scholarship administered by the Walnut Creek Education Foundation, was awarded in the amount of $2,000.00 to Las Lomas High school senior, Jason Zavaleta. Michael De Sa’s family presented the scholarship to Zavaleta during Las Lomas High School Senior Awards Night held on Wednesday, May 27th.

Zavaleta was chosen among a dozen Las Lomas seniors who applied for the scholarship. His achievements exemplify the scholarship criterion, which seeks a well-rounded graduate of the Walnut Creek schools (attending K-12) who has nurtured life’s passions both in school and outside the confines of academia, through service in the community and other pursuits.

Zavaleta is highly accomplished and has won the respect and affection of his peers, teachers and administrators. Those that know Zavaleta admire his drive, intelligence, determination, compassion, maturity and inborn leadership qualities. His true passion is filmmaking (he made his first film in 7th grade in Walnut Creek Intermediate School’s first movie making class). In eighth grade, Zavaleta made his second film – an environmental film that was shown to the United Nations in 2005. He is also the first student in the nation to single handedly film the Every 15 Minutes program. 

He is currently finishing his final high school film, dedicated to his graduating class involving the theme of impermanence. This theme arose as a result of the death
of his grandparents and a close friend to cancer. Through his film, he wants to remind his fellow classmates about the importance of their last days together before they embark on separate journeys into the world.

When Zavaleta isn’t filming, he is playing music with he Las Lomas High Symphonic Band and The Contra Costa Youth Orchestra, as principal bass in 2008. He also has been a Safe School Ambassador for the past five years. Outside of school, he has volunteered the last six years at the Alexander Lindsay Wildlife Museum. His years of involvement in leadership roles as a Boy Scout, recently led to the ranking of Eagle Scout. During Barack Obama’s campaign for the presidency, Zavaleta served as the Media Director for Region 2 (Contra Costa County), student-run non-profit, Project Yes We Can.

Zavaleta’s plans after graduation is to attend San Francisco State University to pursue a degree in film production with the goal to also study abroad his sophomore year at the British Film Academy. He is already planning his post-graduate work at either USC or the American Film Institute. His ultimate goal is to own a production company to use the profits from filmmaking to assist organizations dedicated to improving the world.

When Walnut Creek Superintendent, Mike De Sa passed away in 2006, his family requested that donations be made in his name to the Walnut Creek Education Foundation (WCEF). De Sa’s family, wife Lisa and children Caitlin and Sam, proposed using a portion of the funds to start a memorial scholarship fund to be administered by WCEF and awarded to seniors at Las Lomas High School.

For more information about the Michael W. De Sa Memorial Scholarship or to make a donation, please contact Lisa Heinrich, WCEF executive director by calling 925-933-WCEF or lheinrich@wcefk12.org or www.wcefk12.org.

About the Walnut Creek Education Foundation

The Walnut Creek Education Foundation K-12 is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), non-profit tax I.D. # 94-2915151 organization founded in 2005 to maintain academic programs that are cut due to the State’s education budget shortfall. WCEF receives support through financial and in-kind donations from business and corporate partners, parents, alumni, volunteers, grants and the community-at-large. WCEF is managed by a volunteer executive committee, board of trustees, and a paid  executive director, all of whom who share a deep commitment to maintaining excellence in the schools.

For more information, contact WCEF at (925) 933.WCEF (9233), or www.wcefK12.org. On-line donations can also be securely submitted through the WCEF website or mailed to WCEF, P.O. Box 186, Walnut Creek, CA 94597.