Source: www.acwa.com

East County Students Win College Scholarships From Helix Water District

Fetched 2026-06-25 10:44 from www.acwa.com

Reading Summary (AI-generated)

Reading Summary: East County Students Win College Scholarships From Helix Water District

Key Facts

Grossmont High graduate Saoirse O’Boyle and El Cajon Valley High graduate Marcus Matyos each received $2,000 scholarships at Helix Water District’s June 17, 2026 board meeting
The Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship was established in 1998 upon his retirement after 19 years as general manager; Friedgen provided seed money with board and community contributions
The Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship was established in 1999 honoring her 20 years of board service
Helix Water District serves approximately 500,000 people for water treatment and 278,000 residents for distribution across La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Mt. Helix, and Spring Valley

Who Is Affected

Students residing within Helix Water District’s service area in San Diego’s east county suburbs
Communities served: La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Mt. Helix, Spring Valley, and unincorporated areas

Policy/Legal Angle

No laws, regulations, or court decisions are referenced; this is a district community relations/public engagement initiative

Blog Angles

Water agencies as community investors: How common is it for California water districts to fund scholarships, and does this practice measurably strengthen community trust or workforce pipelines for the water sector?
Workforce development angle: Neither student is majoring in water-related fields — does Helix (or similar districts) offer scholarships specifically targeting engineering, environmental science, or water resources to build a local talent pipeline?
Equity and outreach: With eligibility tied to district service area boundaries, who realistically applies — and are districts in lower-income service areas offering comparable programs?

Full Text

East County Students Win College Scholarships From Helix Water District

by Helix Water District
Member Submitted News

LA MESA – Two east county students, Grossmont High School graduate Saoirse O’Boyle and El Cajon Valley High School graduate Marcus Matyos, received $2,000 college scholarships from Helix Water District at the district’s June 17, 2026 board meeting.

O’Boyle, who plans to major in psychology, was Mustering Petty Officer in Grossmont High’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps platoon, responsible for teaching new cadets and maintaining the platoon’s readiness. She received the Senior Naval Science Instructor Award for leadership and military knowledge, and the Distinguished Cadet Award for the highest grade-point-average in her platoon.

Matyos, who plans to major in business administration, was recognized as a Mission Fed Credit Union CIF San Diego Section Scholar Athlete in both football and basketball. He started his own business when he was 15 years old, painting address numbers on curbs to make homes easier to find for emergency services and deliveries. He successfully grew the business and taught his younger brother how to do it, too.

Helix scholarships are $2,000. The Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship was established upon his retirement in 1998, after serving as the district’s general manager for 19 years. Friedgen provided the seed money and the board and others contributed additional funding. The Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship was started by the Helix board in 1999 to honor Ms. Childs upon her retirement from the board and recognize the 20 years of service and leadership she had given to the district.

Applicants must live in the district’s service area, have excellent academic standing and excel in community service and extracurricular activities.

Helix Water District serves San Diego’s east county suburbs, treating water for 500,000 people and distributing water to 278,000 residents in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Mt. Helix, Spring Valley and other unincorporated areas.

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