All posts by Mary Radovan

Jonathan Burgos

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Youth Organization – First Gen Scholars

Jonathan Burgos is Founder and Executive Director of First Gen Scholars, a 501(c) 3 whose mission is to provide superior support to underserved first-generation high school students in San Diego by navigating them through the college application process and mentor them throughout college towards a prosperous career.

Jonathan founded First Gen Scholars in 2019 with 26 students in South San Diego, expanding city-wide in 2020 to serve 78 students from 13 high schools and 11 different ethnicities.  In addition, he spent 15 years (primarily in City Heights through Cardinals Interact) creating a college essay-writing curriculum that helps applicants share their authentic stories.  Jonathan has helped hundreds of students get into some of the most elite colleges in the United States, with most students graduating with zero to little debt.

He attended UCSD and graduated with a degree in Sociology. It was there where he met his wife of 20 years, Laurie. They have two children, 13 year old Theo (a black belt) and 10 year old Penelope (a Girl Scout cookie selling machine!)  Jonathan considers his family his “why” as he does First Gen Scholars.  He was a first generation student himself and almost did not graduate college without the help and support from others.  This is what motivated him to start his own non-profit.

He says a personal health scare in 2015 and the current pandemic has taught him two things: to be appreciate everyday of his loved ones, and that “it is not about what I have, but what I have to give in terms of my heart, my time and my energy.”

Mia Harenski, Massey Pitts and David Oates were his sponsors.

Edward Abeyta

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Education – UCSD Extension

Edward Abeyta, Ph.D. is Associate Dean for Education and Community Outreach at UC San Diego Extension. He received a BA from the University of New Mexico, and M.Ed. from the University of San Diego, and his Ph.D. from Capella University. He is also a LEAD graduate.

Ed is a founding trustee of the Urban Discovery Academy K-8 and ID8 high school.  He is also president of the Urban Discovery Schools Foundation and recently completed his service as a member of the San Diego Youth Symphony board of directors.  He is the founder of the UCTV STEAM Channel and was the key architect in moving Sally Ride Science to UCSD.

Prior to joining UCSD Extension in 1995, Ed began his service at UCSD as a counselor for the Early Academic Outreach Program serving underrepresented students in San Diego high schools and later was assumed the role of Registrar and Director of Academic Services at UC San Diego Extension. He has been recognized from UCSD and the UC Office of the President for his involvement in staff diversity and development initiatives. In 2008 Edward was selected to a two year term as the Staff Advisor to The Regents.

He says he is looking forward to his service in Rotary and “this new chapter” in his life, and also contributing to our STEM committee.

His sponsors were Phil Blair, Mel Katz and Stephanie Saathoff.

Courtney Pendleton

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Credit Union – Community Relations

Courtney Pendleton is the Public Relations and Community Manager for Mission Federal Credit Union.

Courtney says it truly is a wonder that it has taken her so long to join the best Rotary Club in the world! Over the last few months, she has reflected on her “Rotary Ties” through the years: While in the PR agency world for nearly a decade, she found her passion for nonprofits and her first nonprofit client was Chris Sichel and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Fast forward to the first Rotary lunch she attended back in 2012 as Joe Craver’s guest (he and the late Bill Trumpfheller had hired her at the Red Cross, when she turned to staff from being a longtime PIO volunteer). She was fortunate to work alongside Bill Earley (former member), Wendy McKinney and Stan Hartman with her Red Cross work. Courtney then moved over to the YMCA where she worked closely with Michael Brunker, all-along the way meeting Wendy Urushima-Conn who gave her a nudge to finally try out Rotary.  She says Rotary seems to be that final missing piece that would tie all of her worlds together.

Courtney grew up in Orange County and moved to San Diego to attend SDSU where she received a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.  She met her husband, Kevin, at SDSU and they have 2 young children, Madison and Jake.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Wendy McKinney and Chris Sichel were her sponsors.

Nickolas Wohlman

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Software – Sales

Nickolas Wohlman is an Associate District Manager in Sales & Consulting for ADP. He was recently awarded the company’s Rookie of the Year Award.

Nick grew up in North Dakota, where both of his parents were also Rotarians. He says he has fond memories of going to community service events with his parents and a lot of family friends also from Rotary. When he became a freshman in high school, he instantly joined Interact. Nick moved to California when he was 16 and found out that his new high school didn’t have an Interact Club, so he started one with the help of the local club his mom had just joined. He was Interact president for 2.5 years and grew the club to over 40 members! He also attended RYLA and was a member of the SDSU Rotaract Club for all 5 years.

Nick graduated from SDSU with a BS in Business Marketing. He is also currently the youngest member of San Diego Rotary at the age of 24.

David Oates, Michael Gordan and Jordan Maharaj were his sponsors.

Bob Flynn

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Real Estate Sales-Residential, Additional Active

Robert “Bob” Flynn is a realtor (HomeSmart Realty West), lawyer, and ADR Neutral (Mediator & Arbitrator). When asked what he does, he replies “I am a lawyer who sells houses.”

He is originally from Boston where he practiced law for over 40 years.  He and his wife, Mary, raised 5 children in the town he grew up in (so change didn’t come easy).  They’d still be in Boston, except they were invited to follow 2 of their sons out here to San Diego to go into the real estate business with them.  He hasn’t looked back since and loves San Diego!

Why Rotary?  Bob says that his high school in Boston, Boston College and Boston College Law School inculcated his desire to do things for other people so he would love to give back to the San Diego community.

David Oates, Amy Myers and Jules Taggart were his sponsors.