The following is a submission from the Police Activities League.
Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) celebrated the academic achievements and future aspirations of local youth during its annual Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund Recognition Dinner on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at St. Monica’s Grand Pavilion.
The annual event brought together scholarship recipients, their families, community supporters, law enforcement representatives, and youth advocates to recognize 10 outstanding PAL students who received educational scholarships through the Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund. This year, PAL awarded more than $31,000 in scholarships to high school juniors and graduating seniors who demonstrated financial need, academic commitment, and a dedication to pursuing higher education.
During the evening, six graduating seniors shared their personal stories, reflected on their experiences with PAL, and discussed their plans after high school. This year’s recipients will continue their education at institutions including California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Long Beach; Santa Monica College; as well as other colleges and trade schools. Individual scholarship awards ranged from $1,500 to $6,000.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Hawene Alemayehu, Hiroshy Aguilar Aquino, Adrian Barajas, Branden Banks, Julian Gonzalez-Alfaro, Jasmin Morales, Gabriela Paniagua, Jose Perez, Kaleb Seyum, and Ricardo Torres.
Eighty percent of this year’s scholarship recipients live in Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood, underscoring PAL’s continued commitment to supporting youth and families in one of the city’s most historically underserved communities.
Since the scholarship program was established in 2002, Santa Monica PAL has awarded more than $475,000 in educational scholarships, helping reduce financial barriers for local students and their families. Many recipients are the first in their families to attend college, making these scholarships an important investment in educational opportunity, economic mobility, and the future of the Santa Monica community.
“The Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund continues to change lives by giving our young people the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams,” said Eula Fritz, Director of the Santa Monica Police Activities League. “These scholarships represent far more than financial assistance—they reflect the belief our community has in these students, their potential, and the bright futures that lie ahead. We are deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, and supporters whose generosity makes these opportunities possible year after year.”
The Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund was established through a generous gift from Ed Simmons and Standard Parking, together with Neil and Karen Carrey, in memory of Chris Carrey. Since 2002, the fund has provided scholarships for post-secondary education expenses to PAL members who meet academic and financial criteria, complete a competitive application process, and are selected by the Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund Committee.
The PAL scholarship awards honor the memory of Chris Carrey, who lived in Santa Monica for all 16½ years of his life. An outstanding student in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Chris was active in youth sports, excelled in tennis, played bass guitar, and dreamed of becoming a chef. He completed his community service with PAL, making it especially meaningful that scholarships helping PAL youth pursue higher education continue to be awarded in his name.
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