MOTHER OF FOUR HAS COME A LONG WAY.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community Columnist

In 1998, Veronica Macias was a Mexican national living in San Fernando. She had an eighth-grade education, four children and state aid to help her make a life for her family.

But on June 8, she was the keynote speaker at a completion celebration of the state Department of Education Careers in Early Childhood Project, administered by the Child Care Resource Center.

In the past three years, Macias finished her high school education, earned her Associate of Arts degree at Mission College, completed the requirement to become a child-care provider, received a teachers permit and in March she became a U.S. citizen.

She now works at Parthenia Court Child Care Center.

``It all happened so fast,'' said the mother of Luis 13, German 11, Neyva 10, and Maria 6, who explained that the resource center provided her with child care ``so I could get my education.''

For those considering taking on new challenges, she encouraged them to ``have faith, trust in yourself, set a goal, think about the future, continue your education and take advantage of the programs that are out there to help - and never give up.''

Several local exemplary students are recipients of scholarships.

Haverim B'nai Brith will award $500 scholarships for community service to seniors from Conejo Valley high schools Monday night at its monthly meeting.

The students are: Jessie Friedman, Newbury Park High; Gil Katz, Agoura Hills High; and Lauren Kim and Avi W. Rutschman, Oak Park High.

Grant High School students Lilit Papazian and Ariel Salazar have received $500 scholarships from the Sigue Corporation in San Fernando.

Michelle Tagle, a student at Bishop Alemany High School, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Foundation for Ashley's Dream, a group started in memory of a Troy, Mi., high school student killed by a drunk driver.

Two Taft High School students, Elaine Cooke and Jose L. Reyna have been awarded $1,000 scholarships by actor Tony Danza, in memory of former Taft High student Lamoun Thames who was slain while waiting for a bus at Winnetka Avenue and Ventura Boulevard in 1992.

Suzanne Lewis, a booster club member whose daughter, Sidnee, was a friend of Thames, said that Danza had been moved by the student's death and offers the scholarships in the student's memory. He has awarded the memorial scholarships since 1995.

At the 77th commencement of Marymount High School in Los Angeles, several young women from the Valley graduated with particular honors.

Amanda Cardenas received the Bank of America certificate of achievement in Spanish, and graduated with distinction in Science and Spanish.

Anastasia Ali, graduated magna cum laude and as an Advanced Placement Scholar. She earned Outstanding Recognition in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Grace Kiriakos graduated magna cum laude and will attend Oberlin College. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Each is a seal bearer in the California Scholarship Federation and all three live in Encino.

Retirement or vacation time doesn't mean the work will stop for two local teachers.

Van Nuys resident, and retired third-grade teacher, Gay Seltzer, has written a children's story that appears in the June edition of Highlights for children magazine.

Later this year, Brown publishing will print four educational storybooks written by Seltzer for kindergarten-age children.

And, first-year teacher, Jamie Wade, has been awarded a 2001 Founders Grant by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Calabasas resident will participate in the National Teachers' Forum to be held in Washington, D.C., in July.

She is a fourth-grade teacher at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran School in Northridge.

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