The Sequoia Awards

It all started in 1990. A small group of civic leaders led by Pete and Paula Uccelli established The Sequoia Awards in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring volunteerism in Redwood City. The first Sequoia Awards scholarship was for $500. Since then, The Sequoia Awards has grown significantly thanks to support from local businesses, other nonprofits, and individuals in our community who understand the importance of an active and engaged citizenry. To date, we have distributed more than $2.4 million in scholarships. Our scholarships are based solely on the volunteerism of our honorees. Academics or participation in school-sponsored activities and athletics are not part of the criteria. In 2022, The Sequoia Awards distributed $210,000 to 21 students representing 6 local high schools and the middle college program. We named two Outstanding Students: Kenzy Mashraki from Woodside High School and Daniel Torres Aguilar from Everest Public High School. Each received a $30,000 scholarship. Additional honorees received scholarships ranging from $7,500 to $10,000.