2025 Childress Family Foundation Scholarship Awardees
At the close of the 2024-2025 school year, the Childress Family Foundation Scholarship Committee selected four outstanding graduating seniors at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California to receive college scholarships of up to $10,000, recognizing the hard work they put in as student athletes and supporting their continuing education.
For the coming 2025-2026 academic year, the Josh Childress Scholarship recipients are: Elizabeth Simkins, Anniyah Littlejohn, Brandon Taing, and Izel Ramirez. Pictured with Josh Childress (center) below.
Izel Ramirez – Izel played Varsity tennis during her time at Mayfair High School, where she graduated as Valedictorian, and will be attending UCLA as a psychology major on a pre-medical track with the ultimate goal of becoming a clinical neuropsychologist.
The most valuable lesson I learned from being a student athlete was how to lead others with empathy and consistency—not by being bold or rash to stand out from the rest, but by being someone that others could rely on. I learned that being a good leader is about harnessing my knowledge and experience to cultivate an environment where weaknesses are opportunities to grow, not something to hide; an environment where members feel confident asking for help. That leadership lesson—of making the people around me feel valued, supported, and heard—is one I carry with me into every community I’m part of. – Izel Ramirez
Brandon Taing – Brandon was Captain of the tennis team, President of the Chinese Club and Treasurer of the Environmental Science Club at Mayfair High School and is heading to the University of California, San Diego to study civil engineering.
As a civil engineering major, education is my bridge, one that was built by my family’s sacrifices and gifted to me, and I intend to use this opportunity to continue building similar bridges for others. Moments like these always serve as a reminder to myself that being able to attend school and have such a strong passion for my sport is a privilege and I intend to use it. – Brandon Taing
Elizabeth Simkins – Elizabeth played softball at Mayfair High School and is heading to Abilene Christian University (ACU) to pursue a Bachelor Degree in Business Management with a minor in entrepreneurship. She plans to continue on to law school next and hopes to one day run her own family law practice.
One of the most important lessons that I learned as a student athlete has been that responsibility and accountability are key characteristics needed to be successful in the sport, but also in life. As a student athlete, I have learned to be responsible for myself and others as well as to be accountable for my actions. How much effort I am willing to put into my schoolwork as well as the practice on and off the field will determine how well I perform in the classroom and on the field. – Elizabeth Simkins
Anniyah Littlejohn – In addition to playing flag football and soccer, Anniyah owned and operated a salon shed, Anniyah’s Hair Haven, while at Mayfair High School. She is heading to Spelman College to study cosmetic chemistry.
Leadership and participation in school, especially sports, have shaped me into someone prepared and hungry to one day succeed as a leader in the chemistry and cosmetology industry. If sports has taught me anything, it has most importantly taught me to believe in myself. – Anniyah Littlejohn
“The Josh Childress Foundation has a strong commitment to improving the lives of youth. Through family, my commitment to education and athletics, I was able to live out my dreams and create new opportunities. A child cannot help the circumstances into which they are born, but a community can help uplift and encourage a child to become the best version of themselves. I want students to know that anything is possible and I believe that I have a civic and social responsibility to utilize my resources and influence to make the world a better place for the youth. The Josh Childress Foundation Scholarship was created to empower Mayfair High School student athletes to continue to strive for excellence on and off the court or field.” – Josh Childress
