LOS ANGELES — Two local high school girls had dreams come true on Wednesday when they received full-ride scholarships to Loyola Marymount University, at a gala breakfast honoring trailblazing women working in the entertainment industry.
The announcement came at The Hollywood Reporter’s 2022 Women in Entertainment event, where more than $1 million in scholarships were given to girls from local high schools. Recipients were part of a mentorship program that paired them with woman executives from across the industry.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Janelle Monae presented the first scholarship to Melany Gambino, a high school student who was paired with Netflix’s director of original film, Racheline Benveniste, in the mentorship program. The scholarship was sponsored by Best Buy.
“This truly means everything to me, and to especially women like us in the WIE (mentorship program) who come from underrepresented backgrounds,” Gambino said. “It’s very important for us to find outlets that will provide for us and give us a stronger pathway for us to create the future that we want.”
TikTok star Addison Rae presented the second scholarship, sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment, to Elizabeth Perez Lopez, who was mentored by Marie Sheehy, head of corporate communications at talent agency William Morris Endeavor.
“Marie has taught me so much about my voice and how to use the voice for the good of others,” Perez Lopez said. “She taught me that words really do have impact and that our choice of words can really reach people.”
More than 250 girls and 250 mentors have taken part in the Women in Entertainment program, supported by more than $12 million in scholarships. Mentors have included Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, Imax Entertainment president Megan Colligan, Netflix Global TV head Bela Bajaria and Disney General Entertainment Content chairman Dana Walden.
