Ballona Creek Renaissance recently presented Awards of Excellence to Emma Kurihara, Priya Patel, Yvonne Ball, and Zacky Ezedin -- three Culver City High School students. The four students were honored for their longtime volunteer contributions to Ballona Creek Renaissance’s work on behalf of community and environment. Each received a personalized, illustrated and framed certificate and a $250 check.

Ballona Creek Renaissance is a Culver City-based non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating the long-term renewal of Ballona Creek and its watershed. Several times each month, Ballona Creek Renaissance organizes volunteer opportunities to help keep Ballona Creek clean and healthy. The next Creek Cleanup, for example, meets at Centinela Avenue on Saturday, July 27, from 9 am to noon. For more information, go to Ballona Creek Renaissance's website.