Student Spotlight: Alex Delperdang

Alex Delperdang was extremely honored to learn that he secured a scholarship to continue his studies as an El Camino College music major. A beneficiary of El Camino’s Norma Kayser Memorial Scholarship Endowment for the Arts, Delperdang won a $2,000 award to help pay for college fees and supplies. He soon found out that this was only the beginning.

The aspiring musician was awarded additional funds to purchase a new French horn, the first he’s ever owned.

“At first, I was just shocked, as in, ‘Wait, are you serious?’ I was so grateful; I can’t believe the generosity of this gift,” said Delperdang, who has been playing the French horn for seven years, since he first picked up the instrument in middle school. “I have been borrowing instruments all this time, and now I have one of my own. I still can’t believe it.”

Delperdang originally planned to transfer to California State University, Fullerton in the fall to major in music performance with a concentration in French horn, but decided to defer his admission for one year since the university announced virtual class instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Delperdang also received the Phyllis Hausman Loeb Scholarship, a $2,500 award sponsored by the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon. He is one of more than 470 students who were awarded scholarships for 2020-21 by the El Camino College Foundation Scholarship Program. More than 30 additional scholarships will be awarded this summer, bringing the total amount to over $600,000.

“These scholarships mean a lot to me,” he said. “It helps me because now I do not have to work so much to pay for school. I can really focus on my classes. El Camino is a great place; I love it. There are so many interesting people and so many outstanding instructors in my major and outside my major. I have loved getting to know everyone.”

Delperdang is working toward a career as a studio musician and a member of a professional orchestra. He’s had many opportunities at El Camino to play with a variety of musicians with the college’s jazz band, concert band, and orchestra. He even sings in the chorale. Being able to explore many musical interests has been a highlight of his time at El Camino so far; his professors have made a huge impact on his experience.

“El Camino is full of amazing people, and professors Joanna Medawar Nachef and Dane Teter have been so helpful and taught me so much about music and performing,” he said. “And the fact that they helped me with finding scholarships and my own French horn is indescribable. I will never forget what they did for me.”