Esmeralda Figueroa, one of this year’s PEP scholars who earned a college scholarship from the Paramount Education Partnership, led the Pledge of Allegiance at the August 8 Paramount City Council meeting in honor of National Back to School Month. Esmeralda, a graduate of Paramount High School, will be attending UCLA in the fall. From left: Councilmember Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Mayor Isabel Aguayo, Esmeralda, Councilmember Brenda Olmos, and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.