Students of Promise Scholarship Dinner Scheduled for March 31
On March 31, twelve amazing high school juniors will be recognized as Students of Promise. Started in 2001, the Students of Promise Scholarship Program honors students who are attending school on a regular basis, showing responsibility and succeeding in school in spite of very challenging situations in their personal lives. On each high school campus, there are students who face extreme obstacles that could easily affect their performance at school, but somehow these students do not let challenges get in their way. Obstacles that students face include growing up in foster care, homelessness, poverty, critical illness, death of parents, drug addiction, gang affiliation, becoming a teen parent, and more.
According to Mike Flynn, Foundation Chairperson,
Each year, Foundation Directors read letters from school counselors and teachers about some extraordinary young people who have beat the odds. As we read these letters and learn what these students have faced in their young lives, we wonder how they found the strength to overcome so much. Their stories really are extraordinary. I encourage anyone who wants to be inspired by tremendous examples of overcoming adversity, please join us at this year’s dinner. I guarantee you won’t leave that night thinking about life in the same way.”
The Students of Promise award is given to students in their junior year to reward them for persevering through tough times and to encourage them to keep up the good work. When told they have been selected as a Student of Promise, most students say, “I never expected to be recognized for anything. I was just doing what I needed to do.” Upon graduation from high school, each Student of Promise is eligible to receive a $1,500.00 scholarship for college or technical school.
This year’s recipients are:
Kirstie Breshears - Gateway High School
Seaira Delgado - Gateway High School
Lewis Dutra - Clovis West High School
Hazael Gonzalez - Clovis High School
Gilberto Lerma - Buchanan High School & CART
Vanetta Mata - Clovis West High School
Sarah Mullin - Gateway High School
Sahana Ashok Nayak - Buchanan High School
Hailey Ricord - Buchanan High School
David Samuels - Clovis High School
Steven Smith - Clovis West High School
Samantha Wood - Clovis High School
The 2009 Students of Promise Scholarship Dinner will be held Tuesday, March 31, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at TorNino’s. Cost of the dinner is $40.00 per person. Reservations may be made by calling the Foundation office at 327-9090.