Eight students in Class of 2014 divide $150,000 in Broad Prize scholarships

Eight students from seven schools in the Class of 2014 divided the $150,000 in scholarship money received by San Diego Unified as a result of its nomination for the 2013 Broad Prize for Urban Education.

The students are: Dustin Nguyen of Crawford High School; Jake Brooks and Linh Ngo of Madison High; Nathanael Maracle from Pt. Loma High; Kevin Sibaja Allec, SciTech at San Diego High; Gerardo Perez, School of Business and LEADS at San Diego High; Tyler Wallake, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts; and Ari Krasner, University City High School.

The Broad Prize scholarship recipients attending four-year colleges or universities will receive up to a $20,000 award ($5,000 per year, paid out over four years). Students attending two-year colleges or vocational schools will receive up to a $5,000 award ($2,500 per year, paid out over two years). Awards are for undergraduate study only.

"Many excellent students applied and the program was extremely competitive this year. In a competitive scholarship program, not every student can receive an award," said Connie Baumgartner, Program Manager with Scholarship America Scholarship Management Services, which handled the selection process on behalf of the Broad Foundation.

The initial review and evaluation of applications was completed by Scholarship Management Services with careful consideration given to each student’s academic record and all other information including financial data provided on the application. An independent selection committee further reviewed application materials and selected recipients.

San Diego Unified was named by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation as one of the top for US school districts to demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement, while at the same time reducing achievement gaps across ethnic groups and between low-income and non-low-income students.

The $1 million Broad Prize is the largest education award in the nation. It recognizes urban school districts that demonstrate the strongest student achievement and improvement while reducing achievement gaps among low-income students and students of color.

Houston Independent School District won the prize in 2013, receiving $550,000 in college scholarships for high school seniors who will graduate in 2014. San Diego Unified, along with Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County, Calif., and Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina, will each receive $150,000 in college scholarships. There is no application process for the prize; the districts are selected by the Broad Prize committee and invited to participate.

When the announcement of the prize winner was made in September, 2013, Supt. Marten hailed the efforts of students and staff to create a climate of excellence in San Diego Unified.

"It was an honor to be recognized by The Broad Foundation," said Supt. Cindy Marten. "I am grateful to our team of employees who work every day in-and-out of the classrooms for our children. I'm excited for our students who will receive Broad scholarships."

Retired teachers help next generation with $1,500 scholarships

Retired teachers are still helping students, donating ten, $1,500 scholarships to members of the Class of 2014.

San Diego retired teachers -- members of the California Retired Teacher Association (CalRTA), Division 4 -- have presented the students with the scholarships at their schools' senior award assemblies.

The Scholarship Foundation of CalRTA Division 4 was established 30 years ago, with Division 4 over the years awarding more than $300,000 in scholarships to more than 300 seniors attending four-year universities.

The 2014 scholarship recipients are: Daniel Foster, Patrick Henry; Tiffany Fung, Pruess; Luis Gay, Point Loma; Analie Islas, Lincoln; Shayn Lozano, Serra;  Ashley Ly,  Hoover; Shatesha Morris, San Diego High School of Business and Leadership; Dustin Nguyen, Crawford; Vy Nguyen, Kearny High School of International Business; and Janelle Spikes, San Diego Metropolitan Regional and Technical.

High school seniors were judged on their academic achievement, school leadership, extra curricular activities, community/volunteer service, financial need, and work/home activities. The scholarship recipients have an average grade point of 3.92 and will be attending UC Berkeley, UCSD, SDSU, Tuskegee, Hampton University, and Brown. Their diverse areas of study include engineering, public health, environmental science, chemistry, Public policy, and criminal justice.CalRTA is proud of its scholarship program that recognizes deserving, hard-working, and intelligent young people.

Donations may be made to CalRTA Scholarship Foundation, Division 4 and mailed to Scholarship Foundation, Division 4, CalRTA, and P.O. Box 33421, San Diego, CA 92163-3421. For further information about CalRTA, contact Carol Patrick at carolclaytorpatrick@yahoo.com or http://div4.calrta.org.

Graduates receive college scholarships from San Diego Air & Space Museum and Convair Alumni Association

Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum

The San Diego Air and Space Museum's mission statement is to inspire young people to tackle the challenges of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics academic disciplines and to make-a-difference in the world through an innovative, adventurous spirit. To further this goal, the museum and Convair Alumni Association have selected 13 students in the San Diego region to receive scholarships. The scholarships are given annually on behalf of three Museum-administered scholarship funds: Bill Gibbs, R.A. "Ken" Rearwin and the Convair Alumni Association. To-date, 245 talented San Diego students have been awarded $672,000.

“I'm very proud there are many students studying math and science," said Donna Lilly, president of the Endowment Board at the Museum. "The U.S. really needs to keep up with the global market for math and science in the field of technology." "Every year we interview so many outstanding students," said Charles Pinney, member of the Endowment Board. "Their accomplishments are unbelievable."

Museum President Jim Kidrick commented, "These scholarship programs exemplify our intent to aid deserving students wanting to advance their education - our entire mission is really all about inspiring our next greatest generations to excel in their lives."

San Diego Unified School District graduates received the following scholarships.

Convair Alumni Association Endowment Scholars, 2013

• Tessa Adler, High School: Point Loma High School; Field of Study: Chemical Engineer (will attend Yale)
• Dana Christensen, High School: Clairemont High School; Field of Study: Social Sciences (will attend UCLA)

Each of the scholars submitted an extensive application listing academic achievement, extracurricular and/or community service activities, teacher recommendations, and an essay. They then were interviewed by a panel of judges to determine the final winners
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For more information please call (619) 234-8291 or visit www.sandiegoairandspace.org.

Point Loma High's Adler wins two Don Diego college scholarships

Source: Don Diego Scholarship Foundation

Tessa Adler

Point Loma High School senior Tessa Evangeline Adler is first on many levels. She graduates first in her class of 427 with a 4.85 GPA, garnering first-place awards in essay contests and in other academic and extracurricular pursuits. She is bound to earn many firsts at Yale, where she plans to major in Chemical Engineering on her way to a career in which she plans to unleash “the power and potential of engineering to promote peace and well-being across the globe.” And she will attend Yale on a Don Diego Scholarship Foundation $5,000 Fair Exhibitor scholarship augmented by the very first Don Diego Spanjian Family Foundation $5,000 scholarship awarded to the ‘best of the best’ of the four 2013 recipients.

The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the San Diego County Fair. The Spanjian Family Foundation scholarship honors Don Diego founder Robert Spanjian, who has served as Secretary-Treasurer since the Foundation’s inception in 1986.

Tessa and the other three 2013 scholarship recipients were recognized at the Don Diego Steve Miller Band Dinner and Concert Gala on June 15, 2013 at the Fair.

The news of the total $10,000 Don Diego award excited Tessa. She says, “Yale tuition is $60,000 per year, more than my family can afford. Yale is not offering me any aid. I save my earnings from working as assistant teacher at the Creative Dance Theatre, and I will hold a job at Yale as a research assistant. Nevertheless, my parents told me to anticipate taking out up to $100,000 in student loans over my four years.”

Tessa, a bright and lithe spirit, is a longtime Fair participant. She relates, “I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity for 15 years – since I was three! – to perform with Creative Dance Theatre and be part of the Fair’s tradition of spreading the San Diego sunshine.”

Tessa’s accumulation of volunteerism is diverse and immense, including Headstart, Habitat for Humanity, St. Vincent de Paul’s Homeless Shelter and San Diego River Watch. She has taken the initiative to find innovative ways to serve. She says, “Last summer, I wanted to make a difference internationally and also become fluent in Spanish, so I spent a month as an intern in Buenos Aires volunteering with orphaned children and the elderly. My first-hand view of the suffering experienced by people in poverty deeply affected me. I want to use my scientific research to benefit people in developing countries.”

At Yale, Tessa plans to major in Chemical Engineering (while learning Swahili and serving with Engineers Without Borders in Kenya) with an international focus. She believes, “Engineers stand at the intersection of science, technology and people.”

AP teacher Patrick McElhaney reports, “Tessa Adler is one of the top five students with whom I have worked during my 18-year career working with gifted students.”

Robert Spanjian says he is delighted to see the first Spanjian scholarship go to a person of Tessa’s high caliber. He says, “As a student and as a human being, Tessa is extraordinary. She sets a very high bar for future Spanjian recipients. My fellow Board members and I know Tessa will accomplish great things; for herself and for others.”

Tessa says she is still absorbing the reality of the combined $10,000 award.“The Fair is so much a part of my life. So is dance. I never dreamed that these two things would come together for me and lead not to one but two scholarships. The money makes a huge difference. I appreciate Don Diego’s confidence in me.”

For more information on the Don Diego Scholarship Foundation, visit their website. 

Jackie Robinson YMCA scholarships go to 11 District students

The Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, located in the Mountain View neighborhood less than a mile from Lincoln High School, has provided eleven San Diego Unified students with $1,000 scholarships.

The Jackie Robinson Tribute and Scholarship was established to honor the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. According to the organization's website, "since the first event in 1997, the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA has awarded over $100,000 to more than 150 students in Southeastern San Diego to help them pursue their dreams of higher education."

Receiving scholarships are: Jessica Aguilar, Limna Lio Hernandez, Natalia Shaw, Point Loma; Radhiya Bryant, Kristoff Liilliard, High Tech High International Charter; Lydiette DeJesus, Carolina Leon, Javier Mendez, Gompers Prep Academy Charter; Malcolm Foster, San Diego Met; Gabriela Mejia, Patrick Henry; Mayra Rodriguez, Lincoln.

For more information, see the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA website.

UCSD offers $40k scholarships at three schools

IN THE NEWS: Lincoln High joins charters Preuss and Gompers in receiving aide from university.

Online stories

• UCSD Chancellor's Blog»
• UCSD Create Blog»
• UT San Diego»

San Diego Met Senior Awarded Nordstrom Scholarship

San Diego Met High School senior Hannah Brown was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Nordstrom Scholarship Program, presented by Anita Crandall (pictured on right with Hannah), Nordstrom Diversity Affairs Director in the San Diego region. Students are selected on the basis of their academic accomplishments. The selection committee also looks for individuals who have a strong sense of community and humanity mixed with the desire to succeed in college and excel in life.

Crandall presented the scholarship to Hannah at a special assembly on Oct. 19. "For me personally Hannah demonstrated a determination to do something beyond what she ever thought was possible," Crandall said during the presentation. "She has a quiet strength that is refreshing and although I wasn¹t on the committee, I was cheering for her."

Since 1994, Nordstrom has awarded college scholarships to hard-working high school students from across the country. The company will award 80 scholarships of $10,000 in 2013. The scholarships are paid out in equal installments of $2,500 over four years to the college of the student¹s choice.

Selection criteria requires that high school juniors live in one of the 31 states where Nordstrom operates a Full-line or Rack store. Students who demonstrate outstanding community involvement and scholastic achievement are welcome to apply for the scholarship. Students must have an un-weighted cumulative GPA of 2.7 and must also be eligible to attend a four-year college or university in the United States during all years for which the scholarship is awarded.

Hannah has completed a number of academic internships while attending Met High School. Currently, she is an intern at 3 D Robotics working with hobby drones. She has been accepted to LeTourneau University in Longview, TX where she plans to major in Electrical Engineering.

For further information contact Principal Mildred Phillips at MPhillips@sandi.net or (619)388-2297.