2019 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Reedley high school
Odalis Banda
Nancy Cisneros
Angelica Cruz
Esveidy Ferreyra
Jose L. Ferreyra
Victor Ferreyra
Martha Godinez
Melissa Gomez
Carmen Hernandez
Daniela Lemus
Tania Garcia Lemus
Claudia Macias
Edith Martinez
Eduardo Martinez
Antonio Sandoval
madera high school
Leisha Aguirre
Yesenia Alcantara-Arias
Aleida Flores-Alonso
Karina Leon
Lizeth Martinez
Eileen Mejia
Maria Melgoza
Monica Nunez-Diaz
Maria Pimentel
Nancy Ramos
Liliana Rodriguez
Litzy Rodriguez
Rosa Maria Rodriguez
Araceli Salgado-Guzman
Antonio Sanchez-Ortiz
Joanna Vega
Beatriz Velasco-Hernandez
orange cove high school
Beatriz Garcia
Jennifer Hernandez
Ashley Herrera-Velasco
Kaylee Lopez
Itzel Martinez
Jacquelin Monroy
Evelyn Morales
Janeyra Quinteros
Jose I. Rodriguez
Gabriela Solorzano
Carla Zavala
select reflections from our 2019 graduates
Joanna Vega
MADERA HIGH SCHOOL
“Without knowing it, the day of my mother’s surgery became a marking point in my life. My mother’s surgery instigated an academic barrier in maintaining a 4.0 and triggered a financial crisis. I then became a leading financial provider by working extra hours in agriculture, picking berries and trimming trees. Apart from working in farm labor, I had to take up a majority of the household chores and cook meals on a daily basis to help relieve some stress off my mother’s shoulders. I was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA, even though I struggled to complete assignments because English is not my first language, and it is not even my second language. I can now speak Mixteco, Spanish, and English. Even though I am one of nine children, my parents always made sure to give each one of us their attention and love. I would often reassure my younger siblings that with the passion of Latina blood coursing through our veins we can get through anything.”
Joanna is pursuing a career in high school counseling at CSU, Fresno.
Janeyra Quinteros
ORANGE COVE HIGH SCHOOL
“For as long as I can remember, field work has always been a huge part of my life. I remember seeing how exhausted my parents looked after their long, hard day in the fields. As I reached 12 years old, I started working in the fields with my parents. I was very young but old enough to help out financially. At that time my parents were picking oranges and I had to learn quickly how to cut the oranges and how to empty my sack. A sack is 40 pounds, so I sweat a lot and go home very tired. I worked during weekends, holidays, and other days I didn’t have school. To this very day I work in the fields with my parents. The fields are my daily reminder as to why I have to do my very best in school. My dream is to attend a university and major in Psychology and later pursue my Master’s degree. I want to make my parents proud and serve as an inspiration to my siblings.”
Janeyra earned a 3.86 GPA and will major in Pyschology.
Melissa Gomez
REEDLEY HIGH SCHOOL
“The only thing harder than living with parents who are farm workers, is living with parents who are undocumented immigrants that constantly live their lives in fear. Growing up in a farm worker family is a very difficult thing, with constant struggles and pain. Growing up I hardly saw my parents and when I did they were always too tired to play with me. When I got older, I realized the sad truth about this world. Seeing my father’s hands always dirty and filled with cuts and seeing the blisters on my mother’s tired feet, made me realize the sacrifices they made for me. As a first generation college student, I want to be the reason to make their sacrifices worthwhile. I have and will always strive for greatness and will work harder every time.”
Melissa earned a 4.0 GPA and will major in Biology.