First in Family College Readiness Program
Share Our Selves Celebrates Successful
Graduation Reception Honoring First in Family Scholars
Costa Mesa, CA (June 2, 2023) – Share Our Selves, an advocate for educational empowerment, hosted a memorable Graduation Reception on June 2, 2023, to celebrate the achievements of the First in Family Scholarship Program’s Class of 2023. The event, held at Norma Hertzog Community Center, brought together scholarship recipients and their families and local community leaders to honor the hard work and dedication of these exceptional students.
The Graduation Reception served as a platform to recognize the transformative impact of scholarships on the lives of students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. A total of 29 students from Back Bay High School, Costa Mesa High School, and Estancia High School were awarded scholarships as part of the First in Family College Readiness Program, which provides scholarships up to $1,000 to deserving recipients.
Beyond financial support, each scholarship recipient was also equipped with essential resources to facilitate their academic journey. This included a laptop, a backpack filled with school supplies, a toiletry kit, monetary gift cards for book assistance and living supplies, and a collegiate sweatshirt representing their new university.
The event featured inspiring speeches from Katrina Foley, Orange County Supervisor, and Manuel Chavez, Council Member Costa Mesa who shared their personal journeys of being first-generation college students. Heartfelt reflections were also shared by alumna guest speaker, Ileana Hernandez, a former scholarship recipient who is now a Share Our Selves team member. The event also included a special recognition of parents and family members who provided invaluable support to the scholars throughout their educational journey.
“The world is in front of you with possibilities and I want to personally wish you all the greatest of adventures and creating a wonderful life that you are building for yourself! Congratulations!” said Christy Ward, chief executive officer of Share Our Selves. “The Graduation Reception allowed us to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments and reaffirm our commitment to providing opportunities for first-generation students to succeed.”
We extend our sincere gratitude to our generous donors and sponsors who made this possible. Special thanks to Volcom for their donation of backpacks, providing our students with the necessary tools for success. Your support has made a significant impact on these students’ lives.
Congratulations to our 2023 First in Family College Readiness Program scholarship recipients:
BACK BAY HIGH SCHOOL
Gwendolyn Alvarado
Lizbeth Calderon
Luis Corrales
Brianna Fuentes
Sofia Loredo
Litzy Valadez
Nadia Vazquez
COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL
Kenya Bello
Dana Burgos
Kimberly Camacho
Ashley Gutierrez
Lyla Kibin
Emily Luna
Jay Nguyen
Milenka Ramirez
Kassandra Ramos
Dante Sandoval
Janine Thomas
ESTANCIA HIGH SCHOOL
Allison Alas Chacon
Suly Aidee Alvarez
Eric Angeles
Kim Camacho Pacheco
Perla Hernandez
Christina Leon
Siomara Nieto-Guadalupe
Luis Patricio
Ana Romero
Vanessa Ruiz Rivera
Isaac Tello