Lizette Cardona is pursuing a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology. The degree will allow Lizette to pursue a career on issues present in the community that are within her interest. Her interests primarily are to work with individuals who are struggling with speech disorders. Her education has prepared her to learn a lot about the field and has given her the outmost confidence. Being bilingual in Spanish and English, Lizette is eager to serve the underprivileged areas in the Salinas Valley. Her master’s program is preparing her for a gratifying career working with a multiculturally diverse population.

Jessica B. Rodriguez comes from a single family, low-income home. She has worked hard to have straight A’s all throughout school. She has been class president for 2 years and has played basketball for 6 years. She has led her team to a championship after putting in a lot of hard work for many years. She is majoring in Data Science and hopes to become a data scientist. Her goal is to work at a job where she is very passionate of what she’s doing and somewhere where she loves working at.

Minor: Chicana Studies & Art Education

Antonia Guerrero Sanchez is currently a fourth year Art major with a double minor in Chican@ Studies and Arts Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is from the Central Coast, specifically from Soledad, California. She will finish her undergraduate degree in June 2023. She hopes to become an Art Teacher and be able to teach in her local community in Soledad. In addition, she hopes to become a gallery owner where her students will be able to showcase their artwork to the community. She wants to be an Art Teacher because in her hometown there are not many resources where students feel comfortable being creative, expressing themselves, or having a safe space without the judgment of others. She desires to be able to create a safe environment for students and give them access to the resources that she learned at UCLA.

Juan Bravo is a 2021 graduate of Salinas High School with an interest in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has a passion for sports, especially soccer and volleyball. He feels comfortable being close to home and being able to live with his parents while attending college. He hopes to invest into the transportation industry in the future. Receiving the scholarship will allow him focus on his education. 

Brandon Isaac Escalante Cisneros is a 2020 graduate of North Salinas High School. He attained his Associate Degree in Kinesiology from Hartnell College this past spring 2022. He will continue his educational career to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from California State University, Monterey Bay. His career goal is to become either a physical education teacher, athletic trainer and/or physical therapist’s assistant for a school or an organization in Salinas. Brandon hopes that in pursuing one of these careers, he can create awareness of the importance of having a healthy and vibrant lifestyle. 

Minor: Psychology 

Xabier Espinoza is a first-generation student starting his fourth year at CSUMB. Xabier will major in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology. He has volunteered in the Kinesiology department in school, specifically with Exercise is Medicine On Campus. He also volunteers at local hospitals with the Physical Therapy department. He is currently a participant in the EOP program, which has provided him with guidance and support during his educational journey. His career goal is to become a Physical Therapist. In the future he considers pursuing enrollment in a master’s program to obtain a Doctor of Therapy Degree. This is his second time receiving this scholarship and is very thankful for the help in his education.

Valeria H. Guapo is a Liberal Studies major and is currently a transfer student at CSUMB. Her goal is to become an elementary school teacher and eventually transition to becoming a high school teacher. Starting her educational journey during the pandemic allowed her to learn that education is equally as important remotely and on campus. Receiving this scholarship motivates her to maintain good grades and GPA. 

Jose R. Alfaro is a business major with future goal of becoming an educator. Jose wants to become a positive role model in his community and be the best father he can be to his 7-year-old son. Through his educational career he wants to show his son the importance of education. He wants to leave a mark in this world and make a change one student at a time. His dream is not only to help others but to be more than a teacher to his students. 

Jeremy Samples is a 2016 graduate of North Monterey County High School and a 2019 graduate of Hartnell College. Jeremy continues his educational journey into the Master of Education plus Secondary Teaching Credential Program with the intention of teaching history locally at his old High School. He currently works as a substitute teacher and as the coach for the Head Boys’ JV Basketball team. Due to his positive experience with teachers and coaches during his high school education, Jeremy plans to empower kids to choose a positive path in life. 

Cecilia Regalado Diaz’s goal is to pursue a career in agriculture plant and soil science at CSUMB. She grew up at El Cerrito Townhomes and always considered it a place to call home. Everyone who has worked there has made an impact on her life along with CHISPA’s summer activities as a child, free lunches, to guitar lessons as a teen and even Zumba classes as a young adult.  She is forever grateful to be part of the legacies CHISPA builds within their communities. The scholarship will allow her to continue to pursue her educational goals. 

Evelyn Valadez will be starting her junior year at CSUMB and is a recent Spring graduate of Hartnell College. She is a business major and throughout her educational journal has learned to network, learned the fundamentals of production, marketing, and so much more. Her parents’ have motivated her to continuously build a strong work ethic and be successful due to their drive and resilience. 

Gifsell Andalon is a Hartnell College graduate who transferred to CSUMB . She will major in Psychology with the goal to become a Physical Therapist.

Her volunteer experience is with Christine Marie’s Star Riders, which cares for disabled attendees and horses in a therapeutic and recreational way. That experience sparked Gifsell’s interest in pursuing physical therapy.

She hopes to help her community grow by creating programs free of cost to disadvantage people or those in need.

Brandon is majoring in Kinesiology. His interest in the field grew when he enrolled in Sports Medicine in his senior year in high school He participated in Cross Country and Track and Field in high school.

Brandon plans to transfer to a four-year university, either SJSU or CSUMB. He would love to support the Salinas Community which in school and after graduation..

Maria Elena A. Garcia graduated as a Registered Nurse in May 2020 and now is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She hopes to work in acute care in an emergency or operating room.

Maria has volunteered Flying Samaritans, which is like Doctors Without Borders. She traveled with surgeons to Mexico, providing them with translation services and assisting as a scrub nurse. She also volunteered with an international program called Alight, which provides nursing services to people experiencing poverty. She also volunteers with a local organization in Salinas called Victory Mission which assists the homeless population.

One of Maria Elena’s dreams is to keep serving the underserved populations.

Alondra Catalan received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Career and Life Planning from Chico State. Currently, she is in the School of Psychology Master’s Program at CSUMB.

Her mission is to help reduce the disproportionate representation of minorities in special education and to empower families, employing various channels, especially education.

Alondra plans to work as a school psychologist so that she may be able to help parents, teachers, and administrators

Jazmin is a first-generation college student who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a minor in Biological Sciences. She plans to transfer to a four-year university in the Spring of 2022.

Her career goal is to pursue a medical degree career in family medicine or internal medicine.

Her vision is to be able to provide affordable healthcare to marginalized communities in the Salinas Valley.

Alice Marple is pursuing a degree in Child Development. Her career objective is to become a teacher’s aide. She became interested in the field as she is a mom of four children, and she would volunteer at her children’s classrooms.

She has a passion for helping others, and being a teacher seems the place where she would be the happiest.

Ali Mendez is a first-generation college student attending Hartnell College. Her plan is to transfer to UC Davis or Texas A&M University to complete her BS with plans to attend vet school after graduation.

After finishing her education, Ali plans to purchase land to establish a home clinic that also focuses on fostering animals. In addition, she plans to travel to locations where there is no access to veterinarian services.

Andrea Tamayo is a psychology major at Hartnell College.

After finishing with her education, she plans to participate in research and studies to help young adults with their mental health. In addition, she wants to integrate herself into the health system as a counselor so that she may assist the youth make healthier lifestyle choices.

Growing up, I learned that being educated and having knowledge is something that no one can really take from you.

Attending Hartnell College after high school made me realize there is still so much to learn. My first semester taught me a lot already, and that made me even more hungry for education. This inspiration is why I’m leaning towards becoming a teacher when I finish college.

I want to show other students that there is a lot more to grasp from the world that they think.

My first semester of college taught me how time consuming each class is. The professors do not care if we have tons of assignments from other classes. They just care about their class.

Full time students, on the other hand won’t have time to focus on working a job. I was lucky enough to get help from financial aid, but when you do the math, the books alone are super expensive.

I live 35 miles away from the main campus, and transportation can be expensive.

That is why, when the opportunity for a CHISPA scholarship came around, I tried my hardest to take advantage of it. Thank you for the scholarship.

Thank you for your generosity in funding the CHISPA Private Fund Scholarship. I am very honored to be the recipient of this award.

I concluded my time at Hartnell College with a GPA of 3.2. I have transferred to California State University Sacramento to work toward a career in criminal investigation.

My parents did not have the opportunity to earn a high level of education. They have always worked so hard as parents to try and give us everything necessary to continue our education. They have taught me to work hard for a successful future.

I have seen the struggles my parents have gone through, and I know getting an education would change a lot of things. I want to have a job that I enjoy and to be able to have a consistent income that would help me go through tough situations.

While attending school, I have helped my community by participating in city events such as parades and festivals. I have coached the boys’ soccer team at Chalone Peaks Middle School in King City. I have also helped my local catholic church when in need during catechism classes.

Receiving this Scholarship motivates me to strive for more challenges, concluding with the completion of my bachelor’s degree. I look forward giving back to the community when I begin my career. I thank you for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goals.

I want to further my education by attending Hartnell College, creating a solid foundation for my career. I am very eager to achieve financial independence from my family.

I would like to major in computer science. Ultimately, my goal is to work as a computer programmer or a cybersecurity analyst.

My school and supporting programs have always motivated me to attend college. This year, I started to take AP Computer Science in high school to venture into the major. This class has helped me understand a portion of what is to come with the career.

The Migrant Education Program inspired me to continue my education. During my freshman year, the Migrant Program granted me the opportunity to attend beginner coding classes. We were taught code in different languages such as Script and Python. We also went on a field trip to Google and Microsoft. Participating in this Migrant Education program also helped me decide my major by granting me first-hand experience.

Being a first-generation college student, I have always been inspired to achieve the goals my parents could not dream about.

Coming from a low-income family has limited the financial opportunities I have. My older brother is a full-time student at CSUMB. He is dependent on my parents to pay for his tuition and general cost.

As a result, money is tight in my household. My parents cannot afford tuition for me at many universities or colleges with the cost of my brother’s education.

This scholarship will help me get the financial burden off my family and myself. This will help me focus on my studies instead of finding ways to pay for my education.

As a first-generation student applying to college, I had no one to guide me through the process. My parents’ highest level of education is the equivalent of high school in Mexico. They had no idea how the American system worked.

Counselors offered little support because my school’s resources were limited. Nevertheless, I tasked myself with the challenge of finding other resources that could help me with my college applications.

Applying to programs such as Gear Up and ETS proved to be pivotal. These programs guided and supported both my academics and college applications, thereby helping me get accepted into college.

Living away from my family has become particularly challenging for my as we are very close. Sometimes I find myself missing them and feeling the need to see them. Nevertheless, knowing that I am making them proud by pursuing a higher education keeps me going.

My financial situation has been a challenge for the past three years. My financial aid does not entirely cover all my student fees.

The CHISPA Scholarship helps cover thing like books. I know that by continuing to work hard in school, I will be able to overcome this financial struggle.

This past year has been full of new and rewarding experiences but has also had its challenges. One of my biggest challenges was being able to balance all my schoolwork with school activities.

Particularly I struggled with ENVS 332 (Intro to GIS/GPS) and ENVS 350 (Quantitative Field Methods). ENVS 332 was difficult for me. I learned how to use ArcGIS, which is a complex program used to analyze and visualize data through maps. I invested a lot of time, effort, and asked many questions to ensure that I understood the course material.

Similarly, ENVS 350 was also challenging because we learned how to use R studio. Using R studio, we analyzed data we collected in the field and performed statistical analysis.

It was difficult to learn the many codes necessary for programing the statistical models. I found myself incredibly frustrated when they did not work or resulted in errors. However, I did not let this stop me. I asked both my professor and peers for help whenever I was confused. My efforts paid off when I earned an -A in both courses.

In fact, one of my greatest achievements this past year is obtaining an internship that involves doing GIS work.

Being involved on campus has been an important part of my college journey. The first organization that I joined at CSUMB was Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA). I became officer as a freshman because I am passionate for what the organization stands for.

MeChA advocates for the rights of the Latinx people and fight for their presence in higher education institutions. More recently we have also become more inclusive as an organization and work to advocate for all students at CSUMB.

We host Raza Day, which is a leadership conference for local high school students. Officers and faculty work together to develop workshops for the conference that revolve around college admission, college life, financial aid, and Latinx Culture.

Through the conference, we hope to encourage students of Latinx background to pursue higher education and embrace their roots by giving them the tools necessary.

Last year CSUMB housing put in place an $800 fee for those staying on campus over winter break. Some residential advisors (RAs) tried to protest and stand up for their residents, but they were silenced. As an organization, we thought that this situation was unjust and decided to support the RAs and their residents.

With the support of the Service-Learning Institute, we organized a rally in front of the housing office so we as students could voice our opinions. Our joint efforts paid off a few days later when housing waived the winter fee. Being part of MEChA has been an amazing opportunity to bring social justice not only for my community but also for the rest of the students at CSUMB.

This past semester I decided to join the Nu Alpha Kappa (NAK) fraternity chapter at CSUMB. I knew that joining NAK would provide a support system here on campus, networking opportunities, professional development skills, and many volunteering opportunities.

I wanted to make the most out of this new opportunity, which is why I decided to run for chapter secretary. Being secretary requires me to have good organization and time management skills. I make the agendas for meetings, send the minutes, and manage the email. I reach out to other officers and collect any reports that they have. It is important that I create and submit the agenda in a timely manner to have a successful and productive meeting.

Aside from gaining professional development, being part of NAK has also given me many opportunities to volunteer with the community. One of the most memorable experiences was preparing Thanksgiving meals to give out to the homeless in Salinas. We took the meals we had prepared to Chinatown and offered a plate to everyone we could.

It was heartwarming being able to bring them some joy during the holidays and see the excitement in their eyes when we gave them food. Moreover, another memorable experience was volunteering at the Salinas shopping tour. As a volunteer, I got the opportunity to take a kid from a low-income community to go buy clothes for the holidays.

Alexis was really excited picking out his new clothes. He was so excited that he put on the sweater I bought him right after we paid. Such experiences in which I am able to help and learn from the community have been my favorite part of joining Greek life.

During my sophomore year, I was a math and science tutor for students from Seaside High School. This gave me and insight as to what the field of teaching requires.

It always made me happy when I could help my students better understand what they were learning, especially those who have a language barrier.

This year I worked as an intern at the Watershed Environments and Ecology lab, doing ArcGIS work. We collect GIS data online and in the field and then analyze and use the data to build maps and online applications for Cal Fire.

The maps and applications we build display road conditions and resources necessary for firefighters to be prepared in the case of a fire.

After graduating from CSUMB, I would like to do research involving conservation and obtain my master’s and PhD degrees. After completing graduate school, I would like to teach at a university and reach students who like me share a passion for science and the environment.

My last year here at CSUMB will a time in which I will grow as an individual and develop more skills that will help me in my future career. The CHISPA scholarship is be a great resource which will help me in unfolding as a student and reaching my goals.

I am 18 years old, and I have completed my first year at California State University, Monterey Bay. I am the oldest of three children and the first person in my family to attend a four- year university. I graduated from King City High School last year and participated in the EOP summer bridge program at CSUMB.

My current aspiration is to inspire my younger siblings to achieve higher education, whether by way of a university, community, or a vocational route. We are a low-income family and unfortunately, my desire to attend school is a financial hardship for my family. This CHISPA scholarship is a great financial help to fund my college experience at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Academically, I performed well in high school, receiving mostly A’s and B’s

As a transition into college, I attended the summer bridge program through EOP and was quite successful. I started the semester off with a 4.0 GPA. It is very important for you to know that I have a learning disability. I first had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in elementary school which later changed to a 504 plan.

As a college student, I receive help from Student Disability Resources on campus. I attend tutoring services from the CLC between classes, along with studying on my own. My accommodations have helped me with note-taking, tests, quizzes, and writing my essays. It has also helped me to improve and maintain my grades.

My community service experience in high school was phenomenal. I earned over 170 community service hours within my junior and senior years. I helped the Mustang Bench, our high school booster club, with their fireworks booth each summer. I assisted with helping our local middle school color-run event, worked the concession stands at our high school basketball games and helped the Mustang Bench serve food at their annual golf tournament.

During my senior year, I filmed our Varsity football home and away games. Due to the amount of community service hours I completed, I received the King City High School Community Service Award.

I have participated in many activities during high school including different sports, leadership, and yearbook club. I have played football, wrestling, and track and field. I played football for four years, from my eighth-grade year to my junior year of high school. Then, I filmed games during my senior year because of the love I have for the sport.

I participated in track and field for three seasons from my sophomore year to my senior year. It is a sport that I grew to love. Within track and field, I had the role of a captain, was viewed as a leader, and had the responsibility for taking charge of the team.

I also took a leadership class for two years in my junior and senior years. Participating in the in the yearbook publication, taught me about procrastination and meeting deadlines.

A personal was obtaining the 3.5 Honor Roll both in middle and high school. This would always make my mother happy.

Another personal achievement was earning the Coach’s Award in my 2018 season of Track and Field and being named Captain during my second year. I was also awarded the Pacific Coast Athletic League Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team during my last season of track.

Outside of athletics I participated in Boy Scouts and achieved the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. I was on my way to earning the rank of Star, Life, and had aspirations to reach the Eagle Scout rank, but my time in Scouts ended early due to complications with my health, especially trying to recover from my knee surgery.

As a CSUMB student, I am majoring in Kinesiology and would like to pursue a career in the medical field or sports medicine. I would like to take the Exercise Science route for a career as a Physical Therapist or a Coach.

I want to help my hometown by working at a rehabilitation center, hospital, or become a coach at King City High School. I would love the opportunity to give back to my community and inform the athletes of the ways to improve their athletic abilities while avoiding injuries.

There have been many obstacles that I have overcome in my eighteen years of life, including the loss of our home and sports injuries. During my eighth-grade year, my family lost our home and all of our belongings in a house fire in King City. While we lost all of our tangible things, pictures, clothes, school papers, and awards, thankfully no one was harmed.

Through the loss, our family still had each other. Although my younger siblings and I were terrified, and my parents tried to stay strong for us, we grew stronger as a unit and learned a valuable life lesson; it taught me to be happy with what we have and take nothing for granted.

Being a first-generation student in my family there has been a lot of expectations of me. My parents worked so hard their entire lives so my sisters and I would not have to suffer financially.

Yet, obstacles continue to grow as we can barely make ends meet. This has put a lot of pressure for me economically. It has been a struggle to finish my undergraduate studies because at the time that I was finishing up school my younger sister was entering college.

My parents had to find ways to pay for both of our schools. In the end, it was inevitable, and I had to take out loans. Throughout my undergraduate years, I worked part-time while going to school full time.

The fear of being in debt almost stopped me from finishing my degree. Nevertheless, the loans were a big help in paying for school. The little that my parents had leftover went towards the food and school supplies I needed.

Now that I have completed my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Justice Studies, I want to pursue my Masters and to obtain my license as a clinical social worker .I intend to go back to my community and put my new knowledge and skills into practice.

Because both of my younger sisters will be working on their undergraduate degrees while I am in graduate school, I wondered if graduate school was worthwhile, considering all the debt that I would accrue and the minimal financial help I would receive.

My parents encouraged me to apply regardless of the financial obstacles because higher education would open more opportunities as well as knowledge in the field that I am passionate about.

My interest in Psychology and Social Work grew, but it was not until I started working at my current job at Cherish Too, where I supervise visits between parents and their children who have been put into foster care, that I knew what path to take. Social work was the combination of what I had studied and a career that was both challenging and rewarding.

I have been certified in QPR which is a suicide prevention class and a Mental Health Aid class. I became connected to my community through my job. It gives me a great sense of joy knowing that I have impacted my clients in some way.

I keep learning every day about my community, a place I grew up in, about all of the services that are provided for those in need.

I enjoy being exposed to different places where I can learn something new. Through my job, of supervising visits between parents and their children, I saw that the children struggled to be heard so I decided to volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to better understand the system. Being a CASA has been a rewarding experience for the past two years.

Through school, I have become involved with the Master of Social Work Student Association. The student association has a lot of good ideas about collaborating with other professions. This is something that is of interest to me so I can gain experience with people from other fields.

I am proud that that I recently became an ambassador for Title IX/DHR for CSUMB. As an ambassador, I will be involved in spreading awareness of what Title IX is and how it protects students from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. I am also proud that for the first time I will study abroad – in Norway.

I have not had the privilege of going to another country due to money. I decided that the class I will take during my time in Norway will be beneficial because I will be learning about the Nordic model of social welfare across Scandinavia. I hope to gain knowledge on how Nordic countries define the profession of social work and view the nature of social problems as well as meeting peoples’ needs.

My strong work ethic and determination comes from the hard work of my parents and my sisters. I learned that you have to work hard for what you want in life especially coming from a low-income family.

As the oldest, I witnessed the obstacles my family had to go through but, thanks to this, it made me resilient in the face of the challenges I had to face. From a young age, I have always helped my parents by working.

These side jobs have helped pay the bills and pay for our school supplies. For a couple of years, we sold things at the flea market. Eventually, we stopped going because my parents were getting older and it was getting tough on them. Going to the flea market made me admire the sacrifices my parents did for my sisters and me to have a better life. With the help of financial assistance like the CHISPA scholarship, I hope to alleviate my worries about money so I can focus all of my energy in learning new material/skill sets in the States or abroad.

With any masters’ program, it will be hard, but I am determined to overcome obstacles that come my way. As a first-generation student, I want to show my sisters that, even against all the odds there is still a way to achieve higher education. Pursuing my masters has been a dream and I intend to make that a reality.

For some reason, I find it very difficult and strange to talk about the things I have accomplished and the things I have achieved in my life so far. Whenever I reflect on my accomplishments, I find it very difficult to not think about my parents. But the truth is that anything I succeed in is not just my accomplishment, it is our accomplishment. I mention my parents whenever I talk about my personal and academic achievements because in order to get a better sense of who I am it is important to mention where I come from and what drives and inspires me.

My parents came to the United States as young parents with the intent to provide a better life for their children. The years and sacrifices my parents made cannot go unnoticed or unrewarded. For that reason, I have worked and will continue to do what I can to succeed to prove that all their sacrifices were not in vain. As the oldest sibling in my family, I feel a great sense of responsibility to clear the path towards education for my younger sisters.

Like 50,000 other college students in the United States, I am undocumented. Being undocumented never held me back from accomplishing or striving for the goals that I had set for myself at a very young age. I am a firm believer that actions are a lot stronger than words .

My parents have always supported and motivated me in my academic career, being the first in my entire family to attend college gives me enormous pride and a sense of responsibility to succeed.

Their life in the United States has not been easy, having to work physically demanding jobs such as agricultural work, restaurant kitchen occupations, or even car washing services. As demanding or unstable some of their jobs have been throughout my life, they always made sure my sisters and I had a roof over our head and food on the table.

There have been times when I have doubted myself and others time where I have wondered whether all my hard work and sacrifices would all pay off in the end.

Now more than ever I question my fate, particularly under a Trump presidency. Questions such as what will happen if at any given time I am stripped from my DACA status, which is an executive order started by the Obama administration in 2012 which allows certain undocumented students such as myself, who entered the country as minors, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and a work permit.

Without my DACA status, I would no longer be able to work legally in the country and could be at risk of deportation. Losing my job would mean I would no longer be able to fund my college education. The fear of what could possibly happen is a constant burden. This fear is something I try to overlook in an attempt to not let it fog up my vision of my overall goals.

However, as much as I try to deviate my thought from the matter, I have come realize that it is a legitimate fear, and my future and the future of thousands of students like me could face obstacles in the near future.

Until recently, I hesitated to share my story, mostly because of fear. Then, I realized the importance of being able to tell my story. I understand the significance it would have to others who are in a similar situation such as many of the students I serve.

In May 2018, I graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) I am currently in the School Psychology Masters Program at CSUMB. Graduating from college was one of our greatest accomplishments. I say our because I definitely did not do it alone. My family’s support and encouragement are what allowed me to continue when all the odds were against me and I felt discouraged. Now that I have embarked on a new journey to obtain my master’s degree, I know that I have a strong support system and we will accomplish this new journey together.

I have always had a love for education for as long as I remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I always felt that for the type of person I am it is the best way I could help my community. While I attended Hartnell College during my undergrad years I heard of California Mini-Corps and knew I had to be a part of it. California Mini-Corps is a statewide program designed to provide direct instructional services for migrant students grades k-12. Mini-Corps allowed me to work with students with a migrant background and serve as a positive role model.

I understand the significance of having someone to look up that you are able to identify with because I was in their position at one time.

In many of the schools I worked in I served as a connection between parent and teacher because of language barriers. This made me realized how that disconnect between parents and teachers impacts a student’s education. In some cases, the parents seem to distance themselves from the school community. I understand this because I grew up with parents that did not always feel comfortable being around school functions or activities because many of my teachers only spoke English and my parents only spoke Spanish. Being able to help my students’ parents become more involved in their kids’ academic life has helped me realize the importance of communication between parents and the whole education community.

Throughout my experience with Mini-Corps, I have encountered various situations where I felt like I was unable to help one of my students because the problem was no longer in my control or expertise. I felt helpless, and I felt as if I was letting these kids down. Not just any kids, kids that looked up to me and confided in me.

That is when I realized I wanted a career where I would be able to do more for these students, parents and the school community as a whole. I continued to work for Mini-Corps but I became more aware of all the different components of the education community. School psychology is a perfect fit for me because it allows me to work with students and their families to assure students receive the best available education and help parents feel empowered to advocate for their students.

The school psychology program at CSUMB was designed to train fully certified school psychologists who are trained to work with English language learners and Migrant students. I knew that this would program was the best option to help me become the school psychologist I want to be – one that can meet the needs of my students and help them succeed academically and in life.

This CHISPA scholarship allows me to obtain my master’s degree. I am more than willing to put in the work and passion to achieve this, however, funding my educational career has been difficult and the support would be more than appreciated and will not be taken for granted.

Attending college and now attending graduate school has definitely not been easy. There are many days when I doubted myself and wanted to quit. Despite the obstacles I have faced throughout this journey, I am so grateful and appreciative of all the opportunities and support I have had along my journey.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to break my family cycle of not reaching for higher education. Reaching higher education felt impossible for me, a young female immigrant from a low-income family, and with parents with no more than a 2nd-grade educational level.

However, I overcame many obstacles and continue to do so, in order to set a standard for future generations in my family.

As I grew up, my parents worked in agriculture and constantly migrated to make ends meet. Due to their constant migration, my parents were continuously absent, and I had to take on a parental role for my siblings.

The responsibilities handed to me at the age of eight caused a toll on my academics. As much as I tried to do well in school, it was hard to focus when I had bigger responsibilities waiting for me at home. Not only did I have to grow up quickly, but I had no social support and began to experience cultural confusion.

Being from another country with little to no support made it hard for me to understand where I belonged. It was not until I was placed in the Migrant Educational Program that I felt a part of the school and community. The Migrant Educational Program and other programs provided me with support, resources, and academic options.

Thanks to these programs, my academic counselors, and my EOP counselors, I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Career and Life Planning at California State University, Chico.

Now, I feel that I have gathered the resources and tools to help Latinx students like myself also reach for higher education. By receiving my MS School Psychology degree, I hope to one day return to my community and empower families just like mine.

I now aim for opportunities that allow me to assist diverse groups and empower others by means of various channels, especially education. I have spoken to several school psychologists to better understand my responsibilities and better support students. The more I connect to practicing school psychologists, the better I will be able to support my students and community.

My goal is to be the best school psychologist that I can be, not only for my students, but parents, teachers, and administrators. It takes someone passionate about helping others and willing to take that extra step, so the voices of their students are heard.

My migrant counselor was a big part of my educational growth. I now strive to give that feeling of support back to all students, and not just migrant students. I have learned that every student has significant events in their lives, and every student deserves a counselor who is dedicated and passionate about their education.

I have always been a part of programs that help the community come together to aid others in need. I first volunteered as an Explorer at Salinas Valley State Prison. I enjoyed spending my time with the community and searching for ways to bring it together. Once I entered Hartnell College, I volunteered at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Dorothy’s Place.

While at Chico State, I joined organizations that supported children with disabilities, the homeless population, the elderly, and First-Generation college students.

At Chico, I was elected Vice President for my multicultural sorority, Upsilon Kappa Delta and the Multicultural Greek Council at Chico State.

As Vice President for Upsilon Kappa Delta, I was coordinated community events, connecting members to needed resources, and provided a safe and inclusive environment.

As Executive Vice President for the Multicultural Greek Council, I conducted meetings, assisted with expansion efforts, reviewed monthly reports, and coordinated yearly banquets.

Aside from school, volunteer work, and leadership positions, I also was an Academic Advising Intern within the Office of Academic Advising Programs at CSU, Chico. This gave me the opportunity to advocate on behalf of and work with a diverse population of students. This included First-Generation students, undocumented and AB 540 students, foster youth, veteran students, students facing academic probation or disqualification, and undeclared student population.

Through my experiences, I have gained leadership skills needed to be successful in the MS School Psychology program.

However, pursuing a master’s degree can cause financial hardships. The CHISPA scholarship will assist me in my endeavors and allow me to pursue my academic dreams.

Cristina Rico received the CHISPA scholarship held at the Community Foundation for Monterey County. She started at UC Santa Barbara this fall. She will major in psychology. After graduation, she intends to work for the organization Sold No More that fights to end child exploitation and eventually to pursue her PhD.

Thank you for making the CHISPA Scholarship possible. I am starting my third year as a Human Development and Family Studies major, with a minor in education. I plan to be a Special Needs Educator.

Becoming the person who I am today has not always been an easy journey. I have Brachial Plexus, which affects the nerves on my right shoulder running down my arm. As a result of complications during my birth, the doctors had to take extreme measures to pull me out, which resulted in them fracturing bones in my arms. This resulted in chronic effects.

Most recently, I was diagnosed with a growing cyst on my spinal cord. This took a physical and emotional toll on me. In winter 2018, my doctors decided to do immediate surgery. I feared that I would have to miss spring semester 2019 to fully recover. However, through the help of my instructors and advisors, I was able to gain strength to complete the semester. It was not easy balancing my recovery with therapy sessions and academics, but I did become a strong, successful student.

I also have balanced my work as a tutor for low-income migrant elementary students. As a first-generation college student and former Migrant Education participant, I understand the hurdles these kids face. I know I need to be a present influence and mentor. My tutoring experience confirmed my passion to become a special needs educator.

The CHISPA scholarship will lift the financial stress for me, allowing me to live on campus and no longer endure a two-hour commute.

I want to express my gratitude for the CHISPA scholarship. I have lived in CHISPA housing for most of my life, and I am truly grateful for the support. Finding ways to fund my own education has been one of my toughest challenges, so receiving scholarships is a blessing.

In 2018, I became the first in my family to graduate from college. I am now working towards a master’s degree in School Psychology. As a future school psychologist, I hope to have an impact on my students and their families. I hope to support students like myself to obtain a college education and to believe that they can achieve anything that they are willing to work for.

I am starting my second year at CSUMB, majoring in psychology. It was a struggle for me to adjust to college classes and manage my time as a full-time student with a part-time job as a cashier, but I did it!. I managed to get on the Dean’s List during my first semester. This was big for me because it felt nice knowing my hard work was acknowledged.

In addition to my school work and my job, I had an opportunity to do 30 hours of community service at my former elementary school through the CAMP Program. I volunteered in a kindergarten class and I got to know a lot many children whose household weren’t as fun as mine when I was growing up. A few of the children shared a single bedroom with their entire family, and this broke my heart and that assured me that my career was right for me.

I would like to have a university education because, in Mexico, I did not have the opportunity to achieve it. My family did not have the resources to help me and Mexico did not give me help as this country does.

The biggest risk I have taken in my life has been to go back to school after 20 years.

This change in my life has been difficult because I have responsibilities as a wife and as a mother of three.

I dedicated myself to caring for my children, and now that they have grown a bit, I decided to go to college. I do not have the support of my family for this decision I made. But I like to study, I like to come to school, and I believe that education is fundamental to success. My plan is to become a Spanish teacher.

The school requires many responsibilities and hard work to achieve good grades. Learning a new language is very difficult and even more so when you are not so young, but I have confidence in my abilities.

I am a person who likes challenges. I visualize the future I want, and I believe that school is the perfect place to help me achieve my goals. I have learned that I must pursue my dreams and fight for them.

My husband is the only breadwinner, and the money he earns is to pay rent and basic expenses. We do not have vacations, birthday parties, or Christmas presents.

Sometimes I think about leaving school and going to work. But, I know that if I leave, I will not return to school.

I plan to graduate from Hartnell College by spring 2020. After that, I will study for my bachelor’s degree at California State University Monterey Bay. I plan to attend San Jose State to pursue my master’s degree in Spanish. As a Spanish Teacher, I can spread this language to future generations so they can learn it correctly.

I am a freshman at Hartnell Community College, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. I achieved the Honor Roll last year, and I plan to attend Fresno State in the spring of 2020.

As a first-generation student, I am very well-aware of the importance of my education. I am the fourth child out of a family of four.

My oldest sister graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, my brother, unfortunately, did not attend college, and my other sister is attending Cal Poly SLO now as a freshman.

I see my education as a way to achieve a higher quality of life for my family and for myself. I aspire to have a successful future in order to make my parents, who have endured so much in their lives, proud.

When you come from a family that has dealt with so financial struggles, it motivates you to want to escape from the vicious cycle of poverty and to pursue a life of prosperity.

After I receive my bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice I should have different employment opportunities and I can choose the best job that benefits me and offers the type of job security I want.

My mother is the sole breadwinner in our household. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis several years ago and he is no longer able to work. Prior to the complications of the MS, my father worked as a tractor driver for twenty years at D’Arrigo. My mother now works at Taylor Farms packaging produce.

With two of us daughters in college, scholarships are extremely helpful.

Since my parents didn’t get the chance to go to college I decided that I was going to be the one to make the change in my family and be the first to go to college.

The first and most important thing I hope to gain from this experience is independence. In my opinion, having a successful career of your own is one of the best things you can accomplish. I intend to get a nursing degree.

Because school is expensive, I have limited my social life so I can work while I am in school to save up for when I transfer to a four-year college with a good nursing program. I am considering attending CSUMB.

I have my CNA certification, and I work at an assisted living facility in Monterey, so I have started to gain nursing experience. I have volunteered part-time as a note-taker for disabled students, and I am involved with SIMA (Students Interested in Medicine) Hartnell.

I am a mother to five and a grandmother to two. Until recently, I have maintained the same part-time job for almost three years where I am doing something I love. Due to my schooling, I was able to apply for a counselor position as an intern. I intend to become an alcohol and drug counselor.

Any extra help I can get to support me throughout school will allow me to focus more on my schooling and my position at work without having to stress on financing. A scholarship will help get me through my last year at Hartnell with my focus in the right place.

I will like to thank you for your generosity in funding this scholarship. I am very honored to be the recipient of this award.

This past spring, I graduated from MPC with an M-T in Political Science. I was the first in my family to receive an associate’s degree.

This past school year I served as MPC’s student body president. I was delighted to be given the platform to help MPC students.

MPC has given so much to me that I wanted to give back. Being ASMPC president allowed me to advocate for students from all walks of life. I was able to build relationships with clubs, organizations, and faculty, which allowed me to make drastic changes on campus. Through my leadership, we quadrupled our on-campus, student-run food pantry and expanded tutoring opportunities.

I am not an undocumented student myself, but I was an active participant in the Dreamers Club, and I regularly attended Board meetings. I did all this because I wanted to be an advocate for all my peers, but especially for those who are afraid to speak up for themselves. I plan on continuing my passion to help others by becoming a servant and leader of every community and school I’m lucky enough to be a part of.

I never thought I’d say this, but I am delighted to announce that I will be transferring to the number one public university in this country, my dream school: The University of California Los Angeles.

In the Spring of 2021, I will graduate from UCLA with a degree in Political Science. This accomplishment will be thanks to my family and to people like you who invested in my future. With my BA, I intend to attend law school.

I plan to invest in the people who invested in me to return to my community as a lawyer who serves underrepresented, undocumented, and low-income families in Monterey County.

My intentions are to get into politics one day. I want to someday be the congresswoman of California’s 20th congressional district. I want to be in a position that allows me to make a direct change in the lives of people in my community.

By awarding me this scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspects of the school, learning.

I have lived in CHISPA’s Roosevelt Apartments for the majority of my life. Thus, I am honored to be the recipient of this award because to me it means so much more to be than a fiscal amount. It’s almost a sense of reassurance that my community at Roosevelt Apartments believes in me.

Thank you for believing in my education. Thank you for believing in me: for that, I will forever be grateful.

Growing up, I learned that being educated and having knowledge is something that no one can really take from you.

Attending Hartnell College after high school made me realize there is still so much to learn. My first semester taught me a lot already, and that made me even more hungry for education. This inspiration is why I’m leaning towards becoming a teacher when I finish college.

I want to show other students that there is a lot more to grasp from the world that they think.

My first semester of college taught me how time consuming each class is. The professors do not care if we have tons of assignments from other classes. They just care about their class.

Full time students, on the other hand won’t have time to focus on working a job. I was lucky enough to get help from financial aid, but when you do the math, the books alone are super expensive.

I live 35 miles away from the main campus, and transportation can be expensive.

That is why, when the opportunity for a CHISPA scholarship came around, I tried my hardest to take advantage of it. Thank you for the scholarship.

My father never believed in furthering his education. Not because he didn’t think it was important, but rather because he believed that putting food on the table was more important. My father wasn’t sent to schools as a child. He emigrated from Mexico in the late 1980’s and worked in the fields here in Monterey County.

My father developed lymphoma in 2000. He is on disability, which is not enough income to sustain a family. My mother took it upon herself to get a GED certificate in order to get a job that required less manual labor. She was my inspiration that, regardless of your financial struggles, school is possible.

My father took me to the fields when I was young, regardless of the day of the week or climate conditions. Over time, I gained interest in the agricultural field, but decided I was unwilling to work as a modern-day slave, with no benefits, no overtime, and no time off.

After high school, I worked two full-time jobs for two years, and I then decided to go to college to escape a life spent at minimum wage.

Currently, I work full-time as a Merchandiser Supervisor for Coca-Cola, and I go to Hartnell College full-time as well.

I know I need a college education to help myself and my family, and the people around me. Agribusiness is my career objective.

My scholarship will allow me to reduce my work hours and to focus on school, while helping my family with bills.

I want to thank you for making the CHISPA Scholarship possible. I will be a first year student at CSUMB this coming fall, majoring in Japanese Language and Culture.

My parents came to the United States from Mexico for a better future, but this has been easier said than done. My family has little money, and, as a first-generation student, my family could not advise me about the education system.

In order to help support my family, I worked in the fields whenever I had a school break as well as throughout the summer. Field labor is very strenuous. Working ten hours a day for minimum wage was not what I would call the ideal first job. But, it did teach me the value of money and what it takes to support others with what you earn.

Thanks to this scholarship, I will be able to stress less about financial problems that affect my family and focus on my education.

With leadership experience from my high school clubs and determination learned by working in harsh conditions, I will use the CHISPA scholarship to help me become successful in my four years of college.

My family and I appreciate your help.

When I received the email from CSUMB that I had been awarded the CHISPA scholarship I was ecstatic and honored. Thank you for making this scholarship possible!

I am a senior at CUSMB majoring in agribusiness, with an expected graduation in Spring 2019.

I am a member of the Agribusiness Club, advised by Dr. Fausti. Through the club, I am exposed to career and educational opportunities in the agriculture industry.

I am currently working for the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and I hope to pursue an MBA after several years of work experience.

Last year, I took a course called Ethics in Action. I did service learning at the Central Coast Citizenship Project, where I provided immigration, naturalization, literacy, English language and new voter education, integrated with leadership in social justice campaigns. I appreciated being able to help my community directly.

My family and I have struggled financially our whole lives, due to my father’s health problems, but the CHISPA scholarship makes it possible for me to concentrate more fully on my courses. Again, thank you for your support of my education and career goals.

CHISPA Property: Villa Santa Clara

CHISPA Property: Mountain View Townhomes

CHISPA Property: Loma El Paraiso

CHISPA Property: Harden Ranch Apartments

I commute to CSUMB from Salinas, where I live with my mother, my sister, and my grandmother. My mother works overnight with minimal pay, and I help around the house to keep this family together. If my future career as a filmmaker becomes a success, I will pay my mother back for all her hard work that she has given me to achieve my dream.

I started my CSUMB Capstone film thesis in the fall of 2017. I will produce a narrative drama about the women in my family: women who have struggled as single moms, women who faced bad-relationships, women with learning disabilities. My goal is to direct, write and produce my capstone. As a music minor, I intend to design the sound and compose a song.

Another project that I hope to complete after I graduate is to make a documentary about my best friend and my family who immigrated from Mexico and the struggles they faced. It will give me the opportunity to learn more about my family’s stories and my friend’s backstory.

After I graduate from CSUMB, I want to be a music teacher for young children. If my part-time job works well, I want to expand afterwards in the film industry as a filmmaker and an actress. I want to write films about famous icons from Salinas.

Two CSUMB clubs made me more successful and extroverted.

The first organization is called TRiO SSS (Student Support Services). It was difficult for me to do well in school while working of film productions and performing on stage. Without help and encouragement from this club and from my mentor, I would be completely lost from society.

The second organization is National Society of Leadership and Success. This is a program where students with good grades gain leadership skills. Motivational speakers help us learn how to be successful in school and in the future

I am involved in a project where I am co-producing my friend’s capstone for Spring of
201. Producing is a challenge, especially when it comes to budgeting and organizing the film’s website. I wanted to learn to produce a short film, because I want to experience the set-backs and the challenges of submitting films to film festivals. Is it going to be hard? Yes. But will I continue to achieve it? Absolutely.

CHISPA Property: Harden Ranch Apartments

“Echale ganas, mija!” This phrase is just three insignificant little words, but, to me they are what drive me to accomplish what I’ve accomplished so far, and they motivate me to keep striving for more.

The phrase “echale ganas” means to give it your all in all that you do. My father told me and my siblings this constantly. Whether it was before a big exam or a soccer final, it had the same sense of motivation for me.

It has now turned into a kind of mentality – the way I have chosen to live my life.

I, like 50,000 other college students in the United States, am undocumented. Being undocumented never held me back from accomplishing or striving for the goals that I had set for myself at a very young age. I am a firm believer that actions are a lot stronger than words, so I plan to accomplish great things in life, not just for myself but for my family, community and anyone who looks up to me.

I’ve placed this responsibility to lead by example upon myself. Being the first in my entire family to attend college gives me enormous pride and a sense of responsibility to succeed.

My parents came to the United States when I was a year old, aspiring for a better life than they had in Mexico. Their life here has not been easy – they work physically demanding jobs: agricultural work, restaurant kitchen occupations, and car washing services. As demanding or unstable some of their jobs have been, they always made sure my sisters and I had a roof over our head and food on the table.

The years and sacrifices my parents made cannot go unnoticed or unrewarded. I will do what I can to succeed to prove that all their sacrifices were not in vain. As the oldest sibling, I feel a great sense of responsibility to clear the path towards an education for my younger sisters.

I have been working since I was a sophomore in high school because I realized that, as an undocumented student from a low income family, the odds were against me.

I wanted to make sure that money wouldn’t be a barrier in getting a college degree. As supportive as my parent are about my education, they are not able support me financially. I have placed the responsibility of funding my college education on myself, so as a student, I juggle waitressing, tutoring elementary students, and my academic responsibilities.

There have been times when I have doubted myself and others time where I have wondered whether all my hard work and sacrifices would all pay off in the end.

Now more than ever, I question my fate under a Trump presidency. What will happen if, at any given time, I am stripped from my DACA status? DACA allows certain undocumented students such as myself, who entered the country as minors, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and a work permit.

Without my DACA status, I would no longer be able to work legally in the country and could be at a risk of deportation. Losing my job would mean I would no longer be able to fund my college education.

The fear of what could possibly happen is a constant burden on my mind, but this fear is something I constantly try to overlook in an attempt to not let it fog up my vision of my overall goals.

As a future educator, I aim to not only teach but inspire, I want to be a positive role model in a community that tends to have more negative reflections than positive.

Being a part of California Mini-Corps allows me to provide academic aide to migrant students in my community to ensure they are successful in the classroom and in their future academic careers. It has given me an opportunity to grow as a future bilingual educator as well as to become better human being in general.

Salinas is a community of people who are willing to work to be successful. I see that same drive in my students every day. Their resilience inspires and motivates to me to continue my journey regardless of the obstacles thrown my way.

One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been working with migrant students. I see myself in my students and I hope they can see themselves in me.

It is very important for me to make my students realize that education is a tool that breaks down barriers and to understand that an education is truly valuable because it can never be taken from them.

I let them know that it won’t be easy, because nothing is ever just handed to you, but, if you work hard and are determined to succeed you will succeed. Nomas echale ganas! (Just give it your all!).

CHISPA Property: Moro Cojo Subdivision

I am preparing to become an elementary school teacher because I want my profession to be one in which I can be a productive member of society, where I can share my knowledge and passion, about the value of books, writing, numbers, and history.

I anticipate receiving my masters in teaching and teaching credential from Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) by the Spring of 2019.

My motivation resides in children’s wholehearted desire to learn and to be taught. I am honored to have the privilege of teaching them.

Having grown up in this area, I very much understand that many of us come from immigrant households, where making money is more important than happiness, due to financial need. For this reason, many choose to discontinue their pursuit of higher education. I for one would like to be a part of breaking that pattern.

I graduated from CSUMB with a degree in Communications. I pursued two concentrations, Creative writing and Chicano Studies. With this major I was able to rediscover my roots and delve into the past from a Chicano’s perspective. I was taught of the power of expression via writing. I decided that writing was what I wanted to do – that is, until I began fulfilling my Service Learning requirement.

I chose to work in the after-school program Community Partnership for Youth (CPY) in Salinas., where I was responsible for engaging a group of 15 first-third grade children in creative writing a couple of times a week.

I absolutely loved working with these kids, guiding their thought process, correcting their grammar and helping them express themselves. It was incredible to read the stories the kids created, to observe the world through their lenses. I was struck by the awe in the kids eyes upon learning I spoke Spanish like they did. I could not help but notice how easily kids look up to the adults around them, observe their every move, and strive to imitate, to become more like that person they admire. Nothing would make me happier than to live my life in such a way that I can make of my life an example worthy of imitation. If anything, working with children helps me to be the best version of myself that I can be.

I later decided I wanted a working taste of the school setting, and I soon found myself working in a Kindergarten/ First grade integrated classroom.

For the first couple of months I helped with various classroom assignments. Then, the Response to Intervention (RTI) program was set into motion, allowing for students to receive more individualized attention in small leveled groups.

I rotated between three classrooms. With all three groups I implemented guided reading lessons that strengthened skills pertaining to literacy, basic letter sounds, letter recognition, and reading and writing practice.

By the end of that school year, I was astounded by how much the kids had improved. Knowing that the time I spent with them had helped them grow and develop skills that will be beneficial to them throughout their lives made me feel important, productive, and happy. I enjoyed the job so much that I often forgot I was paid to be there.

I have been blessed with different work opportunities that have enabled me to work with children and gain experience that have strengthened me as an educator.

Nothing would make me happier than to know that I am making a difference in the lives of the children of my community, kids like myself who come from immigrant households and hard working parents, but may lack support to pursue a career that makes them happy.

CHISPA Property: Sea Garden Apartments

As a first-generation college student, I have come to realize that a college education is something to be very thankful for. My educational journey has been a long one, but I see graduating as the way to thank my parents for everything they have sacrificed for me and my family.

My educational goals have remained consistent since I graduated High School in 2010. I have always been determined to enter the healthcare/medical field. My goal is to become an X-ray tech, a respiratory therapist or a nurse.

Cabrillo College has some fantastic programs, including Radiologic Technology and Nursing. I am currently on the waitlist for the Radiology program and I will apply to the nursing program too. The downfall about these great programs is that they are impacted and the wait can last a few years. For the Radiology program I have been on the waitlist for nearly 3 years.

That’s a long time to wait, but I have not lost hope, and I am applying to other Radiology programs this fall. While I wait to be admitted into the program, I have signed up to do some job shadowing hours in the Radiology Department at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and I am about to start volunteering at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital where they placed me in Diagnostic Imaging.

A challenge that I think is common for many single mothers is balancing being a mom and school. My son is getting older and is more aware of the time I have to leave for work/school.

Although it is difficult, I feel fortunate to have the support of my family and friends who care for him while I am away.

Thanks to their support, I received 5 A’s in 7 classes I took in 2016. It has given me the motivation I need, and I know that my son will be proud of me someday when I walk on that stage with my degree.

CHISPA Property: Fontes Lane

When I was a young boy, my father would wake me up at four in the morning on a Sunday.

I would accompany him to his job in the fields, where he had worked since he migrated from Mexico at the age of 17 in search of the American dream.

I rode the tractor with him. My hands were cold, my boots full of mud, my stomach starting to growl when lunchtime came around. Then, I could fill my stomach with food, quench my thirst, and get some rest.

With these lessons, my dad began to teach me the importance of hard work and the value of everything in this world, even the most tiny and simple things.

I still remember what he used to tell me almost every day, “A pencil weighs less than a shovel, but you should also know how to use the shovel.”

My father taught me the essence of hard work and how we can better ourselves with our hard work. Along with these lessons and his advice, I do value the hard work, but I focus on my education in hopes not having to suffer through this again! My college education will help me and my family and will allow me to contribute great things to society in my trajectory.

Growing up in Salinas, I have seen the violence that destroys our youth. But, Salinas also has given me great things: my back yard is agriculture fields which inspired me to become an Agricultural Pest Control Advisor (PCA) and to receive my Associates in Agriculture Production.

I would like to give back to my community in whatever ways possible – to make a difference in the world, for the better. In addition, I want to make my parents feel proud of their son, so they know that all the sacrifice they have made wasn’t in vain.

I consider myself a leader, and I would like to lead by example and show my peers that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. With this mindset and with complete determination and hard work, there’s nothing you cannot accomplish.

My father was diagnosed Lymphoma in 2000 and will be on disability for life. With the financial help he receives, it’s barely enough to survive and pay bills. As the oldest son, it’s my responsibility to help support the family.

This responsibility includes working full-time at a seed coating company to ensure my siblings can be successful at home and in school. I would like to provide for my brother and sister so they can also continue their education and pursue professional careers.

My work is giving me experience and basic knowledge for the career path I have chosen to pursue. My CHISPA scholarship will allow me to decrease my hours at work and to focus 100% on my schooling, while also being able to help support my family. I am doing all this mainly for my family, but also building a future for myself.

CHISPA Property: Walnut Place Townhomes

I am a 29 year old husband, father of three, former president of Hartnell ‘s math club, member of the Hartnell Student Success Committee, employed as a Supplemental Instruction Leader, and an intern at IBM Research in San Jose

I am committed to achieving success, but getting there has been a struggle. After being in the military, I struggled with re-entry into the civilian life because of a lack of financial resources. I had difficulty finding housing, assisting with my first child’s disabilities, I and lacked employable civilian skills.

Commuting to and from school was also difficult. I struggled with the costs of fuel, school supplies, acquiring food, and paying for rent and utilities. Due to my precarious financial situation, I would enroll in a full load of courses and end up withdrawing from most of them to find work, so that I could provide for my family.

At one point in my academic endeavors, I became homeless and lived out of my car while my wife and kids lived out of a room in her parent’s house because of the increasing price of our rent. CHISPA helped us with our living situation by giving us priority housing and by providing us with affordable housing. This has allowed for our situation to stabilize, so I could achieve academic excellence and grow to support my family.

Since then, I have commuted each day from Greenfield and I have earned a stellar GPA. During the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters, I was cross enrolled at CSU Monterey Bay, while maintaining full-time status at Hartnell, and earned a 4.0 semester GPA on both campuses.

In addition to achieving academic excellence, I have participated in Hartnell’s STEM internship program for two summers. The most notable internship I completed, which required working with big data, earned me a spot to present my research at the 2015 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference in Washington, DC.

At the end of fall 2017, I will be awarded associate degrees in mathematics and physics. I will be then pursuing computer science at a four-year university with an intended transfer of fall 2018.

My aspirations are to be a researcher and teacher. I dream of contributing to a deeper understanding of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning using my computer science, math, physics and chemistry skills as a researcher. I would also like to have a positive impact in the community through teaching as an instructor at a community college or a professor at a CSU or a UC.

I continue to thrive in school because I decided to embrace my struggle and strive for a better future, while doing something I am passionate about, so that I may earn a career in something I enjoy. Thanks to the aid of CHISPA, I can now focus on my studies rather than worrying about finances, so I can make my dreams a reality and pull my family out of poverty.

Goal: Own my own business in Monterey County

My name is Cinthia Estrada. I am a senior at Cal State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) studying Business Administration with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship. I am a full-time student and plan on graduating in December 2016.

My passion for business began during my childhood years. The candy store was far from where I lived. Every time I wanted to buy a candy, I would have to wait to go to town.

I started buying candy in bulk and selling to the other children in CHISPA’s apartment complex where I lived (and where I continue to live!)

I learned that if certain resources are limited, the best option is to do something about it yourself. At the beginning, I used word of mouth to advertise. Later I used flyers and the business took off quite rapidly. I was able to maximize profits while minimizing cost.

I learned that, no matter how big or small your business is, as long as you have passion and desire to continue, you are bound to do something great and wonderful.

After graduating from Greenfield High School, I attended Hartnell Community College, where I attained an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and Psychology.

During my time at Hartnell, I was president of a club named Women’s Education Leadership Initiative (WELI) where I was part of a selected group of students who were dedicated to support other women to be successful in school and work. As president of WELI, I was in charge of meetings, fundraisers and communication with the club members. I learned valuable skills such as how to manage time, how to communicate effectively with others and how to network.

I began my undergraduate studies at CSUMB in Fall 2014, and I immediately fell in love with the business aspect of Entrepreneurship. I chose this major because I plan to own my own business in Monterey County.

I commute to CSUMB by bus from Greenfield two days a week. I have a one-year-old daughter. My mother works as a field worker to make ends meet and save for winter when the season is over to be able to pay the bills and rent.

It is not easy taking care of my daughter being a full-time student, but I am optimistic that the sacrifice will lead to great things. My personal goal is to give my family a better life without worrying about money and where their next meal will come from.

I am the first in my family to go to a university which is my biggest accomplishment. CSUMB is preparing me for the future with exceptional instructors and remarkable resources that will help me in the business sector.

The CHISPA scholarship will allow me to purchase books and materials and will allow me to concentrate fully on my last semester at CSUMB and to graduate in December.

Goal: Transferring to Cal Poly

When I was in elementary school, I often struggled to do well in school. I attended every Saturday class and summer class so I wouldn’t fall behind. My junior year of high school was the turning point. I began to show the results of all the time I used just to keep up with the rest of the students.

At that point, I noticed that people around me would say how difficult the classes were, yet they were the same people who showed not one bit of effort to achieve a good grade. They seemed to believe that those of us who had good grades were simply smarter than them, and, for that reason, we had an advantage over them.

In fact, I believed that most of us who overcome our difficulties in class did so because of what we did during our first years of school. So, in my junior year of high school, I started to go to my little brother’s elementary school and began tutoring students there. I continued tutoring students after I started attending Hartnell College last year.

In Hartnell, I joined a program called Trio which helps first generation students. I am the first in my family to go to college. I took a class in the summer immediately after graduating high school so I could get accustomed to the changes I would face in college. I would like to get my math and English classes finished quickly, so I won’t struggle with them!

At the moment, I have a 4.0 GPA. I plan to reach my goal of majoring in kinesiology, getting my associates degree and transferring to Cal Poly so I can finish my education.

I appreciate receiving a CHISPA scholarship because I am one of triplets. All three of us are attending Hartnell College.

Goal: Bachelor’s Degree in Administration of Justice

There is nothing I would love to accomplish more in this world than to make my parents proud by attending college as a first generation student and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, also known as Administration of Justice. I am currently in my second year at Hartnell College.

My father is the sole provider for our family, working in agricultural labor, while my mother is a stay- at-home mother raising my three younger sisters. I hope that, through my education, I become a role model for my siblings and for everyone who is a first generation college student!

Currently, I ride the MST bus two days a week from King City to Salinas to attend Hartnell. In addition to attending college, I work 32 hours a week at Safeway in King City.

I will apply the CHISPA scholarship toward the cost of a laptop computer, which will be very helpful to me.

Goal: Nurse Practitioner

Jorge received a scholarship from California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC). This scholarship is available to students in CHISPA’s Mountainview Townhomes Apartment Building.

My name is Jorge Diaz, I’m 21 years old, I’m currently a first semester RN student, and I am as happy as can be. I’m extremely excited because with every passing day my dream career stops being a dream and starts becoming a reality.

I’ve been working diligently at Hartnell College for three and a half years now, and I can assure you I’ve grown as an individual. I come from a low-income agricultural family that has faced and overcome numerous obstacles, and college was my obstacle to overcome. Growing up in a less privileged community has not only offered financial and academic challenges; but more importantly, made me realize the value of a college education. As the oldest child in my family, attending college has always been my intent, simply because I lead by example. Also, being the first in the family to attend college, my family is behind me every single step of the way.

Both of my parents were forced to drop out of grade school back in Mexico due to the hardships they faced. I’ve learned to take a negative situation and look at the positive side of things – you can say I am a “glass half full” type of person. My parents’ lack of education is what lit the fire underneath me, and that fire keeps me moving forward.

My ultimate goal in life is to become a nurse practitioner. There are hundreds of reasons why I chose this career, but the main reason for this is an uncle of mine who keeps fighting the odds. My uncle became ill about five years ago and hasn’t been able to walk ever since. His will power is a true inspiration, and reflects the amazing group of individuals who care for him. I love helping people, and feel that helping people when they are at their all time low is a very fulfilling career choice. Knowing that I can impact somebody’s life just enough to prolong their lives a little will give me the gratification I need to be at peace with myself – knowing I’m being the best I can be.

I came from a small town in Mexico hoping to have a better future in America. My family always struggled to make ends meet, but we managed to make a life in a new place. Together we have gone through hardships but have managed to stay close. My background has formed the person who I am now.

My family has always supported me in my decision to attend a university. My goal is to work in the humanitarian sector and help those less fortunate. I want to work for the charity Shelter Box to help distribute aid. I also hope to one day start a network of food kitchens.

I believe that no one should have to go hungry. We all have to work together to end hunger and suffering. I hope my education will allow me to achieve this goal.

I have lived in CHISPA housing ever since I was four years old. I felt safe, and I enjoyed going to the free guitar classes after school.

What I really want to say to the students in the future and in my community of Salinas is to not give up hope, do not let anyone ruin your dreams – make it happen!

I faced a lot of challenges attending school without any guidance from others, until I received help from TRIO SSS. TRIO helped me so much with my homework, and I received guidance from my mentor. I couldn’t have done it without them.

After I graduate from CSUMB, I hope to become a filmmaker and a musician. I want to make a film about what my family and what they have been through when they immigrated to California: how it was hard to find a job, live in poverty, and what my mother went through to raise me on her own. I want to be the first Mexican-American woman from Salinas to win an Oscar!

I want to create a music and acting program for children living in Salinas – a program like the Guitars Not Guns program that teaches in the CHISPA apartments, but my version. I want children to join my arts program and leave with great talent in their hands.

I am currently a freshman majoring in computer science.

My father had a kidney failure in 2002, and he hasn’t been able to work. The only person that has been working to sustain the family is my mother.

My parents are the reason why I want to continue with my education. I want to show them that all their sacrifices were worth it and that I took advantage of all these great opportunities I’ve had throughout my school journey.

My parents have always told my siblings and me that they would never want us to work in the fields like they had to. I have the fortune to have both of my parents with me, and I also have the fortune to have such supportive parents like this.

In the future I would like to do something with robotics or Artificial Intelligence. My goal would be to work at Google or at Microsoft. However, I also would love to work for the government one day.

Some people might say that my dreams are too big and that I won’t be able to achieve them. My response to that is “Querer es Poder,” meaning, if you want to, you can do it.

I was born in King City, and I was raised in Greenfield. Both of my parents are proud fieldworkers. I graduated from Greenfield High School in 2014, and I am majoring in Administration of Justice. After graduation, I want to be a police officer.

As a person I am a confident person when it comes to just about everything, and I like to help others.

I like being a leader, and help people who don’t really know what to do, I usually give them advice. It doesn’t matter what they are going through, I have advice for everything they throw at me. I see teamwork as a very important trait that most people should have or develop. This is why I want to be a police officer. I will help my community in the future.

The creation of your world is processed through neurotransmissions that are sent from all of your five senses to your brain, then collected in your mind to create your perspective of life. What we see, hear, and feel is unique in each individual’s life.

I do not know who I am, but I can and will create someone who I will look back on and be proud to look back at.

There is no life of mine that is already written out, only an empty book that will soon be filled with my writings that represent my life story.

Figuring out my life story just by looking at the stars is not going to get me anywhere. What can be achieved is unlimited in life just as the stars. There are only a few things that I can focus my attention to in life, but what I make use of those things is what creates that good feeling in life: that feeling of purpose.

Anticipated Graduation: 2016

When I was about seven years old, my dad left the house at six in the morning when he was attacked on the driveway. The bad people who injured him took his wallet and our car. I realized from that time that there was too much violence in our neighborhood.

Law Enforcement has been my dream since a little girl. I’m capable of doing an outstanding job in this career.

My family says I have the good attitude for this field and that I’m also smart enough to get to where I want to be. My mother is unable to work due to her cancer medications while my father tries to support my other 4 siblings.

My mother told me, “If I was able to fight cancer you should be able to fight for what you want”.

She meant that I can go through any struggles or any obstacle to achieve the career of my dreams.

Every morning at 5:00 AM, I hear my father start the engine of his car. It is the beginning of his 11-hour shift at Fresh Express. By the time my dad is coming home, my mom is headed to Earthbound Farms; she is on her way to work in a cooler under several layers of clothes for her 12-hour shift. I see myself living a different future.

My parents migrated from Mexico to provide us with a better life. They did their part for my older sister, older brother, and for me; but now, I am fulfilling my duty. I am a first-generation college student.

I have always been a bit different, to say the least. I live with a disability unfamiliar to most. I was born with Congenital Cataracts, the clouding of the pupils. I have undergone several surgeries starting at two months of age to repair my eyesight, which still underperforms. Most children played pretend pirate, I was actually a pirate! I had to strut around school wearing an eyepatch interchangeably between both eyes. My doctors said I would have to attend a special needs school, but I proved them wrong.

The bullying I faced taught me to assimilate with “normal” people. I got called out for staring at the floor a lot, not making eye contact, among several other things people naturally do. As a result, I trained myself to do such. People do not take my disability seriously because they assume I am just another girl with glasses – even though mine are bifocals. Though it affects my life to this day, my disability does not define me.

I was dubbed a “nerd” in elementary school, having been the kid in GATE classes. Come middle school, I chose the wrong path. I wanted to fit in and let myself slip up academically and socially – I managed a 1.7 GPA in 7th grade. By 8th grade, I cleaned up my act; unfortunately, I could not see the board in my math class, and the teacher refused to sit me in the front. I was told that I would never excel in math or go to college, and I fell into low self-esteem because of bullying.

I attended Alisal High School. I did not want to go there at first, but Alisal was the best decision I have made. I earned Student of the Month and did community service for the Monterey County Food Bank, Return of the Natives, Dorothy’s Kitchen, Steinbeck Library, LULAC, and Easter Eggstravaganzas. I grew confident and joined the school’s Drama Club, earning the Lifetime Drama Honors Society award. In between, I was enrolled in GATE and AP classes. I am fluent in Japanese, as I have taken five Japanese classes, won 2nd place at the county’s Japanese Speech Contest, and am a member of the Japanese National Honors Society. I also am fluent in Spanish. I graduated within the top 60 of my class out of 500. Today, I am on the Dean’s List at CSUMB- and I started at 17.

I have been told I will not be able to drive because of my disability, so I commute by bus to CSUMB every day – which I do not mind because I do my homework on board.

I aspire to work in the media or in some form of public relations. In essence, I want to lend my voice to those who do not have one.

Anticipated Graduation: Fall 2015Cinthia-Estrada-1210×1145

Cinthia completed Associate Transfer Degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from Hartnell College. She is now a business major at CSUMB.

Cinthia has managed to schedule all her college classes on two days per week. On the other days, she helps her family at home in Greenfield. Cinthia is the first person in her family to attend college.

“My short-term goals are graduating with honors and seeking a job in something business related. My long-term goal is to own my own business, which will help support my family. The CHISPA scholarship helped me to purchase fall 2014 books and materials.”

Anticipated Graduation: 2016

When I was in junior high school, my mother suffered a stroke. As a single parent, she needed me to help her, so, when I was fifteen, I enrolled in the Boronda Independent Studies school instead of in my neighborhood high school.

At this alternative high school program, I was able to customize a schedule that permitted me to go to work to help support my mother and myself.

During my high school years, I worked 20 hours each week at the North Ridge Mall in Salinas, and I attended school and studied the rest of the time.

I appreciated the individual attention and encouragement provided to me by the teachers at Boronda Independent Studies. I learned how much influence talented teachers can have over the lives of students facing difficult circumstances.

I also appreciated the after school programs offered by CHISPA in the resident center in my apartment building which kept me busy when I was younger.

I am the first in my family to attend university. I am currently a junior, and my dream is to become an elementary school teacher, and to teach locally.

With the scholarship I was awarded, I will be able to buy my books as well as pay for transportation, and buy my required materials for school.

I will be less stressed about money for school this year and more focused on the important things such as my education.

Anticipated Graduation: 2016

“I grew up with the mindset that only the wealthy could attend college. Then, I watched my three older brothers go off to colleges and earn scholarships in order to pay for classes and books.

I soon realized that it is not only the wealthy who can attend college. College is also available to those who are willing to work hard to make it there.

I am proud to say that I am now the fourth child in my family to attend college.

As a freshman at Hartnell College, I am studying biology. I hope to graduate with an Associates of Science degree and to transfer to UC Berkeley or UC San Diego in 2016, where I plan to major in physiology and neuroscience. My long term goal is to earn a master’s degree, a medical degree, and to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon.

My parents helped my three siblings as much as they could with their college expenses, and when I was in high school, I worked 20-26 hours per week at the King City McDonalds.

Now, I am taking five classes this semester at Hartnell College, and I am maintaining grades of As and Bs. I prefer not to risk my grades by taking another part time job while I am at school, so my scholarship has been helpful.”

Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2014

“I am the second oldest of three boys and one baby girl. I am the first of my family to attend a Community College. I promised my grandmother who passed away in November last year that I would receive a degree.

I will apply to San Jose State in the fall of 2014. I plan to achieve my B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. In my last three semesters I have finished a semester with a 4.0 GPA and I have been on both the President’s and Dean’s list.

I have worked SoMoCo Labor Supply to help supplement my family income and pay for my schooling. I have to help my family pay for rent, food, gas and utilities while also paying for school

I volunteer to help tutor and mentor young students at Chalone Peaks Middle School in King City, CA. I love being able to give back to the community and having a positive impact on these young students. This is something I wish was done for me when I was attending middle school.

When I graduate, I look forward to helping the next student in line requesting a scholarship. Community service helps every city between Salinas and King City to become better communities.”

As I fulfill my dream of becoming a Registered Nurse, my children will have a better understanding of what it looks like to truly seek out your passion and pursue the education needed in order to properly practice your passion. I am excited and determined to pursue my passion and take my skill set to the Registered Nursing level.

My vision as a Registered Nurse is to provide competent, compassionate, ethical, and culturally sensitive care. With my experience being a patient and having family members as patients, I have a clear understanding of the necessity for my vision. I want to care for people the way I would want people to care for me or my family members by listening, comforting, and relaying information sensitively yet truthfully so patients can make informed decisions.

Once I have established myself in a Registered Nurse position, my goal is to continue to become educated in the field. I plan on pursuing a BSN degree.

I had to leave my full time administrative assistant position in order to allow time to attend the Hartnell College RN program. I am willing to make the sacrifices needed in order to pursue a life in service to those in need.

I’ve learned you must be willing to let go of what you are and what you have for who you are to become.

Goal: Work towards social justice for immigrant families

Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2015

Thank you for making this scholarship possible. My name is Yajaira Medrano and I am a junior majoring in Collaborative Health and Human Services at California State University, Monterey Bay. I was born and raised in a single mother household in East Salinas. Growing up, I witnessed many inequalities towards immigrants which affected my family in numerous ways.

Despite facing a lack of financial and moral support, I have pursued my goal of obtaining a college degree within the health and human service field. I expect to graduate in the spring of 2015 and aspire to come back to my community and work towards social justice for immigrant families.

Goal: Guidance Counselor

Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2016

I was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and my family and I came to Salinas when I was 9. It was a struggle adjusting to the new environment especially learning a new language. Even though it wasn’t easy, my teacher helped me so much by encouraging me to read and ever since then I’ve loved reading. There was still a bit of a struggle through middle school and high school but by investing more time in studying, it became easier to understand the material.

After graduating high school I attended Hartnell Community College. I graduated from Hartnell in 2010 with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies-Social & Behavioral Science Emphasis. After Hartnell I attended Central Coast College where I received a diploma in Computer Office Administration. It was a great learning experience; however, I realized my heart was not in that career field.

I then enrolled in California State University Monterey Bay. I began classes in August 2013 and it was challenging since at the time I was also working full time. My major is Collaborative Health and Human Services with a concentration in Social Work.

If everything goes well I’ll be graduating in the fall of 2016. My goal is to become a guidance counselor and work here in the community. I am excited and looking forward to the future. It will be hard at times, but I am willing to put all the time and hard work in order to accomplish my goals.

Goal: Astrophysicist

Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2015

I am a first generation U.S. citizen. I am currently the only child out of my brother and sister going to school. Since I’ve been at Hartnell Community College from 2010, I have found my interest in astronomy, mathematics, and physics. In addition, I have been involved with many educational and academic support programs at Hartnell.

As a tutor, I instructed students in the Math Academy during summer and winter sessions. I will graduate in the spring of 2015 from Hartnell College with three minors in astronomy, mathematics, and physics. I will then transfer to a 4-year University and major in astronomy. My goal is to pursue my dream of becoming an outstanding astrophysicist.

I plan to conduct further research on the movement of galaxies and use computational simulations to understand the reaction of the universe and objects within it. I will be the first in my family to attend a university and knowing this inspires me to make a difference in my family’s heritage.

Goal: Medical School

Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2014
I am dedicated to my school work and set to reaching my goal. Succeeding at the University
level and getting into Medical School are what I strive to fulfill. I am currently attending Hartnell as a Biology/Chemistry major who will transfer out this fall of 2014. Because I am at school most of the time, my participation with Voluntary Clubs such as the Physics, MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), and SIMA (Students Interested in Medicine Association) as well as being an active STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) student, has been my duty as a student to help as best I can. However when I am not in school or are on break, I like to spend most of my time with friends hanging out in places all over the Bay Area going out to eat, visiting tourist sites, exploring unexpected areas or even do things such as compete with our local Hip-Hop Dance team at competitions all over California. It’s the little things that make up who I am.

“America is full of life-changing opportunities!” Selene Mendez echoed her father’s powerful words while describing her journey to college. Selene was born in Mexico City, but moved to the United States at the age of seven with her family for those opportunities that her father had told her about. While Selene did not want to leave, she knew that her move would mean a brighter future and a better life. As she matured, Selene always pictured herself working as a lawyer.

“I knew that one day I was going to defend the rights of those people who suffered from racism and discrimination. Becoming a lawyer was going to be the solution.” However, when Selene’s aunt passed away, Selene observed her young cousin’s struggle to deal with the loss of his mother. “I knew he wasn’t the only one who needed help getting through an event like that. That’s when I realized that child psychology was my passion because it allowed me to work with children and help families. I was determined to help those in need.”

Selene applied this passion by volunteering at an elementary school when she was in high school. “I was able to interact with the children and talk to them about their opportunities.” In 2010, Selene enrolled at California State University, Monterey Bay. “I decided to major in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Sociology. I felt this directly correlated to what I wanted to do in the future.”

While at CSUMB, Selene began tutoring at Castroville Elementary School. “I was fulfilling my dream of working with children. What better way to start gaining experience than this? They were children who had gone through the same challenges that I had gone through.” She now assists in after-school programs at La Mesa Elementary and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, in Seaside. “I help the students with their homework, social enrichment and physical education. It’s exciting to see children progress through the grades and to be there with them each step of the way.”

Selene’s family lives in CHISPA’s Rancho Moro Cojo subdivision, but Selene now resides with her sister who also attended CSUMB. Selene is thankful for the scholarship she received from CHISPA. “I received the CHISPA scholarship twice, once in 2011, and again in 2012. They gave me the help I needed to continue my education at CSUMB. I realize that my father was right, America is full of life changing opportunities, and this was one of them.” Selene will graduate in Spring, 2014. She hopes to work for a local school district to gain the one-year work experience required by the CSUMB Masters in Social Work Program.

Karina Ramirez grew up in Greenfield with her mother and three siblings. Karina’s father, Luis Ramirez, passed away from a heart attack in 1995 when Karina was only six years old. “My mom was left to care for me and my three siblings,” remembers Karina. “We were all young, but I am extremely happy and proud to say that my mom stood strong.” “As I was growing up, my mom always reminded me of the importance of a college education.” She worked long hours in the fields, and she would tell me how hard the labor was.”

This inspired Karina to begin her college education early. “I wanted to get ahead, so I enrolled in college courses while I was still in high school. The main goal was to receive my degree in less time.” Once Karina completed two and a half years at Hartnell Community College, she transferred to California State University, Monterey Bay.

As a Collaborative Health and Human Services major, Karina concentrated in social work. After being hired at CHISPA part-time, Karina took the lead on the Neighborhood Watch program for CHISPA’s Vineyard Green Townhomes. Neighborhood Watch is an organized group of citizens within a community devoted to crime and vandalism prevention. “The property was new, and we wanted to keep it safe. I set up a meeting with the tenants, and I invited a police officer from the City of Greenfield to speak. He provided them with valuable information on how to watch for crime and the steps to take if there was a crime in action.”

Karina then set up two additional neighborhood watch programs at CHISPA’s Walnut Place Townhomes and Tyler Park Apartments. “I was told by the tenants that the neighborhood watch program made a difference in the community where they lived.” Karina lived in Walnut Place Townhomes while she was going to school, and she bought a CHISPA home in 2008. Karina worked full time at CHISPA as the Community Services Assistant from 2011 to 2013.