Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation Awards Scholarships to Star Students
Eight College-Bound Santa Ana Unified Seniors Receive First-Ever Scholarships.
- (1888PressRelease) June 15, 2012 - Eight graduating high school seniors in the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) this week received first-ever scholarships from the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation (SAPSF) as part of an innovative program in which district students sign a pledge to attend Santa Ana College and are guaranteed admission to local universities upon completion of transfer requirements.
The purpose of the SAPSF is to support the academic achievement of students in the SAUSD by providing financial resources for programs and activities that will enhance student success. The Foundation is actively cultivating the development of student scholarships for seniors, mini-grants for teachers and educators, and support for students interested in the performing arts, science, technology, and athletics.
The program, Santa Ana ¡Adelante!, was launched collaboratively in 2011 by the Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana College, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and University of California, Irvine (UCI). The ambitious goal of the program is to see a college diploma in every Santa Ana home by 2020.
Santa Ana ¡Adelante! provides students with a seamless pipeline from middle school through high school to college and university. The program offers qualifying SAUSD students an opportunity to be first in line on the path to college, and provides concrete assistance and expert guidance along the way.
The eight seniors each received scholarships for $500 - the first of their kind awarded by the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation - at Tuesday night's SAUSD Board of Education meeting. Foundation officials said they will award the scholarships annually to qualifying seniors.
"We're very pleased to award scholarships to these deserving seniors," said Rob Richardson, President, SAPSF. "They've worked extremely hard in high school, and by signing an ¡Adelante! pledge, they've also demonstrated how seriously they take their college careers and life goals."
The following students received scholarships:
- Yadira Aranda from Lorin Griset High
- Alan Flores from Century High
- Oscar Granados from Middle College High
- Jesus Guerrero from Saddleback High
- Maria Martinez from Valley High
- Dario Navarro from Santa Ana High
- Rita Orozco from Godinez High
- Janet Ortega from Segerstrom High
The students were selected during a collaborative process that included Santa Ana College, staff members from their respective high schools, and Foundation officials.
"Joining hands with local colleges and our gracious community has provided a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for higher education," said Dr. Thelma Melendez, Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District. "We are thrilled to see the establishment of the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation and the positive impact it is having on the lives of Santa Ana students."
Santa Ana ¡Adelante! guarantees participating students priority registration at Santa Ana College and guaranteed transfer to attend CSUF or UCI, where they will complete their bachelor's degree. The first group of SAUSD students to benefit from Santa Ana ¡Adelante! are the graduating seniors from the Class of 2011. They entered Santa Ana College last fall and will transfer to CSUF or UCI in 2013 or 2014, depending on their ability to enroll in required transfer classes at SAC.
Santa Ana ¡Adelante! provides a variety of educational benefits and services to participating SAUSD graduates, including the following:

• Early college and career planning beginning in the 6th grade for both parents and students in the SAUSD.
• All 6th-grade parents and students will sign the "I'm Going to College" pledge.
• Continued and coordinated early outreach efforts and college-bound activities for both parents and
students, 9th through 12th grade, led by Achieving College, a network of high school counselors and outreach staff from SAC, CSU or UCI will guarantee college admission to all SAUSD students who complete all transfer requirements at SAC and successfully meet CSUF or UCI admissions standards.
• SAUSD seniors will receive priority registration to SAC for the fall semester prior to graduating from high school.
• The city of Santa Ana will promote the Santa Ana Futures scholarship as part of its annual employee payroll deduction program, providing continuing financial support.
• All SAUSD students attending SAC will receive individual assistance to ensure they access all available financial assistance while at SAC.
Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation, a (501(c)(3), was formed on June 23, 2011, for the purpose of benefiting Santa Ana Unified School District students by:
- Supporting programs and activities that maximize student achievement;
- Supporting and sustaining programs in performing arts;
- Supporting and sustaining programs to promote healthy development of our youth;
- Strengthening and supporting collaborations and partnerships with businesses, foundations and families;
- Raising funds and providing scholarships;
- Assisting and supporting Santa Ana Unified School District in attaining educational, cultural, scientific, English language development and technological goals.
To learn more about the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation visit www.sausd.us/domain/41
Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) educates approximately 58,000 students at 61 dynamic school sites throughout the Santa Ana community. The K-12 school district is the largest in Orange County and the second largest employer in Santa Ana, with approximately 4,500 educators and staff members. The school district boasts 28 California Distinguished Schools, five National Blue Ribbon Schools, and two 2011 National Blue Ribbon nominees. In addition, Saddleback High, Valley High and Santa Ana High School were named as three of the most improved high schools in Orange County for students passing the California High School Exit Exam. For more information about our schools, visit www.sausd.us. More information about Santa Ana ¡Adelante! is available at www.SantaAnaAdelante.org.
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