Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Teens Receive National Scholarships
Strong, Smart and Bold Scholarships awarded to Eureka! program participants
Annalisa DeAlba, Ana Delagdo, Jessica Irabon, Alisa Lemere and Yulisa Rosales each earned a Strong, Smart and Bold Eight Grade Scholarship in a nationwide competition sponsored by Girls Inc. National to support and encourage girls enrolled in college bound programming.
“We are proud to share that our girls claimed five of eighteen scholarships awarded throughout the nation, the most from any one affiliate,” said Victoria Juarez, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria “It’s very rewarding to see the girls receive recognition for their academic and personal achievements – many for the very first time.”
The teens were required to submit grade reports, letters of recommendation and a two-page essay to compete for the honor. In the essays the girls wrote about their strengths and how Girls Inc. was helping them to develop into strong, smart and bold young women.
The Eureka! program which launched in June 2012, includes 25 local eighth graders. These girls spent four weeks last summer on the U.C. Santa Barbara campus engaged in hand-on learning in science and technology workshops and participating in career development and leadership activities. Eureka! is a five year college bound program focused on career paths in science, technology, engineering and math. The first cohort of Eurekans are preparing to spend another four weeks at U.C. Santa Barbara this summer and will be joined by a new cohort of 25 upcoming eighth graders.
Securing the $500 is just the first step to achieving their long-term goals of attending college and having a fulfilling career. “I work very hard to keep my grades above average and make my parents proud,” Irabon stated. The Eurekans are keenly focused on college and career development at a time when many of their peers are just beginning to contemplate how to navigate their freshman year in high school.
About Girls Incorporated of Carpinteria
Girls Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold and seeks to empower girls and women to achieve personal, social, economic and political success. We provide programs for girls 5 to 18 years old that focus on science, math, and technology; college and careers; health; financial literacy; sports skills; leadership and advocacy; and media literacy. Call (805) 684-6364 or visit www.girlsinc-carp.org