Andrea Anaya was born in Michoacan, Mexico, arrived in the U.S. in 1992, and settled in Sacramento last summer, 2004. Andrea currently is a senior at Laguna Creek High School graduating with a 3.79 GPA. Andrea’s greatest asset is her determination to strive for a chance to attend college. The oldest of three children, Andrea made the difficult choice to stay in Sacramento with her Uncle and Aunt while her parents and two younger sisters returned to Mexico. Knowing that leaving Sacramento would have delayed her an opportunity to continue with her schooling for at least one year, Andrea opted to stay and finish her final year in high school to take advantage of college scholarship opportunities. The first in her family to attend college, Andrea looks forward to sharing her accomplishment with her family upon their return this summer. Andrea will be attending California State University, Sacramento this fall with a major in Business Administration.

Isaac Bermudez, from Sacramento, is a senior at Florin High School graduating with a 2.96 grade point average. Significant academic and athletic accomplishments include making honor roll in his freshman and sophomore year, academic V-Block his junior year, participating on the basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years and playing on the baseball team all four years. Isaac’s accomplishments in the community included donating his Saturday and Sunday mornings to Loaves and Fishes in downtown Sacramento to help people in need. As the youngest of four children, Isaac aspires to be the first one of his family to attend college, where he plans to major in the business, science or health service field. Isaac believes the integration of business and computer science into the health service field would maximize better services for those in need. Attendance at Sacramento or San Francisco State College is Isaac’s preference in allowing him the chance to stay relatively close to his disabled mother.

Carolina Bistue was born in Argentina, and settled with her family in Davis in 2002. Currently a senior at Davis High School, Carolina will graduate with a 4.3 GPA, and be in the top 10% of her class. Significant academic and athletic accomplishments include being President of Interact, the high school division of Rotary International, forming part of the National Honors Society at Davis High School, and being voted captain of her Field Hockey Sports team. Carolina was voted Most Valuable Player in her Junior year and continued to be the top scorer of her team in both her Junior and Senior year. As a dedicated member of the community, Carolina has helped Interact hold fundraisers for Afganistan and Africa in addition to local projects such as clothes and blood drives. Through NHS, she helped Davis Community Meals feed the needy by cooking for the Center and helped plant trees in the community. The youngest of four children, Carolina had the standards set for her by her family, all of whom attended college, including her parents. Majoring in Mathematics, Carolina plans on attending Berkeley in the Fall.

Alfredo Cadenas resides with his family in Rio Vista and is a senior at Rio Vista High School. He plans on attending CSUS and majoring in Communications. Although English is his second language, Alfredo is President of the Rio Vista High School Culture Club, which allows him to enhance his leadership and communication skills. During the summer, he coaches a soccer team in the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) League. Just this year, to help further develop his communication skills, Alfredo has provided daily weather reports for a Rio Vista radio station. Looks like sunny days ahead!

Claudia V. Canturin is a senior at Laguna Creek High Scool. Born in Lima, Peru she came to the United States at the age of six. She has been able to master the English language and is now fluent in both Spanish and English and has also learned to speak French. Claudia has excelled academically and is currently holding strong to a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.86. She is currently involved in MECHA and was the Historian for a club called Las Chicas. She is very driven, diligent, and focused. All of which will allow her to succeed at California State University, Sacramento where she will study to be a Registered Nurse.

Luz Cano is a senior who plans on attending Saint Mary’s College of California in the fall. At the present time she is undecided about her major but knows it will be in one of the sciences. Luz has been very active with extra curricular activities with her Honors Academy in several community service projects. These projects include creating and delivering personalized holiday cards to five different inner-city schools, a pen pal project, and teddy bear drives for foster youth. Luz’s most personal and rewarding community activity is tutoring a first grade student two times a week for three hours.

Eric Chavez was born in Sacramento, and is a senior at Christian Brothers High School and president of the Speech and Debate Club. His Speech and Debate Club competed in the National Forensics League and Lion’s Club Student Competition after a hiatus of ten years. Not only has Eric revived interest in the Speech and Debate Club through recruitment and encouragement on his part, but his position on his school’s moot court team this year helped bring victory and a championship to his school as they argued a simulated Supreme Court case. Eric’s interest in Speech and Debate is rivaled only by his passion for soccer. His dedication to community service comes two-fold: he has assisted teaching second-grade children at his parish for the past five years and tutors second-grade English Learners in summer school remedial classes as well. His mentoring to these children leaves him with satisfaction that they do not have to go through school without someone to help them through a difficult adjustment period in their school lives as he did being a native Spanish speaker. Eric is hoping to pursue the biological sciences with a major in Genetics at the University of California Berkely and continue on to medical school.

Lery D. Chavez is a senior at C. K. McClatchy High School. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico she came to the United States determined to be successful. She is fluent in both Spanish an English and enjoys being involved in her school. She is involved in Humanities and International Studies Program (HISP) Honors Program, she is president of Club Ollin Latino, an active member of California Scholarship Federation, the L.G.S.A., and the Ecology Club. During her extra time she enjoys being a part of “Rincones de mi Tierra” Folkloric Dance Group and also giving back to the community by helping out at the Sacramento Food Bank. With a 3.56 GPA she has a full load of classes that include Spanish AP and Spanish Literature AP among other college courses. Lery plans to attend California State University, Sacramento where she plans to double major in Spanish and Psychology.

Felicia Cooper, hailing from Sacramento, is a senior at William Daylor High School and graduating against many odds. Significant accomplishments have been receiving two awards for Academic Achievement during the school year of 2003-2004. As a teen mother, Felicia set out to graduate in June 2005 to pursue a career in nursing. Felicia’s extracurricular activities include an R.O.P. course in Business Computers.Given her limited time, Felicia still finds time for community service involvement by volunteering at a doctor’s office two and one half hours daily, Monday through Friday. The ultimate career goal for Felicia is to become an RN (registered nurse) in the Neonatal Nursery at Sutter Memorial Hospital. Through the help of a scholarship for college she plans to achieve her goal of a BA in nursing.

In the fall, Marcos Dominguez will be attending UC Davis majoring in Sociology. His parents are originally from Mexico and have now settled their family in Galt. Marcos has attended all four of his high school years at Galt High School earning a 3.73 Grade Point Average (GPA). Each of those years, he has played on the offensive or defensive line for the Galt Warriors. In addition to playing football, Marcos is involved with the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) and the California Scholarship Foundation (CSF).

Gaby Galindo lives in Sacramento and attends Rio Americano High School. The University of Maryland and Seton Hall University (New Jersey) have accepted her application as a Pre-Med student. Since her sophomore year, Gaby has volunteered more than 300 hours at Kaiser Permanente and Mercy General Hospital. Her love of children and helping others has forged the desire to pursue the field of pediatrics. This year, Gaby earned the Golden State Exam Award in Algebra and Biology. She also is the Secretary of the Art Club and Treasurer of the Spanish Club at Rio Americano. Gaby is very proud of her Peruvian heritage and plans to travel to Peru after completing her studies to help Peruvians in need. Gaby’s mother is from Lima, and her father is from Cusco, Peru.

Mario Madrigal attends Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento. He carries an impressive Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.48 and has earned Honor Roll distinctions every semester. Mario is Editor for the high school newspaper, The Talon. He is also involved with the Mexican American Youth Association (MAYA) as Treasurer, and was selected as the 2005 Valedictorian to deliver the farewell address for his graduating class. Mario will attend Stanford University and major in Management Science and Engineering with a minor in Economics. His proud parents are from the Mexican states of Jalisco and Durango.

Marie L. Mendez-Nunez

Epifanio E. Nunez attends Galt Union High School where he has been a part of the swim team and has been obtain a 3.3 GPA. Beside being a academic scholar, Epifanio enjoys being a Youth Council at St. Christopher’s Church. As Youth Council he organizes community service with organizations such as Loaves & Fishes and Habitat for Humanity. In his spare time, Epifanio enjoys being an amateur Film Directos and Screen Writer, Recently, he was awarded the California Governor’s Scholarship which he will utilize to attend California State University, Chico where he will major in Business Administration

Jessica Quezada attends Galt Union High School. Being full time student and working part time she has been able to acheive a 3.5 GPA. Having a full schedule she still finds time to particiapte in extra curricular activities such as La Raza Club and challenges herself by taking AP courses like Calculas and German. During her spare time Jessica enjoys spending time with her family. Jessica is a determined young lady who sets high goals for herself. Both of which will allow her to succeed at California State University, Sacramento where she will major in Liberal Arts to ultimiately become an Elementary School Teacher. Elizabeth Ochoa attends Ukiah High School in Mendocino County. In January of 1999, Elizabeth and her family arrived from Mexico and settled in the farming community of Talmage. Learning English has been a challenge, along with being in a new school and a new country. Despite these difficult circumstances, Elizabeth is currently enrolled in Honors classes and even tutors elementary students after school. Extracurricular activities include involvement with the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) and singing for her Catholic Church choir. Elizabeth intends on attending CSUS and majoring in Criminal Justice in order to serve the needs of underrepresented people.

Sendy C. Ramos is a senior at Live Oak High School. Born in Mexico, she came to the United States and learned to speak in English in the third grade. Sendy has many accomplishments to be proud of, one of which is graduating Salutorian with a GPA of 4.0 Sendy not only plays Volleyball and Soccer, but she is also President of the Spanish Honors Society, Yearbook Editor, Vice President of CSF and also Vice President of her class. Being involved in student government, along with all her extra curricular activities, she finds time to do peer to peer counseling, as well as be the Activities Director of Block Live Oak. Sendy plans to attend California State University, Chico where she’ll be majoring in either Mass Communication or Criminal Justice.

Cindy A. Sandoval attends Winters High School and is graduating with a GPA of 4.0. She is currently involved in Amigos Unidos and enjoys dancing to Hip Hop which happened to be the topic of her Senior project. Having been accepted to five different colleges, Cindy has decided to attend the University of California, Davis. Although she has not decided on a major, she is very much interested in studying either law or medicine.
Oscar Sarabia is a senior at West Campus High School. He and his family arrived in the U.S. from Mexico in 1993. His parents have always stressed the importance of education. Oscar has earned the Outstanding Achievement Award in Algebra, Outstanding Speaker of Spanish for native speakers, and has participated in the Accelerated Entrance Program at CSUS. He would like to attend UC Berkeley and major in Political Science. Thereafter, he intends to study immigration law and eventually establish his law firm to assist families that experience similar difficulties he and his family were subjected to. On March 6th, he ran 26.2 miles in 4 hours and 22 minutes at the Napa Valley Marathon. Oscar also enjoys playing the piano, violin and guitar. He is a member of the St. Peter’s Catholic Church Choir, Raices de mi Tierra- a Mexican folklorio dance group, and is captain of the Southgate Mavericks soccer team, who were 2004 league champions

Candelaria Smith attends Elk Grove High School. She intends to utilize her scholarship support to major in Political Science. Subsequently, Candelaria hopes to attend law school and practice constitutional law. Her parents are from Mexico, which has contributed to her excellent Spanish language skills. Academically, Candaleria is a four-time winner of the Academic Award for high G.P.A., Scholar Athlete Award three consecutive years in tennis, and achieved the highest G.P.A. in the fall season for varsity sports in the Elk Grove Unified School District. Being active in her church has always been important, which includes Link Crew leader and participating in Friday Night Live. She has committed over 200 hours at two Elk Grove Convalescent homes, participated in the Kids Kan! food drive last Christmas, and is involved with the Girl Scouts of America.

Gilbert Valencia is a senior at Galt Union High School. He is planning to attend the University of California at Davis in the fall majoring in Landscape Architecture. Gilbert has played four years of varsity soccer and was awarded Most Valuable Player in 2004 as the “best defender.” Gilbert has volunteered numerous hours of community service tutoring middle school students, as well as participating in community cleanup drives.

Erin Whinnery, a senior at Loretto High School, will be attending Boston College in the fall and plans to double major in business and history. She has a 3.77 cumulative GPA and is ranked 35th of 120. Erin began swimming at age 8 and has become an integral member and captain of Loretto’s water polo and swim teams, and was selected for the Sacramento Area Junior Olympic Water Polo Team. She works as a lifeguard, synchronized swim team coach, swim lesson instructor, and assistant pool manager for Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District. Erin will be joining her brother as first generation college graduates.

Shahrzad Y. Zarafshar attends Mira Loma High School and is ranked second in her class. In the fall she plans to attend Stanford University and major in biomedical computational engineering. Her high school accomplishments include serving as a class officer, Science Bowl captain, Math Club President and Manager of the Botany study for the Arcade Creek Restoration Program. Her future goals include continuing her community service by participating in El Centro Chicano’s Barrio Assistance Program and volunteering in Stanford’s Arbor Clinic. Her goals come largely from her older sister whose work and dedication have made her a very important role model.

2nd Year Scholarship Recipients

Ana Calderon is a second year Mayor Joe Serna, Jr. award recipient who is currently attending the University of California at Davis. At the present time, she is maintaining a 3.27 grade point average as a pre-med major. Ana has continued her commitment of giving back to the community as a member of the UCD Early Academic Outreach Program (EOP) guiding high school juniors and seniors to college. In addition, she still finds time to tutoring middle school students.

Amber Durrell is a second year Mayor Joe Serna, Jr. award recipient who is currently attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Amber is currently undecided about her major but has a strong interest in either biological research or physics. The demands of college have not hindered Amber from volunteering her time to tutor students in hopes of inspiring children to continue their education.