Ariel Locke, a school administrative assistant, was ready for a change. That prompted her to pursue certification in engineering technology through MiraCosta College. A $1,000 scholarship from Community HousingWorks (CHW) is helping pay her way.
Locke still had some hiccups to figure out before she started: How to leave her current job a little early to attend the four-day-per-week training, for instance. And how to find trustworthy childcare for her kids. But Locke wanted to seize the opportunity. "I was looking for an area that was growing and this is one of them," she says.
The training program is four months and the placement rate for those who graduate is reported at near 90%. She likes the odds. "I talked to a friend and she asked me, 'In 10 years, would you regret not venturing out and trying something different?' That was a good affirmation for me. I need to take a chance."
CHW presented scholarships to 36 residents this summer for a total of $36,000. The Sue Reynolds Valor Scholarships are named for the nonprofit's past CEO, who retired last year and was fundamental in founding the program. This year, in addition to teens pursuing a traditional four-year degree, CHW encouraged those pursuing additional education or training, like Locke, to apply. More than 100 scholars followed through with applications.
"A lot of our scholarship winners have gone through Study Stars, our afterschool program," says Shannon Morrison, resource development manager at CHW. "Many of our students start there, for grades kindergarten through eighth."
Scholarships went to residents pursuing everything from law degrees to English as a Second Language classes. One resident wanted to become a drug and alcohol counselor. Another wanted to pursue a nursing degree. "The COVID economic crisis had a huge effect on our population," Morrison says. "People in hospitality, especially had been furloughed and some were pursuing alternate careers. We're proud to support people in those areas."
There are traditional students, too, like Victor Morano, who is majoring in biochemistry at UCLA. "The Valor scholarship will help me with housing, food and expenses," he says. A rising sophomore, he spent his freshman year at his kitchen table because of the pandemic. This fall, he'll be in a dorm. Students can use their scholarships for tuition or any of the expenses that accompany going to school, including laptops, transportation, room and board.
Morano grew up with CHW's afterschool programming and gave a speech at the scholarship ceremony. He remembers trips to the community center after school. In high school, he became involved in the Achievers program, a teen volunteer program to help tutor Study Stars students. "I tutored all four years of high school," he says. "Whenever we were open and someone needed help with math, they would send them to me."
Offering these scholarships "shows that we believe in our residents and that every student deserves access to education," says Morrison. "We believe that a safe and stable home is a platform for success and want to provide our residents with ways to improve their lives once they have that home stability."
Scholarship programs are essential to students. "With the rising cost of college tuition, scholarships play a critical role in how students pay for college," notes Jackie Bright, Executive Director of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA). "There are a lot of scholars who rely on private scholarships and institutional award dollars to complete their education."
That includes programs like the one offered by CHW. Bright adds that NSPA members awarded $4.25 billion to more than 800,000 students during the 2019 academic year "and continue to work strategically to strengthen educational access. Especially now, as we learn the long-term impacts the pandemic has had on higher education."
08/12/2021
