The South County California Student Opportunity and Access Program known as Cal-SOAP is celebrating a decade of helping low-income and first-generation students in San Benito and South County pursue their post-secondary education.
To mark this milestone, Cal-SOAP began awarding $100 scholarships to up to 19 students each month, starting in October and continuing through June 2013.
Every kindergarten through 12th grade student in the South County Cal-SOAP’s consortium (which includes 19 schools in the Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister and Aromas-San Juan school districts) is eligible to be considered each month for the $100 college scholarship. This will also include an individual college savings information session with a Cal-SOAP staff member and the student’s parents.
Staff at Cal-SOAP will select new students each month. Their names will be announced by the end of the month. Every student in the South County Cal-SOAP consortium is qualified to be considered for a scholarship.
Cal-SOAP is committed to advising, informing and exposing students and their parents to post-secondary opportunities and resources. Those who want to help Cal-SOAP continue making a difference in the lives of students may do so by donating to the South County Cal-SOAP 10-Year Anniversary Fund. Approximately 100 percent of those donations will go directly to students.
Checks can be made payable to GUSD with “Cal-SOAP 10-yr Anniversary” in the memo field. Click on the donation form attached to this story, complete it and mail along with a check to:
South County Cal-SOAP
750 W. Tenth Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Cal-SOAP scholarship recipients so far:
October
-Wyatt Romero, Rucker Elementary School, third grade, would like to attend San Jose State University.
-Maria Espinoza, San Benito High School, 10th grade, desired college/university not specified.
November
-Elizabeth Ha, Live Oak High School, 10th grade, would like to attend Santa Clara University and major in Business.
-Sophia Villegas, Aromas School, seventh grade, would like to attend the University of San Francisco and major in Business.
December
-Xochilt Alcalá, Anzar High School, 10th grade, would like to attend a UC school.
-David Montes, Gilroy High School, 10th grade, plans to apply to the CSU, UC and private college systems.
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