Monica Novoa: 2008 Single Parent Scholarship Recipient
Sponsored By: Pacific Gas & Electric Company's WNEA Monica Novoa is currently a student at CSU Channel Islands working hard to earn degrees in Nursing and Psychology. Monica may sound like your typical college student, but she is not. 28 year old Monica has had to overcome a daunting amount of adversity to become the college student she is today.
At 16 Monica’s life veered drastically off course when she became pregnant. When she broke the news to her parents they threw her out of the house and disowned her. With no where left to live and no family to support her, Monica turned to the baby’s father. She moved in with him, but soon found herself caught in a bad situation with a high school drop out and a gang member.
Being a young teenage mother surrounded by negative influences, Monica feared that she would end up as a high school drop out who worked at K Mart and lived off welfare. But that was not the life Monica wanted for herself or her son. Monica wanted to be a self sufficient and responsible mother with a good job, and she knew that completing high school was the only way to achieve her goal. For her Junior and Senior year, Monica juggled attending classes, going to summer school, studying hard, and raising her son. In 1997, she earned her high school diploma and celebrated her son’s second birthday.
Monica’s son strongly influenced her educational goals. Every time Monica took him to the hospital she was amazed by the doctors and the nurses. The medical staff’s dedication inspired Monica to dream about becoming a nurse. Monica soon enrolled in a technical college and became a certified medical technician. With her new qualifications, she was able to quit her waitressing job for a position at a medical clinic. Still dreaming about becoming a nurse, she enrolled in Ventura College’s nursing program. But soon after, tragedy befell Monica’s family. Her father passed away leaving her mother widowed and bankrupt. Hoping to reconcile, Monica welcomed her mother into her home. Unfortunately, her mother’s presence added an additional financial and emotional strain that forced Monica to drop out of school.
For two and a half years, Monica’s educational goals remained at a standstill while she worked two jobs and struggled to make ends meet. During this time Monica found herself unfilled, so she sought counseling. With the counselor’s help, Monica re-discovered her dream. A newly inspired Monica applied for financial aid and scholarships, and was finally able to secure the money she needed to attend night classes. In 2006 she earned her Associate’s Degree from Ventura College along with a spot on the National Dean’s List.
Monica’s perseverance in the face of extreme adversity proves she deserves the Capture the Dream, Inc. 2008 Single Parent Scholarship. She will use the scholarship money to pursue her dream at CSU Channel Island’s Nursing Program. Her success and drive have instilled a strong value for education in her son who is now 12 years old, an honor role student, and her biggest inspiration.
Jordan Lee: 2008 George Geng On Lee - Minorities in Leadership
Scholarship Recipient
Barstow High student Jordan Lee exemplifies the qualities of a George Geng On Lee - Minorities in Leadership Scholarship winner. As a Pueblo Laguna Tribe Member, Miss Barstow 2007, and Class President, Jordan has demonstrated that she is a role model and a passionate advocate for her community.
Jordan believes that in life all people are confronted with a simple choice: Are you a leader, or are you a follower? For Jordan the answer was easy; she was a leader. At the young age of 12, Jordan put her decision into action and ran for Class President. With the witty slogan “Vote for me, Jordan Lee,” Jordan captured her school’s votes and became Class President of Barstow High School for not one, but seven years. In Jordan’s words, “My class elected me for one reason, because I have the power to stand firm.”
To Jordan being a leader means more than standing firm; being a leader means giving back. She learned this lesson in her government class when her teacher gave her the assignment to complete ten hours of community service. At the time ten hours seemed like an eternity, but in spite of her hesitation she pushed through the mandated hours. By the tenth hour Jordan was surprised to discover that she actually enjoyed volunteering. She went beyond the required ten hours and started organizing and participating in various fundraisers and events. Her most notable achievements include, the Barstow High School Blood Drive (2004 -2008), Hurricane Katrina Walk-a-thon (2005), Fire Relief Fundraiser (2007), and Pennies for Patients (2008). Through philanthropy she learned that one compassionate action can make a difference. Philanthropy also challenged her definition of a leader. She realized that being leader meant more than being a role model, being a leader meant being an advocate for your community. With over 200 hours of community service completed and more than 150 community service events attended, Jordan has improved many lives in her community and proved that she is a strong and compassionate leader.
While Jordan strove to exemplify leadership and compassion in every aspect of her life, she did so with a larger goal in mind. Jordan’s dream is to become the first member of her family to attend a four year university. Jordan aims to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. With her degree she hopes to become a publicist who will voice the concerns of Native American tribes. As a member of the Pueblo Laguna Tribe, she is keenly aware of the challenges Native Americans struggle with in their daily lives. As a publicist, Jordan wants to author government proposals that improve the living conditions on reservations while empowering Native Americans to overcome harmful stereotypes.
Jordan’s current success as a leader proves that she is more than qualified to attend any university, but a lack of available aide have unfortunately made her dream more allusive. Fortunately, as a Capture the Dream, Inc. scholarship winner Jordan now has the funds to help turn her dream into a reality. In Fall 2008 Jordan will attend CSU Fresno as a distinguished minority leader who will work hard to make her peers and her community proud.
Barstow High student Jordan Lee exemplifies the qualities of a George Geng On Lee - Minorities in Leadership Scholarship winner. As a Pueblo Laguna Tribe Member, Miss Barstow 2007, and Class President, Jordan has demonstrated that she is a role model and a passionate advocate for her community.