Foundation scholarships: $20,000 awarded to each student for college

By Judy Masterson
STAFF WRITER

WAUKEGAN — The futures of 50 more Waukegan high school freshmen have been given a boost by the Schuler Family Foundation.

The students, 42 from Waukegan High School and eight from St. Martin de Porres Catholic High School, were awarded the $20,000 college scholarships in a ceremony Monday at Waukegan High's Upper Grade Center.

Since the program's inception in 2002, the scholar program has increased the level of services provided to its scholars during high school in order to increase their chances of admission to selective colleges and universities. The foundation funded additional counselors to provide one-on-one and group coaching for students and to implement new programs such as college tours, summer college programs, financial aid workshops and cultural excursions.

"We have increased the level of support to enable our scholars to realize and take full advantage of their academic potential," said Alda Licis, scholar program director.

"We have also increased the number and type of motivational activities to help our scholars develop an expanded view of themselves within their communities."

The 50 new Schuler scholars will join a group of 118 students that have already been awarded the four-year scholarship. To date, the Schuler Family Foundation has committed $3,360,000 to higher education in the Waukegan community.

In addition to expanding its own programs, the foundation continues to strengthen its ties with its partner schools and community by involving more teachers and parents in its programs.

"The success of our scholars depends only partly on our services — teachers, administrators, parents and other community members are the cornerstone of the support structure we create," Licis said.

The Schuler Scholarship is being awarded to the following Waukegan High School freshmen: Kyle Aird, Richardo Alvarez, Torie Bates, Brooke Beskow, Maritza Borjon, Alexia Borland, Albert Canda, Dillon Cappo, Alastair Colcol, Avilene Colin, David Colin, Christina Colver, Brian Cook, Terry Dejaresco, Evelyn Fraga, Michael Fritts, Celina Garza, Davinna Gonzalez, Karen Hernandez, Angel Herrera, Janelle Hunt, Phektra Keo, Gabriela Lara, Nancy Mandujano, Arianna Mandujano, Alberto Martinez, Taylor Netherton, Erika Nunez, Alondra Olvera, George Papandreou, Marybel Parra, Priya Patel, Cynthia Perez, Francesca Pickle, Carmen Ramos, Johnny Reed, Alexiandra Samuels-Zecher, Jennifer Sanchez, Joe Schlicht, Meet Singhi, Bresha Sumeret and Kimberly Villaronga.

Schuler scholar freshmen at St. Martin de Porres High School include: Hilton Arnold, Kadeem Batur, Erik Carrasco, Daisy Estela, Kassandra Padilla, Julissa Paloma, Irving Reyes and Shalia Wynn.