April 10, 2008

Kiwanis holds fundraising event for scholarships

Members of Kiwanis Clubs from all over the South Bay got together Thursday, April 3 to raise money for their Turn Around Scholarships, which will be given out during the month of May.

Lots of the Almaden Kiwanis Club members attended the 12th annual Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Benefit. Among those are, top row from the left, Bob Coelho, club President Chris Verburg, Jim Lucarotti, and Clara Lucarotti. The front row, from the left, includes Nancy Grove, Adele Squires, Jim Pojda (center), Betty O’Connor, Pete Edwards and Jeannie Stonehouse. Photos by Carol Rosen

The 12th annual Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Benefit, which again this year was held at Villa Ragusa in Campbell, offered a silent auction, raffle tickets and other prizes to members and guests from 15 clubs throughout the South Bay. The donations will help provide scholarships for senior high school students from East Side Union, Campbell Union, San Jose Unified, Santa Clara Unified, Los Gatos-Saratoga, Milpitas, Morgan Hill Unified, Fremont Unified and the San Jose Job Corps.

There were lots of people, prizes and entertainment on hand. Jazz Purr from Los Gatos High School entertained, as did former San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery. Guests also met Andria Jaramillo, who currently is working as an intern in management at Mineta San Jose International Airport.

The former Turnaround Scholarship recipient nearly flunked out of high school, but managed to graduate on the honor roll and as a member of the National Honor Society. She went on to DeAnza College where she earned As and Bs before heading off to San Diego State where she earned a degree in international relations. She has maintained a 3.5 GPA and currently is finishing up her master’s degree.

Pam Foley, left, and Leslie Reynolds are among the guests at the 12th annual Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Benefit.

During her speech, Jaramillo explained that she had little confidence through her high school years. “When I received the Turnaround Scholarship, it gave me confidence and helped me get through the first year of college,” she told those attending.

San Jose Unified Board Trustees Leslie Reynolds and Pam Foley were also on hand. Foley noted the program offers success to students whose growing years have been difficult whether because of low income, drugs, broken homes or abuse. “These students have gone from near failing to success not just in school but within themselves. They go on to graduate from high school and get a college education. They become tremendous role models to their friends and school mates,” she said.

The scholarship, typically $1,000 per year—they can be reapplied for—recognizes students who have turned their lives around from a disastrous start in high school. Many have overcome tremendous obstacles and go on to graduate from college.

—By Carol Rosen