August 2, 2007

San Jose students receive scholarships

By Ashley Rodriguez
Times Intern

Seventy-six students were honored with the Silicon Valley College Success Scholarship at a dinner at Evergreen Valley College on July 25.

Mia Williams is excited about attending college at California State Northridge. After receiving her scholarship, she noted that it eases her mind that she won't have to pay as much money to attend college. Like most of the 76 CalSOAP recipients, she is the first in her family to go to college. Photo by Ashley Rodriguez

CalSOAP, (San Jose California Student Opportunity and Access Program) awarded the scholarships with help from the Santa Cruz Educational Partnership Center and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The program, established to help financially disadvantaged college-bound San Jose high school seniors who are part of CalSOAP, received over 250 applications.

Three of the recipients were Ivan Diego, Larry Bach and Mia Williams. All three are first-generation college students.

Mia Williams, a 2007 graduate of Overfelt High School who lives in the Almaden area, will be attending California State Northridge. She plans to run track and is relieved to know that she will not have to pay as much money for school with the help of this scholarship.

Ivan Diego, a 2007 graduate of James Lick High School, will be attending UC Davis in the fall with hopes of majoring in international relations. Diego is the first member of his family to go to college and the only one out of his group of friends to be attending a four- year school. “I know what a great opportunity this is,” said Diego. “I’m very honored.”

Larry Bach graduated from Evergreen High School in the spring and will be heading to UC Berkeley in a few weeks. Bach plans to become a high school math teacher and says that receiving this scholarship makes him feel optimistic about his future.

CalSOAP has continued to work hard to ensure that Santa Clara County students get access to great opportunities and have a future that brightly shines.