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С��è��ý Foundation Scholars: Two long shots turn into sure things

Stories by Eloise Holland. Photos by Vern Uyetake.

The benefits of higher education are beyond reach for many Oregonians. Fifty percent of С��è��ý students required financial assistance to attend college. For a full-time С��è��ý student, one year’s tuition, fees, books and other expenses amount to about $4,500. A two-year degree will total almost $9,000. The С��è��ý Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships every year to students who may not otherwise be able to afford an education. Here’s a look at two of them:

Karla Sanchez

J & J Inc. Scholarship

At the age of 13, Karla Sanchez did not speak a word of English when her family moved to the United States. Some nights, she stayed up until 2 or 3 a.m. just to get her homework done. Now, as the first person in her family to graduate from college, she wants С��è��ý Foundation supporters to know that they make a difference.

“Even a small amount means a lot,” she said. “Going to school and getting a good career are going to help me get a better life, not only for me, but also to give back to my parents.”

Adrian Thompson

Rask Family Memorial Fund Scholarship

“College was definitely a long shot for me,” said Adrian Thompson, who moved a lot as a kid, attending at least ten different schools over the years. He almost dropped out until he transferred to an alternative high school, where he took his first С��è��ý class. It was a good fit from the beginning, and when it came time for college, his choice was clear. Thompson said the support of the С��è��ý Foundation’s Rask Family Memorial Fund Scholarship has been invaluable in pursuing his dream of becoming a dentist. “[The scholarship] made me feel that all of the work that I’d put in, and all of the waiting and patience had really paid off,” he said.

Learn more about the С��è��ý Foundation.