SOLID EFFORTS BENEFIT KIDS IN GRAD.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer GRANADA HILLS - Pacoima mom Ana Isabel Torres remembers getting ready for work before dawn and finding her teenage son still studying from the night before - the budding mathematician engrossed en·gross tr.v. en·grossed, en·gross·ing, en·gross·es 1. To occupy exclusively; absorb: A great novel engrosses the reader. See Synonyms at monopolize. 2. in the principles of patience and persistence. Those all-night study sessions paid off Sunday when Francisco Romo, 17, was among 167 San Fernando High School San Fernando High School, located in San Fernando, California, is a secondary school that is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school colors are black and gold. All girl teams are referred to as Lady Tigers, all boy teams simply as Tigers. seniors honored at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills with college scholarships from the nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. Project GRAD Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . He'll be studying math at the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. , this fall. ``That's a big effort, I think, staying up all night to do homework,'' said Torres, a machinist, who added that Francisco is a model for his four younger brothers. As participants in Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams), the students had to achieve at least s 2.5 grade-point average and earn no less than a C in advanced algebra. They also had to take the Preliminary SAT, finish two four-week summer school-style study sessions during high school and tour universities. Being part of the Project GRAD program put extra burdens on the students, who start in ninth grade. In exchange, each senior who completed the program got a $6,000 scholarship, with the money going directly to the school the student will be attending. ``This program has meant a lot to the school,'' said Jose Rodriguez, principal of San Fernando High. Project GRAD organizers focused on San Fernando High because half of its students are English-language learners, and many come from poor families. The event's keynote address was delivered by actor Jacob Vargas, who starred in the movie ``Traffic'' and is an alumnus ALUMNUS, civil law. A child which one has nursed; a foster child. Dig. 40, 2, 14. of the school. Vargas described his parents as ``rancheros from Mexico'' who worked hard making and selling clothes. Sending a child to college was not a goal. ``Their idea of success was putting food on the table,'' Vargas said, adding that Project GRAD has encouraged parents to think about college for their children. Henry Espinoza, 17, of Pacoima said his mother told him from an early age to aim for college. Until she became a naturalized citizen NATURALIZED CITIZEN. One who, being born an alien, has lawfully become a citizen of the United States Under the constitution and laws. 2. He has all the rights of a natural born citizen, except that of being eligible as president or vice-president of the United , she made less than minimum wage doing factory work. Henry is heading for California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an , where he will study business administration. ``My family came from a bad income, and I say, you know what, business is a good place to make a good income, a good living,'' he said. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion