Scholarship Winners 2008
Ashley Corona, Austin. She is active in PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership Skills), she tutors younger children through the University Outreach Program, is part of the student council and her school's Red Cross group. To learn more about Ashley's work, click here
Meg Churchman, El Paso. She put together a team of 40 volunteers to build a house for a family of nine in Juarez Mexico, took on Coronado High's environmental club when an adult sponsor couldn't be found, she is a Girl Scout Program Aide and mentor to Scouts living in public housing. To learn more about Meg's work, click here
Chloe Zachary, San Antonio. As the current president of San Antonio Federation of Temple Youth she organizes community service projects to engage SAFTY youth in giving back to the community. She spends her spring semester tutoring children in the San Antonio Boys and Girls Club and dedicates summer breaks to serving as a one-on-one care giver/camp counselor to severely disabled youth. To learn more about Chloe's work, click here
What the recipients have to say about their service:
"Although at times it may be challenging, service relaxes my worries, lightens my spirit, and makes me feel like a valuable citizen." -Chloe Zachary
"Service is putting aside all your engagements, problems and desires, and working hard to make someone else's life better." -Meg Churchman
"I remind myself of all the people depending on me, even if it includes all the people I still haven't met." -Ashley Corona
Service Award Recipients 2008
YouthLaunch also honored eight outstanding participants from our No Kidding, Urban Roots and Youth Partnership for Change programs.
Omar Chavira, San Antonio, Texas
Karina Sanchez, Dallas, Texas
Michael Brown, Galveston, Texas
To read about these remarkable young people, click here.
In June 2006, YouthLaunch honored the following high school seniors with the YouthLaunch Scholarship for Outstanding Service:
Priscilla Novoa, Montwood High School, El Paso, Texas -- Priscilla single-handedly implemented El Paso's first high school chapter of "Best Buddies International," an organization that enhances the lives of the intellectually disabled by providing them with one on one friendships. She has accumulated over 1,000 community service hours in her four years of high school and is active in the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society, is captain of her cheerleading team and volunteers regularly at the El Paso Rehabilitation Center. Priscilla plans to attend medical school. To learn more about Priscilla's work, click here.
"Charlie" Rose, Garza High School, Austin, Texas -- When Charlie was faced with the challenge of becoming a mother in high school, she moved to a school with an attached child-care center and made up for lost time by finishing two years of school work in one. This highly motivated student ranks second in her graduating class. She volunteers at a non-profit community bookstore and the Austin People's Legal Collective, which provides free information on civil liberty defense. Charlie is also a peer educator in YouthLaunch's No Kidding program, educating other students about the realities of teen parenting. Charlie has been accepted into UT's Plan II honors program as a math major and pre-medical student. To learn more about Charlie's work, click here.
Juan Jose Lozano -- As the oldest child of Spanish-speaking parents, each one working two jobs, Juan Jose plays a major role in keeping his household running. Despite many challenges, Juan Jose has maintained his rank in the top 5% of his class. He has found the time to volunteer over 1,000 hours in service to his community over his four years of high school. Each year he works with the Texas Senior Citizen Home coordinating a Christmas charity for 25 needy families. In addition, he teaches religious education to second graders and does numerous other jobs for his church. Juan Jose hopes to become a civil or industrial engineer. To learn more about Juan Jose's work, click here.