First Group of Scholars Graduates From College;
Los Angeles Times Marks Program’s 10th Anniversary
Eleven years ago, seven outstanding
7th graders from Lennox Middle School were chosen to be the first
group of Partnership Scholars. Seeing no viable college preparatory
option for them among the area high schools at the time, Dr. Glenn
Langer, founder of the Partnership Scholars, decided to finance their
high school educations himself, at St. Bernard’s Academy in Playa
Del Rey.
Today, 11 years after its inception, the Partnership Scholars is
operating entirely within the pubic school systems of Los Angeles
and Mendocino Counties in California. It boasts nearly 300
students in 19 participating schools, all of whom are presently enrolled
in - or have graduated from - public schools.
The original “Group of Seven” Scholars won dozens
of academic honors and student awards at their high school graduation,
and six of the seven went on to four-year universities in California
on full or partial scholarships.
In June 2006, three from group graduated
from universities – all with honors.
Three others are completing special programs and coursework this summer and next
Fall and will wear the cap and gown in the Spring, 2007.
The Los Angeles Times
published an article in June 2006 recognizing the achievements of
this extraordinary group of students and the overall success of the
Partnership Scholars. The article was written by Bob Poole, who has
reported on the program on three previous occasions. To retrieve
the article online, go to www.latimes.com and search the archive
section).
This first group of Partnership Scholars set the tone for the program,” according
to Meg Sanchez, executive director of the Partnership Scholars. ”They are full
of joy and intelligence and they spread their enthusiasm for life wherever they
go. They appreciate everyone and everything connected to the program and they
are models for balancing rigorous academic focus and stimulating social pursuits.”
The college senior Scholars include:
Michelle Avalos / Pepperdine
University - a business
administration major who graduated in the Spring 2006. Michelle
wants to run her own business, but is also interested in working
with families and kids who have been recently homeless. Read
Michelle's letter >
Yessica Barrientos / Universtiy of California
at Dominguez Hills – a criminal
justice major who wants to become an attorney. Yessica
is planning to graduate next year. Read Yessica's letter >
Jesse Chavez / University
of California at Riverside – a
film and visual culture major who wants to work in public relations
and media. Jesse is studying in Madrid, Spain,
this summer and will graduate in the Spring 2007. Read
Jesse's letter >
Tynelia Morris / University
of California at Dominguez Hills – a
sociology major who wants to devote herself to social work
and helping families with kids. Tynelia graduated
in the Spring, 2006. Read Tynelia's letter >
Maria Pelayo (Falcone) / Cal State University
at Long Beach – a
psychology major who was accepted into the Career and Opportunities
in Research (COR) program and wants to pursue her Ph.D. and
become a researcher. This summer, Maria is participating
in a research internship at the University of Minnesota. She
expects to graduate in the Spring, 2007. Read
Maria's letter >
Milagro Romero / Loyola
Marymount University – a
political science major who graduated with honors in the Spring,
2006, and is now working as Deputy Assistant to L.A. Country
Supervisor Gloria Molina. Milagro wants to pursue a career
in government and politics with a focus on immigration issues.
We congratulate these outstanding former Scholars and are very
proud of their accomplishments. Read
Milagro's letter >
Reflections
from the Regional Coordinator,
Meg Sanchez
I feel very privileged to have been part of the
Partnership Scholars’ Program
since its inception in Lennox in 1996. We started with just one site
and seven students and currently there are nearly 300 students in 19
participating schools at more than twenty five sites.
The mentoring that children receive throughout the six years impacts
their lives in many powerful ways. When scholars’ experiences
include visits to the L.A. County Museum of Art, The Museum of Tolerance,
the Pantages Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, UCLA, Loyola Marymount,
San Diego, Santa Barbara, (and in some cases Boston, NYC and Washington
D.C.) their world literally opens up. New environments, when experienced
with a mentor, are no longer frightening or “off limits”,
and these experiences gradually result in confidence and independence.
Partnership scholars come to fully realize that there is no limit to
what they can do with their lives when education is a focus. Glory
is so often given to the athlete; here we give a strong message that
being a scholar merits glory and much more.
One of the most compelling results of the program is that our students
become increasingly more curious and see themselves as capable of satisfying
that curiosity. It becomes apparent that the college experience is
essential and that it is clearly within their reach.
