Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Making Changes: Turn-around Scholars Falissa Peña, Nariza Watts, Lacey Williams, and Laura Vasquez, from left, were recently honored by the Willow Glen's Kiwanis Sunrisers for their academic achievements as graduating seniors.
Students recognized for making big improvements in their grades
Service club awards scholarships to 23 high school seniors
By Kate Carter
Gunderson High School senior and Willow Glen resident Falissa Peña stepped up to the podium in front of those gathered for a luncheon at Lou's Village on May 9, to explain how she was able to recover from a poor academic beginning in high school and graduate this spring.
"I'm so grateful," she said, holding back tears. "For a long while, I went through a severe depression, but as soon as I got out of it, I knew I had to turn my life around. It's probably been the hardest decision of my life."
Peña is one of 23 San Jose Unified School District high school seniors who received $1,000 Turn-Around Scholarships from the Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers last week. Like Peña, they were all able to recover from rocky starts in high school to finish with high grade point averages and plans of heading on to further education.
Each one of the students at the luncheon, including two from Willow Glen High School and two others who live in Willow Glen, was introduced by a sponsoring teacher and given the opportunity to share his or her experience with the crowd.
"These are stories of some of the most remarkable young people that we have in the San Jose Unified School District," said district Superintendent Dr. Linda Murray. "They've come through it with a view of the future that's positive and that will lead them into a life that's productive."
This is the sixth year of the club's Turn-Around Scholarship Program, Co-chair Jim Crownover said. The program, also chaired by Sal Caruso, seeks to help young people pursue their dreams by helping pay for college or technical and vocational training, Crownover said.
"It's a modest program to encourage students to keep going in the direction each decided to go in," he said. "It encourages everyone to have meaningful employment."
He said the program rewards at least one student at Willow Glen, Gunderson, Pioneer, Leland and Lincoln High schools and San Jose High Academy, and at least three students at the district's alternative Broadway High School. Students are nominated by a teacher, and the school principals select those who receive the scholarships, he said.
When the Willow Glen group first sponsored the program in 1996, it gave away nine $250 scholarships, Crownover said. Over the years, the group has been able to secure more donations, and give away more and larger scholarships. The program also encourages scholarship recipients who continue their education and maintain their grades to request yearly additional scholarships, he said.
"It's for your education, and that's what we want you to use it for," Crownover told the recipients at the luncheon.
This year's scholarships were funded by donations from the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, Synopys Inc., Chuck Davidson, Helen Accinelli-Lane and Andy Lane, the Kiwanis Club of San Jose Foundation and the Kiwanis Clubs of Division 12.
Peña said she plans to use the scholarship to go to a community college and begin her pursuit of a master's degree in business administration, to eventually run the family business. She started out in high school with a 1.4 GPA, but for the past two semesters she has maintained a 4.0, squeezing two years of high school into one, in order to graduate with her class, she said.
"I hope to make my parents very proud," Peña said.
Broadway senior and Willow Glen resident Nariza Watts was introduced by her computer teacher, Carol Harra, who described Watts as bright and hard-working, with a "good business head."
"This scholarship means so much to young people who have grabbed themselves up and pulled themselves together," Hara said.
Watts said she plans to pursue her interests in computers and art, and study marketing and fashion design.
"I'm very thankful that there are people out there willing to help young people to have better lives," Watts said.
Willow Glen High student Laura Vasquez said her grades started to slip early in high school, when she was troubled by family and personal problems. She thanked her mother and her teacher, Barbara Saunders, for helping her make up school credits and get through night classes, in order to graduate this year. Vasquez said she wants to go to Evergreen Community College and study fashion design, which has been an interest of hers ever since her mom taught her to sew.
Lacey Williams, also a Willow Glen High student, said she wants to share her accomplishments with other people like her.
"My turnaround was more of a mind-set," Williams said. "I battled depression a long time. But, I met good teachers who helped me to see that I am good enough and I do deserve to move on. I'm going to further my education and help people like they've helped me."
Willow Glen High English teacher Jack Edwards spoke about his student, Williams, with great pride.
"Thank you for honoring my friend, Lacey," he said to the Sunrisers. "Lacey is a worker; she doesn't quit. She wants to be a schoolteacher. She's going to be a good one."
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
