Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund, Ltd.

2008 Kennedy-King Scholars

Kennedy-King awarded 27 undergraduate scholarships of $8000 each and 4 graduate scholarships of $4000 each in 2008. Here are the undergraduates:

Jose Alarcon
Mr. Alarcon has been very active with many community and Hispanic groups during his high school and college years. He is a very energetic self starter who works 20 -35 hours a week to help support his family in addition to his college studies at Diablo Valley College. He intends to pursue a career in communications and Latin American business at either UC Santa Barbara or UCLA. He is the first in his immediate family to seek a college degree.

Jose Albarracin
Mr. Albarracin intends to seek a degree in biological sciences as a pre-med student at UC Davis or UC Berkeley. He has had a difficult family life and has worked in various fields from construction worker to computer tech while juggling school, family issues and community affairs. A Diablo Valley College student, Jose has been active in a number of leadership, science, church and mentoring programs. With the Cal Teach Program Jose has been working with a kindergarten class of 23 Hispanic children each Monday to encourage their interest in science.

Esteban Alfaro-Gamero
Mr. Alfaro-Gamero has now enrolled at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He worked 25 hours or more to help support his family while attending Diablo Valley College, and assisted at the Monument Crisis Center which provides support to children, seniors and families at risk. Esteban has earned an AA degree and is a permanent member of Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He will major in business administration concentrating in finance/economics.

Juanita Allison
Ms. Allison’s life has been challenging in that she has spent much time in homeless shelters, recovery programs and transitional housing. She had been a star athlete in high school, but lost her way. At Contra Costa College, she found herself again. She has achieved a 3.75 GPA and intends to pursue a degree in biological sciences at UC Davis or Sonoma State University. Juanita’s goal is to work in cancer research.

Porschea Brown
Enduring a difficult home life after the murder of her father when she was age 4, and experiencing various problems at school, Ms. Brown graduated from high school. She became embroiled in various legal difficulties however. She has turned that around at Contra Costa College and hopes to attend Howard University in the fall studying Criminal Administration. She intends to pursue a career as a probation officer assisting those in trouble with the law.

Danielle Cobbs
Danielle has a passion for music and is a dynamic and mature leader. She volunteers in the Richmond Police Activities League assisting children 5-12 with homework and computer skills. She will graduate with an AA degree in liberal studies from Contra Costa College, and intends to pursue a degree in business administration with a focus on accounting. Danielle will be attending Cal State-East Bay or San Francisco State University.

Carlos Coker
After an undistinguished academic effort in his secondary education with countless school expulsions, Carlos joined the Marines, rose to the rank of Sergeant in four years and, more importantly, took charge of his life by learning to live by a code of honor, courage and commitment. Most of all he learned to accept responsibility for his actions. He has a 3.92 GPA at Diablo Valley College, and intends to pursue a BA in economics at UC Berkeley or UC Davis.

Nima Eghtesad
Nina is a full time student at Diablo Valley College who works as a lead retail consultant at Sprint. She has overcome many challenges within her family which have prevented her from working full time. She will seek a degree in communications with a minor in sociology at UC Davis. She hopes to become a reporter or work in broadcasting.

Lenester Erickson
Mrs. Erickson grew up on the island of St. Lucia. Determined to get an education, she worked very hard, was involved community charities there and continued that work in the U. S. where she volunteered as a crisis line counselor at WOMEN Inc. (Women Organized to make Abuse Non-Existent). She has an outstanding 3.89 GPA at Diablo Valley College, and intends to study business administration at UC Berkeley or San Francisco State University.

Alfredo Garcia
“Echale ganas, mijo,” his father would urge, “Give it your all.” He has done so at Diablo Valley College by earning a 3.42 GPA and volunteering to mentor high school and first year community college students. He is also completing an internship with Applied Materials Semiconductor for which he commutes 380 miles each week. He will seek a degree in economics and finance. He is the first in his family to attend college.

Eliuth Gomez
Ms. Gomez has done well at Diablo Valley College where she is a member of Alpha Sigma Gamma honor society. She intends to seek a degree in nursing in order to serve the Hispanic community. Eliuth will be attending either San Francisco State University or Cal State-East Bay. She has overcome many hardships and has worked part time to assist her family. She is active in church activities and volunteers at John Muir Medical Center in Concord.

Monica Hernandez
Monica is an accomplished musician and leader, having been elected president of several Hispanic groups in high school. Lack of funds kept her from attending UC Davis or CSU Sacramento where she was accepted upon graduation from high school. Instead Los Medanos College, where she is an honor student, has given her a second chance at a college education. She has earned a 3.6 GPA and has participated in mentoring high school students. Monica will be attending either UC Berkeley or Santa Clara University.

Laticia Holley
Ms. Holley is a re-entry student who worked a number of years after graduating high school. Her employment demonstrated the need for a degree and sparked her interest in science and engineering. She has been an honors student at Contra Costa College where she will graduate with an AS in drafting technology. She will pursue a BS in mechanical engineering degree at the University of Southern California or at Rice University.

Joseph Hunt
After serving in the Marines as a cryptologist and completing a tour in Japan, Mr. Hunt remained there to teach English to Japanese students. After a near-fatal auto accident, he returned to the U.S. and entered Contra Costa College where he freely volunteers his time as a mentor. A professor describes him as a natural leader and mentor who makes others around him better students. He plans to obtain a bachelors in English and teach English as a second language. Joseph will be attending San Francisco State University or Cal State-East Bay.

Jaqueline Hutton
Ms. Hutton is a reentry student who endured a horrific home life as a child. Now, a single parent with three children, she is attending Los Medanos College where she has an outstanding academic record. She is described as intellectually very inquisitive and hardworking. She does volunteer work in classrooms and in her church. Jaqueline will be seeking a degree in psychology.

Marco Ruiz Madrigal
Mr. Madrigal’s parents and grandparents worked as braceros — harvesting crops in Mexico and the United States. He worked as a laborer in the fruit fields of Contra Costa County as a boy. He is a Navy veteran who has returned to Los Medanos College and will be the first in his family to obtain a college degree. He has a 4.0 GPA and will seek his degree in sociology at UC Berkeley or UC Davis. He aspires to teach at the college level.

Elizabeth McCoy
For a while family circumstances distracted Ms. McCoy’s entry into serious college study. With that behind her, this mother of two young children has moved forward rapidly and successfully. She is an honor student with a 3.74 GPA and has earned an AA degree in liberal arts at Los Medanos College. She will also earn an AA degree in psychology and intends to obtain a four year degree in psychology at San Francisco State University.

Victoria Mendoza
Ms. Mendoza entered Los Medanos College without academic focus, but discovered mathematics. As one of her professors has put it, “Few students have a knack for mathematics — fortunately … she is gifted in mathematics.” She works part time and tutors in the math lab, where she is quite effective in getting math concepts across to students. She has been admitted to St Mary’s College where she will seek a degree and, perhaps, certification as a teacher.

Dulce Murguia
One of seven children, Ms. Murguia lived with her family many years in a one room trailer until selected to move into a house from Habitat for Humanity. She began working at age 15. She will transfer from Los Medanos College to Cal State-East Bay in the Fast Track Credential Program. This will give Dulce both a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and teaching credentials to realize her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

Melody Peralta
Ms. Peralta is the daughter of a pastor and has been involved in church charitable activities for many years. Her love and ability for drawing, painting, designing and geometry have produced a strong desire to become an architect. After discovering that units she received at another community college in architecture were not transferable, she enrolled in Diablo Valley College and commuted by public transportation from Santa Rosa while carrying 13 units composed exclusively of challenging architectural courses. Melody intends to pursue her architecture degree at Cal Poly-Pomona.

Regina Porras
Ms. Porras is truly a phoenix, rising from the ashes of a broken home with drug addicted parents, both of whom spent time in jail. She was shuttled between various homes and eight different elementary and high schools, finally falling victim to drugs herself. But she turned her life around and became the first in her family’s history to graduate from high school. An honor student at Diablo Valley College, Regina intends to earn a BS in nursing.

Tamy Portillo-Rodrigeuz
Tamy has a great love for animals and has worked on pet vaccination campaigns, and water ph testing and tree reforestation around the delta. Tamy also played soccer for Los Medanos College and works to earn money for the family. With a goal of becoming a veterinarian, Tamy has been admitted to UC Davis where she will study animal biology.

Yazmin Sanchez
After successfully battling severe depression, Yazmin has become a volunteer and leader for many causes, including Youth Concilo which provides information to immigrants on children’s education, safety and legal rights; and ACORN, dedicated to curbing community violence. She is a member of the Speech and Debate Team (wining several Gold Medals), and a recipient of the W. E. B. Du Bois Sociological Leadership award. Yazmin will be transferring from Contra Costa College to either UC Berkeley or UC Davis where she will major in psychology and social welfare. Her goal is to become a human rights attorney.

Walter Simon
Because of an unstable home and little financial or emotional support, Walter descended into gang violence and drug dealing early in his youth. Juvenile hall simply drove him deeper into a violent and self destructive life that resulted in being shot eight times, paralyzing him from the chest down. Sick of the life he had led and knowing he had to change, he turned to his long neglected education. He has a 3.93 GPA at Contra Costa College and will be transferring to Cal State-Los Angeles. Walter has devoted a great many hours to working with and mentoring at risk youth.

Deminika Spears
Ms. Spears is very determined, hard working and energetic. She is a member of the AGS Honors Program at Los Medanos College where she is studying biology in preparation for a career as an obstetrician. She is an active volunteer and leader in her son’s Head Start program and the YMCA. She has also assumed a leadership role in her family while her mother recovers from breast cancer treatments. Deminika will be pursuing her studies at either Mills College or UC Davis.

Idarah Thomas
Idarah’s most distinctive characteristic is perseverance. Her home life was unstable; she was often in and out of foster care homes and attended many different schools making it difficult to get a coherent secondary education. But she has persevered and will be transferring from Contra Costa College to Cal State-East Bay where she will major in social work.

Mauricio Ulloa
Mr. Ulloa has served as president and vice president of the City of Antioch’s Youth Council for five years leading many community activities. He has nurtured Vent, a monthly open microphone/stage event allowing youth an opportunity to express their voice and talents. He works as a senior bank teller for Bank of America and has a 3.89 GPA. A Diablo Valley College student, Maurice intends to study philosophy with a goal of someday teaching that subject.

Kennedy King Memorial College Scholarship Fund, Ltd.
P.O. Box 727, Martinez, Ca. 94553
email: info@kennedyking.org
IRS Tax ID# 94-1677726