Summer Scholars Victoria Navarro and Daniel Salas
Victoria Navarro is attending Syracuse University this fall, entering with outstanding grades and scholarship support. She graduated this past spring near the top of her class at Leuzinger High School and was a leader in several clubs and activities. She admits that she wasn’t exactly dedicated to academics during the early days of her high school career, but all that turned around after a summer program at El Camino College.
"When I joined the Young Scholars program after my freshman year, I wasn’t motivated with my schoolwork and I wasn’t living up to my potential," said Victoria, a Hawthorne resident who is majoring in advertising with an emphasis on graphic design and policy studies.
"After the program, I realized that I needed to step up my game and it proved to be worthwhile. It was really pivotal for me, attending Young Scholars at El Camino College. I learned what it takes to be college bound and realized that it wasn’t too late to change. I got my wake-up call – I still had three years to do my best."
This year’s STEM Young Scholars program included a month of workshops, guest speakers, field trips, and interactive lab activities for 24 area high school students.
"The Young Scholars Program is possible and very successful due to the efforts and collaboration of all the administrators at the area high schools," said ECC program coordinator Josefina Bedolla.
Students from Da Vinci Design High School, Da Vinci Science High School, South Gate High School, Leuzinger High School, Charter Environmental High School, Lawndale High School, and Lennox Academy participated in the program designed to gain a better understanding of STEM education and career opportunities.
"I learned what it takes to be college bound and realized that it wasn’t too late to change. I got my wake-up call – I still had three years to do my best."
Daniel Salas, another at Leuzinger High School graduate from the class of 2014, attended the Young Scholars program at El Camino College after his sophomore year. He is attending UC Berkeley this fall and said the Young Scholars program guided him toward majoring in biology and started him on his way to becoming a doctor.
"This program gave me insight into what careers or majors were available," he said. "I knew what I wanted to do – I just didn’t know how to do it. I really liked the guest speakers – they were all enthusiastic about their careers and that motivated me to do well in school.
"I’m the youngest in my family and I am the first in my family to go to college. I didn’t even know what UC Berkeley was at first. The Young Scholars program was amazing."