Reach the Summit Scholarship

Congratulations to our Scholarship Winners!

NordstrandBlack PC would like to extend their warmest congratulations to all the recipients of our scholarship. In 2023, we introduced this program with the intention of providing financial support to well-deserving students pursuing higher education. Our goal in granting this funding is to contribute not only to the individual student's aspirations, but also to the wider community, which will undoubtedly benefit from their dedication and pursuit of success.

The details of our scholarship can be found here. Please check our blog and Facebook for announcements.

2025 Winning Entries

We are proud to announce this year’s scholarship winners. Each student responded to the prompt: ‘Create a proposal to reduce child poverty in Santa Barbara County, addressed to a government or private entity, including a donation request or support plan.’ Below, we’re excited to share their inspiring essays.

"I want to be a part of breaking this cycle in Santa Barbara County where each year nearly 20% of children live below the federal poverty line and are unable to have their most basic needs met."

- Hope B., 2025 Scholarship Winner

"Child poverty is not quiet; it is heartbreaking. It is not just doing without meals or wearing the same worn-out shoes day after day. It is the emotional scar that is left when a child realizes that they are "other."

- Daniel H., 2025 Scholarship Winner

"But for one in five kids like them, poverty overshadows their promise. This isn’t the American Dream their parents were promised or worked tirelessly to reach."

- Nery E., 2025 Scholarship Winner

"19.5% of children in Santa Barbara – nearly one in five – are growing up in poverty. These children face a multitude of challenges including food insecurity, poor academic performance, physical and mental health issues, and limited future opportunities."

- Lillian R., 2025 Scholarship Winner

"This program would focus on identifying high-potential students from underserved communities and giving them full support, not just academic help, but emotional, financial, and life support too."

- Adrianne G., 2025 Scholarship Winner

"Ending Child Poverty at the Cellular Level"

by Hope B.

"I want to be a part of breaking this cycle in Santa Barbara County where each year nearly 20% of children live below the federal poverty line and are unable to have their most basic needs met."
- Hope B.

I want to be a part of breaking this cycle in Santa Barbara County where each year nearly 20% of children live below the federal poverty line and are unable to have their most basic needs met. As a student of Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology at California State University, East Bay, I understand how early life stressors such as malnutrition, exposure to environmental toxins, and chronic illness can have lasting effects on a child’s cellular development. With the support of the Reach the Summit Scholarship in 2025, I will be able to implement Bright Futures SB, a 3-year, research-based program that will draw on my expertise in developmental biology as well as community health to have 20% less children living in poverty by 2028.

Poverty At The Level Of The Cell

Through my classes in molecular physiology and developmental genetics, I have come to understand how poverty, through mechanisms such as malnutrition and chronic stress, can result in epigenetic changes in gene expression, altered immune function, and impaired cognitive development. The parallels to a deprived, unstimulated child were drawn during lab rotations when I experienced first-hand how nutrient deprivation can inhibit neuronal growth, in model systems. Using this scientific knowledge, Bright Futures SB will focus their interventions where it makes the most difference: at the cellular basis of health and learning.

"The parallels to a deprived, unstimulated child were drawn during lab rotations when I experienced first-hand how nutrient deprivation can inhibit neuronal growth, in model systems"
- Hope B.

Pillar 1: Early-Childhood Enrichment

The greatest rate of neuron formation occurs within the first five years: If that window is missed, deficits are lifelong. Bright Futures SB will offer 300 low-income 3-5 year-olds scholarships to high quality, play-based preschools that are sensory-rich and language-building . On top of that, collaborating with First 5 Santa Barbara and local districts we will train 50 early-child educators in neuro-developmental best practices, so that every activity from finger-painting to circle-time is focused on fostering new synaptic connections.

Pillar 2: Nutrition & Health Access

Nutrition is the foundation on which cellular repair, immune competence, and brain development all rely. We will expand the Healthy Start school-meal program from five to fifteen elementary schools, providing breakfast, lunch and weekend “Power Packs” to 5,000 children. Using my experiences working in cell culture labs, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County and I will work to deliver macronutrient micronutrient foods leafy greens, legumes, and fortified grains into meal planning. Mobile health clinics will provide immunizations and developmental screenings right in these vulnerable neighborhoods, employing pediatric nurses and nutritionists who will refer children with anemia, asthma, or lead exposure for follow-up care.

Pillar 3: Economic Stability of the Family

Chronic poverty causes cascades of stress hormones to be released in these children’s bodies (cortisol spikes) that directly affect the development of their hippocampus. In order to help insulate families from instability, “Pathways to Prosperity” will provide 1,000 parents with career workshops, apprenticeships and personal financial coaching free of charge through established partnerships with the United Way and the County Health & Social Services Agency. Through preventing evictions by means of rental-assistance vouchers and case management, they will be less exposed to environmental stressors that adversely impact children’s health at the molecular level.

Pillar 4: Mentorship & Enrichment

“Beyond biology, children require emotional support to thrive.” We will develop a mentorship network by pairing 200 youth with trained volunteers that provide weekly homework assistance and socio-emotional guidance. An additional 500 students will participate in subsidized after school sports, arts and STEM clubs, providing the enriched environment that upregulates neurotrophic factors necessary for learning.

"My own experience is that as a child, the small child of my neighbor spent much of his time in the hospital recovering from conditions of asthma and malnutrition that stemmed from the cellular damage done by poverty. That motivated me to spend time volunteering at a community clinic conducting wellness sessions with families and helping with pediatric screenings."
- Hope B.

Rigorous Evaluation & Sustainability

Leveraging the experience of UCSB’s Center for Social Research in conducting long-term biomarker and behavioral research, I will measure: school-readiness, trajectories of household income, nutritional biomarker levels (hemoglobin, iron levels), and behavioral trails of stress (salivary cortisol). Public reports will inform annual adjustments to the program, and an independent evaluation in the middle of the process will guarantee we are on track to achieve a 20% decrease in child poverty by the end of 2028.

My own experience is that when I was growing up, my neighbor’s small child spent much of his time in the hospital recovering from asthma and malnutrition that stemmed from the cellular damage done by poverty. That motivated me to spend time volunteering at a community clinic conducting wellness sessions with families and helping with pediatric screenings. At Dr. Alvarez’s lab of molecular immunology I worked on a project that involved the effect of early infections on T-cell development, and I learned about the importance of scientific precision behind social interventions.

Why the 2025 Reach the Summit Scholarship is Important to Me

The 2025 Reach the Summit Scholarship will allow me to focus on program development, funder relationships, and writing grants for 20 hours a week, rather than the 20 hours a week I would be working to cover tuition, lab fees, and living expenses. It will support the development of pilot studies of nutrition interventions and biomarker analysis which will strengthen our upcoming proposals for $1.5 million in grants and a $500,000 matching campaign within the community. A dollar spent on my education turns into a dollar guided towards my community and that many more dollars’ worth of scientific knowledge. The macro and molecular future of Santa Barbara County rests in the health of its youngest residents. Bright Futures SB is an evidence-based plan to end intergenerational poverty –one neuron, one meal, one mentorship at a time. Working with Bright Future SB, I will use my expertise in cellular and molecular biology to make a transformative impact. Thank you for your time and for believing in science-driven solutions that make it possible for every child in our community to flourish.

- Hope B.


"Planting the Seeds of Change"

By Daniel H.

"Child poverty is not quiet; it is heartbreaking. It is not just doing without meals or wearing the same worn-out shoes day after day. It is the emotional scar that is left when a child realizes that they are "other."
- Daniel H.

To the Santa Barbara Foundation, Child poverty is not quiet; it is heartbreaking. It is not just doing without meals or wearing the same worn-out shoes day after day. It is the emotional scar that is left when a child realizes that they are "other." It is forming the practice of shrinking up in class, of never requesting seconds, of claiming you forgot your lunch when you simply did not have one. It's the kind of pain that might not always show up in data, but lives in the eyes of kids. And it happens every day in Santa Barbara County, a place of ocean views and affluence, where nearly one in seven kids still live in poverty. That contradiction should haunt us. We are a beautiful place, but what good is that beauty if we don't invest in our most vulnerable?

I'm proposing something bigger than a food drive or a one-time charity campaign. I'm proposing a program, Project Root. The name matters because we're not addressing poverty like weeds to be trimmed, but like soil that needs to be healed from the roots up. Project Root is a three-part, community-based program that operates through schools and community centers, reaching children and families where they already are. First, we deliver monthly "Dignity Kits" to some schools – essentials like healthy snacks, deodorant, menstrual hygiene products, toothbrushes, and socks. These aren't extras. They're the bare minimum for any student to show up with dignity and concentration. No child should be ridiculed for not having clean clothes or skip school because they lack what they need. And no child should feel ashamed of being poor. These kits meet needs without judgment.

"Project Root is a three-part, community-based program that operates through schools and community centers, reaching children and families where they already are."
- Daniel H.

Helping children with what they need cannot stop at their backpack. So the second part of the strategy focuses on their parents and guardians. At trusted school sites and community hubs, we’ll organize biweekly Parent Empowerment Pods – gatherings where families can get help writing resumes, practicing interviews, accessing legal aid, understanding renter rights, and navigating social services without the red tape that makes so many give up. We’ll offer childcare during these pods and provide small transportation stipends to ensure attendance isn’t a luxury only the flexible can afford. We are meeting people where they are and helping them move forward, not with judgment or lectures, but with dignity and resources.

The final layer is personal for me. It is giving teens from impoverished families breathing room. Having seen what poverty does to a young person's sense of self and sense of time, I know how hard it is to juggle school and family survival. The majority of these teens are working to pay bills, babysitting siblings, or putting their dreams on hold simply to stay afloat. So we will launch a guaranteed-income-style pilot that offers 100 low-income high school students a monthly allowance of $200, not to control, but to liberate. This is not rewarding poverty; it is restoring potential. Students will also be matched with mentors from a range of careers, offering not just income, but a glimpse of what's possible beyond their current reality. The money will buy textbooks, meals, maybe even moments to breathe and dream of a life beyond the struggle for survival. And the mentorships will plant seeds that grow something deeper than success – self-confidence.

To make Project Root a reality, I am asking the Santa Barbara Foundation to make a $1.5 million two-year investment. That investment would underwrite dignity kit distribution, empowerment pod coordinator salaries, transportation stipends for families, and youth stipends and mentor program administration. The beauty of this proposal is that it is scalable. We begin in high-need areas like Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Isla Vista, where the data and the stories show the most need. We measure our success by school attendance, youth mental health surveys, family engagement metrics, and mentor retention. We will use that data to scale the model countywide. Then we'll build a case compelling enough to take to state legislators, private funders, and national foundations.

"Having seen what poverty does to a young person's sense of self and sense of time, I know how hard it is to juggle school and family survival."
- Daniel H.

This starts as a Santa Barbara movement, but it doesn't have to end there. One more thing: I know poverty up close. I grew up in a home where the lights went out from time to time and the refrigerator was more often noisy than stocked. My mother is disabled and physically there, but not always emotionally. I've lived with my grandparents for most of my life, and they've done the best they could, but the weight of poverty doesn't just fall on bank accounts. It creeps into who you are. I know what it's like to feel like you're always one step behind, like you're not invited to dream big because dreaming is a luxury. But I know what it's like to keep going. To find a way. That experience isn’t a weakness; it’s the reason I’m writing this. Because no child should be punished for circumstances they didn’t choose. No child should be ashamed of being hungry. And no child should be stuck in a cycle that was built before they were born. This is not a rescue proposition. It's a stand-with-them proposition, offering the dignity, support, and infrastructure they need to rescue themselves. We already have the talent, the community, and the heart. What's missing now is courage, the courage to invest in real solutions, not band-aids. I'm asking the Santa Barbara Foundation to lead the way. Let's not just reduce child poverty. Let's uproot it. Together.

- Daniel H.


"Giving Every Child a Chance to Thrive"

By Nery E.

"But for one in five kids like them, poverty overshadows their promise. This isn’t the American Dream their parents were promised or worked tirelessly to reach."
- Nery E.

Jose, Miguel, Juan, Rey, and Angelina are the future leaders of Santa Barbara County. But for one in five kids like them, poverty overshadows their promise. This isn’t the American Dream their parents were promised or worked tirelessly to reach. Child poverty isn’t just about low income, it’s about lost opportunities, skipped meals, and a system that fails to protect the most vulnerable. Many of these families are among the hardest working people in our communities, yet they’re met with locked doors and limited access to the resources meant to support them. We must act.

NordstrandBlack’s mission is to fight not only for justice in the courtroom but for meaningful change in the lives of everyday people, and it deeply aligns with this call to action. That’s why I propose the “Justice & Opportunity for Every Child” initiative, a locally focused program that brings legal literacy, resource support, and direct aid to low income children and families in Santa Barbara County. We can build a system that doesn’t just expose injustice but actively works to break its cycle so that kids like Jose, Miguel, Juan, Rey, and Angelina aren’t defined by their circumstances, but empowered by their potential. Santa Barbara County is known for its beauty and wealth, but that’s not the reality for everyone. Beneath the surface, many families are struggling to stay afloat. With the average home price at $943,000, even affording rent is a challenge. Families work long hours, and often their children have to sacrifice their education, activities or health just to help make ends meet. These are the same people who clean our schools, work our fields, serve our food and yet their children face barriers that hold them back from ever reaching the same success they see others achieving.

"I grew up in Santa Maria, meaning I’ve seen this up close. I’ve gone to school with students who work night shifts or do not go to school at all because they’d rather save money for their siblings and parents."
- Nery E.

I grew up in Santa Maria, meaning I’ve seen this up close. I’ve gone to school with students who work night shifts or do not go to school at all because they’d rather save money for their siblings and parents. Some of the most intelligent and capable people I know never considered applying to college, not because they couldn’t get in, but because they didn’t think they’d belong. It’s a system that never made space for them. My proposal consists of three core components, each focused on closing gaps and building access where it matters most:

1. Legal Empowerment: Legal knowledge is power. Many low-income families aren’t aware of their rights as workers, or individuals navigating public aid. This part of the plan would include legal literacy workshops hosted at local schools and community centers. These would help families understand how to access benefits, protect their housing, and fight discrimination. The best part, partnering with NordstrandBlack can make this possible.

2. Community Resource Access: A resource connection network that links families to tutoring, free meals, transportation support, etc. A lot of these programs already exist; however, families don’t know about them or feel overwhelmed trying to access them. Student volunteers from high schools, Key Club, FFA, and other organizations alike can assist these needy families through what’s available.

3. Youth Opportunity Fund: Lastly, a donation-based Youth Opportunity Fund would support students with grants for basic needs like bus passes, sports gear, or school supplies. Even small investments, like $25 to $100, can have a life-changing impact when directed at the right moment. This builds confidence in students who are often overlooked and helps them pursue what they deserve. NordstrandBlack has built its legacy on standing up for those who’ve been wronged. This is an opportunity to extend that fight outside the courtroom and into the classroom, the home, and the heart of our county. And I want to be an advocate for this change.

"Some of the most intelligent and capable people I know never considered applying to college, not because they couldn’t get in, but because they didn’t think they’d belong."
- Nery E.

As a first-generation student heading to UCSB to study Mechanical Engineering, I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I mainly volunteered through Key Club to work with community events with FFA and other non-profits. I've learned that real change starts when people come together with compassion and commitment. I’ve grown up the same way these kids have, as I was once an addition to this number. My family would live in other family member’s apartments trying to scrape by with EBT, farm-work and at times begging others for a loan. That’s not a future for a child. Together, we can ensure that every child in Santa Barbara County has a real chance to grow, lead, and thrive. Not because of luck, but because we chose to build a system that sees them, supports them, and believes in them.

- Nery E.


"School-Based Support for Santa Barbara’s Children"

By Lillian R.

"19.5% of children in Santa Barbara – nearly one in five – are growing up in poverty. These children face a multitude of challenges including food insecurity, poor academic performance, physical and mental health issues, and limited future opportunities."
- Lillian R.

To: Santa Barbara County Public School District Leadership Subject: Proposal to Combat Child Poverty Through School-Based Community Support Programs.

Dear District Leaders,

According to the Public Policy Institute of California, Santa Barbara County has the second-highest poverty rate in the state, with approximately 70,000 individuals living below the poverty line. Even more concerning is that 19.5% of children – nearly one in five – are growing up in poverty. These children face a multitude of challenges including food insecurity, poor academic performance, physical and mental health issues, and limited future opportunities. Public schools have long served as more than just academic institutions; they are central to the well-being of the children and families in our communities. It is within our schools that we have the unique opportunity, and the responsibility, to intervene early, compassionately, and sustainably. Your schools foster these kids from grades k-12. That’s 13 years, 6.5 hours a day, 180 days a year. That’s a total of 1,170 hours a year. That is 15,210 hours that you have the time to reach students and support them.

"In order to address this crisis meaningfully, we must look beyond surface-level solutions and instead focus on creating environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive without the burden of unmet basic needs."
- Lillian R.

In order to address this crisis meaningfully, we must look beyond surface-level solutions and instead focus on creating environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive without the burden of unmet basic needs. That means ensuring they have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a school community that sees them, supports them, and believes in their potential. The 15,210 hours teachers have with a student is essential time to get that student to feel like they have a support system, and people who care for them.

I write this proposal not just from a place of concern, but from lived experience. My family once relied on free school lunches and food assistance from a local Got Lunch program in our town. It was this community-driven support that helped us regain our footing during a difficult period. Today, I work with that same program each summer to provide food to other families in need. I have seen firsthand how even a small bag of groceries can make a difference between a child going hungry and a child going to school ready to learn. If schools in Santa Barbara County adopted similar food distribution models – coordinating with local food banks and nonprofits – we could ensure that students have consistent access to nourishment during weekends and school breaks, not just during the academic day.

Growing up, my family also organized seasonal community events in our local school gymnasiums where donated clothing and toys were collected and given away to families in need. We called them community yard sales, though nothing was ever sold, only shared. These events were coordinated with the help of school administrators, students, and local volunteers. Papers with the dates, locations, and information of the events were sent home with students as well as sent to parents emails through the weeks leading up to the event. The transformation that took place over those weekends wasn’t just physical; it was emotional. Families who may have felt isolated or ashamed came together in a space that was open, welcoming, and rooted in dignity. I believe such events can be easily replicated throughout Santa Barbara County, especially with the help of student organizations such as the National Honor Society, which require community service hours. With access to school facilities and coordinated volunteer support, these efforts cost little but yield enormous benefits.

I believe that a child’s education cannot be separated from their environment. No student can concentrate on learning if they’re distracted by hunger or worry over basic needs. And no child should feel that needing help is something to hide. Our schools can lead by example, by fostering peer-to-peer tutoring programs where older students mentor younger ones, and by creating safe spaces where students feel valued regardless of their family’s financial status. Small acts of support like after-school snacks, weekend food bags, clean clothes from a community closet, or a kind word from a mentor are foundational to fostering this supportive environment.

"I have seen firsthand how even a small bag of groceries can make a difference between a child going hungry and a child going to school ready to learn. If schools in Santa Barbara County adopted similar food distribution models – coordinating with local food banks and nonprofits – we could ensure that students have consistent access to nourishment during weekends and school breaks, not just during the academic day."
- Lillian R.

I understand that public schools operate under tight budgets and immense pressure. That is why the solutions I’m proposing are not about massive spending, but rather about mobilizing existing resources, fostering community partnerships, and creating an ethos of care. Local laundromats can serve as donation hubs for detergent and change. Local businesses like bakeries and cafés can donate unsold food to be shared discreetly through schools. Recreation centers, many of which already have facilities such as showers and clothing closets, can coordinate with schools to extend their support to students. These actions don't require millions of dollars; they require leadership, coordination, and a community that believes in every child’s worth. My community has a bus before school so parents can drop off kids before work and after school taking kids to recreation centers as parents work late, where the centers feed and put on activities for students and support them with homework help.

Addressing child poverty is a long-term challenge, but schools have the power to make an immediate difference. Every child deserves to walk into a school building that not only educates them, but embraces them. No child should have to carry the weight of adult worries, and no student should have to choose between showing up hungry or not showing up at all. By working together, schools, students, families, and community members can create a support network that uplifts not only individual children but our entire county.

I am asking for your partnership in launching and supporting this initiative. With your help, we can bring food, clothing, mentorship, and most importantly, hope, to the students who need it most. I would be honored to discuss this proposal further and collaborate on building a school-based model of community support that reflects the compassion and strength of Santa Barbara County. Thank you for your time, leadership, and commitment to the children you serve. Together, we can build a future where no child is left behind because of the circumstances they were born into.

- Lillian R.


Adrianne G. Essay:

"This program would focus on identifying high-potential students from underserved communities and giving them full support, not just academic help, but emotional, financial, and life support too."
- Adrianne G.

Child poverty is a serious issue in Santa Barbara County. Even though this is one of the most beautiful and wealthy areas in California, many children grow up without access to basic resources, things like consistent meals, academic support, transportation, therapy, or even someone to talk to. These children have the same potential as anyone else, but often don’t get the chance to show it because of the struggles they face every day. I know this reality well. I could have easily become one of those kids lost in the system, but my life took a different path thanks to a program called Beacon Academy in Boston. That experience changed everything for me, and it inspired this proposal for how we can fight child poverty in Santa Barbara County with a bold and life-changing plan.

Beacon Academy is a one-year, tuition-free academic bridge program that helps students from low-income backgrounds prepare for top high schools and eventually college. But what makes Beacon truly special is not just what they teach; it’s how much they care. They treat each student like family. They help with schoolwork, but they also help with therapy, transportation, jobs, interview clothes, and even unique experiences like skiing or traveling. These aren’t just "extra" things – they’re tools that help students build confidence, discover their passions, and feel like they belong in the world. Beacon helped me not just as a student, but as a person. They believed in me, and that belief gave me strength I didn’t know I had. This kind of support should not be rare.

"The goal is not just to help kids get into better schools; it’s to help them succeed long-term, become confident, independent, and eventually give back to their communities."
- Adrianne G.

We need more programs like Beacon Academy, but even more importantly, we need more people and communities who care the way Beacon does. People who go the extra mile. People who don’t give up on students just because they’re struggling. People who give students the tools to succeed in school, and also in life. That’s why I’m proposing a new initiative for Santa Barbara County: a program called Santa Barbara Scholars, inspired by Beacon Academy. This program would focus on identifying high-potential students from underserved communities and giving them full support, not just academic help, but emotional, financial, and life support too. The idea is to create a school and community program that acts like a second family, especially for students who don’t have one. The goal is not just to help kids get into better schools; it’s to help them succeed long-term, become confident, independent, and eventually give back to their communities.

The plan would start with a pilot program called the Bridge Phase. We would select 15 to 20 middle school students from Santa Barbara County who show promise but face major obstacles like poverty, unstable housing, or lack of support. These students would be enrolled in a one-year, after-school and weekend enrichment program that includes tutoring, mentorship, therapy, career exposure, leadership training, and high school preparation. We would partner with local nonprofits, schools, and therapists to make sure students receive the full care they need. We would also work to get them placed in great high schools, similar to how Beacon Academy helps students move on to top schools across the country.

"We need educators, therapists, volunteers, alumni, and donors who truly understand what it means to invest in a student’s whole life, not just their grades."
- Adrianne G.

Once this bridge program is up and running, we would move on to Phase Two: a full-time residential boarding school for underserved youth in Santa Barbara County. This school would be more than just a place to learn. It would be a place where students could live, eat, sleep, heal, grow, and be surrounded by people who believe in them. It would offer therapy, life skills, career coaching, academic excellence, and enrichment experiences. Imagine a place where a student who has never been on a plane gets to travel for the first time. Where a kid who’s been struggling with anxiety finally gets the therapy they need. Where a student who’s never worn formal clothes learns how to dress for success and walk into an interview with confidence. This school would not only teach academics – it would teach life, and offer stability.

Programs like Beacon Academy are successful because they have strong partnerships and a wide support network. They raise money through foundations, individual donors, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events. They also rely on volunteers and partnerships with schools and other organizations. For Santa Barbara Scholars, we would follow a similar model. To launch the pilot program, we would seek $500,000 in seed funding. This funding would cover staff salaries, therapy services, transportation, food, academic materials, program space, and more. We would also ask for in-kind donations like clothing, tutoring, mental health support, and professional mentorship.

What’s most important, though, is building a team of people who care. This program can only work if the people behind it are willing to do the hard, emotional, and deeply meaningful work of walking beside these students for the long haul. We need educators, therapists, volunteers, alumni, and donors who truly understand what it means to invest in a student’s whole life, not just their grades.

Some people say child poverty is too big of a problem to fix. I disagree. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when a student is given the chance to be seen, supported, and believed in. I’ve lived the difference that Beacon Academy made in my life. And I believe that if we bring that same energy, passion, and love to Santa Barbara County, we can help change lives forever.

- Adrianne G.


2023 Winning Entry

"Having succeeded despite being written off has emboldened me to continue challenging myself with courses that I might not be slotted for, and to have an optimistic view of my capabilities."

- Camille B., 2023 Scholarship Winner

Short Essay

"I have gained the maturity to weather chaos with focus."
- Camille B.

The first year of my life, in many ways, indicated the next seventeen. At ten months old, we moved from my parents’ alma mater in Corvallis, Oregon to Florida for dive school. Five months later, we received orders to Gulfport, Mississippi, post-Hurricane Katrina. During my father’s deployment, my mother temporarily lost her ability to walk due to a bout of MS. I went to live with my grandparents, with the first of many subsequent holidays, deployments, and relapses spent in the yellow cottage on Hapapa Road.

Seven states, eight schools, and several duty stations later, I stepped into the life I lead today. Though my parents deeply value education, there have been so many events in my life that have been distracting by nature and crises during which my academic obligations and ambitions took a backseat. There was an ever-present fear that the day would come when no one would show up to get me from school or sports. It is a common concern for kids who frequent hospital daycare and have a cardboard “flat daddy” out at Thanksgiving, who have gone through those periods of life where they only have one emergency contact.

"A lust for the power that education would give me in having control over my life as an adult has done a better job guiding me through APs and internships than any chiding parent could."
- Camille B.

As my father’s military career caused me to move schools nearly every one or two years, academic inconsistency plagued my childhood. In fifth grade, I moved into an on-base Hawaiian elementary and saw my standardized testing scores drop over 15%. Nearly every school change had a caveat; I was either so far ahead that I was disenchanted and suffering grade-wise or so far behind that the effort required to catch up was dizzying.

In 6th grade, I advanced a year in math when a teacher allowed me independent study in the subject. Only a year later, assimilating into the California schools, I was viewed as a burden and strongly discouraged from this path. Several middle schools in the area denied my admittance to accelerated math because I was new to the school district. Even in high school, it has taken a certain gumption to swing a schedule that aligns with my goals.

"Though instability is irrefutably the greatest obstacle I’ve overcome, it is the onus for the achievements I am most proud of, academic and otherwise."
- Camille B.

I could fill a book with encounters I have had with faculty over the years, of being pulled aside on the first day and warned that their curriculum was challenging, reminded that no one would judge me for switching out of an advanced class. These warnings were always well-intentioned and sometimes justified, but time and time again, I have witnessed firsthand the magic that hours studying at the kitchen table and a raised hand can work when playing catch-up with my peers.

Having succeeded despite being written off has emboldened me to continue challenging myself with courses that I might not be slotted for, and to have an optimistic view of my capabilities. At the same time, I am committed to my goals in a way that I’d argue can only come from the intrinsic motivation of someone who has had those ugly years of educational stagnancy and regression and is unwilling to accept that in the future. I have gained the maturity to weather chaos with focus.

I’ve come to appreciate the effect this havoc has had in shaping my life outlook and forcing my maturity. My life is filled with an eclectic slew of people, from fellow transplants, immigrants, and enlisted families, with which I’ve shared so many Christmases, to my cousins, born and raised on an island 26 miles wide. Experiences with “Aina in Schools,” the Hamakua Marsh Restoration Project, and the Bioscience Academy drew me to spaces where attributes like curiosity and a passion for STEM were fostered. A lust for the power that education would give me in having control over my life as an adult has done a better job guiding me through APs and internships than any chiding parent could. Though instability is irrefutably the greatest obstacle I’ve overcome, it is the onus for the achievements I am most proud of, academic and otherwise.

- Camille B.


2023 Winning Entry

"I forced myself to go outside of my comfort zone and do things that I would never usually do, like give a speech on stage in front of people or open up to my friends more than usual."

- Quan N., 2023 Scholarship Winner

Short Essay

As I enter the airport for the first time, I hear an announcement while I’m taking in the sight of people busy with their tasks, some in a hurry, some in suits, on their phones, dragging along suitcases. When I first entered the U.S. from Vietnam, being new to the culture made me a timid person that would prefer to be at home rather than hang out with others or in the classroom, not drawing attention to myself. This is a fear reinforced by my parents’ belief that people will always be ready to judge you and what you do, which didn’t help my tendency to be alone. As I developed this habit of being away from everyone, it hurt my ability to socialize. Though what helped was my discovery of books and the stories they contain. Books taught me how to improve my self-confidence, letting me be more outgoing. I related to the Harry Potter series the most, for Harry always felt different from those around him and was thrown into a different world where he had to learn from others like me. However, this didn’t eliminate my fear of being judged by others, which still made me a bit timid in school environments and around people I was not comfortable with.

"Looking back on these experiences has taught me that if you want to overcome any obstacle in your life, you must first be willing to be uncomfortable."
- Quan N.

Playing video games helped me overcome my fear of being judged. The animosity that is usually offered by games helped me not worry about getting judged so much. This slowly helped me realize that people are not always out there judging and making fun of you like I originally thought. This realization boosted my confidence as I gradually found a group of people I felt comfortable around and identified with. I forced myself to go outside of my comfort zone and do things that I would never usually do, like give a speech on stage in front of people or open up to my friends more than usual. I’m now at a time in my life in which I can’t wait to meet new people and learn more about them, as I’ve realized that I am the type of person that derives my happiness from being with others and making memories, whether they be new friends or old. Looking back on these experiences has taught me that if you want to overcome any obstacle in your life, you must first be willing to be uncomfortable. Being afraid of potential failure and pitfalls will only hold you back. I’ve had times in the past when I wish I had gone through with something instead of being too embarrassed to attempt it.

Be comfortable with asking for help because you are not the only person in this world. Other people may offer you a different view on a topic or someone that went through what you are experiencing right now. In the end, it is better to try something new than to let the opportunity go to waste.

- Quan N.