Twenty-eight Natomas Unified students received college scholarships or Chromebook laptop computers in May from the Natomas Schools Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to raising funds to benefit local students.

Winners of $1,000 college scholarships were Dave Khalasi of Natomas High; Sophanit Getahoun, Inderkum High; and Rebekah Shiah and Kalliope Zervas, Natomas Charter.

Six other students received $500 to help defray their college expenses: Bryana Castillo, Natomas High; Sara Brink, Raffaella Carrillo-Gomez and Lyndsey Tillinghast, Inderkum; and Tatianna Settanni and Madelynn Thomas, Natomas Charter.

Applicants for the cash scholarships were required to have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and, during the past two years, have served 50 hours or more in formal employment or volunteer service, which could include school clubs. A short essay about was required about lessons learned from that service.

The Natomas Schools Foundation’s Chromebook giveaway, titled “NextGen Computer Grant Program, was designed for deserving youth in 5^th through 12^th grades who attend school within NUSD and need laptops to further their education.

Winners were Christian Clark, Annette Contreras-Buenrostro and Lashea Dean, from Natomas High School; Chidinma Aniche, Michael Martinez and Lily Valdez,  from Inderkum High; Shanina Thakur, NP3 High School; Zaiden Bush, Nevaeh Garcia, Ynaly Rivers, Natalie Sandoval and Niyati Sista, from Two Rivers Elementary; Aureliano Gutierrez Jr., Leroy Greene Academy; Anastacia Monroy, Natomas Middle School; Lamont Bufford Jr., H. Allen Hight Elementary; Elliott Gough, Natomas Charter STAR Academy; Akshaj Mehta, NP3; and Yahaira Ramirez, American Lakes.

Applicants were judged on academic performance and potential, leadership potential, service to others, and a need for a computer to improve or maintain their academic performance.

Much of the money for NSF’s college and Chromebook awards was raised in the group’s annual 5K community fun run – “Run For Their Future” – which will be held on April 27, 2019 at Inderkum High School. Donations to the foundation can be made on its website at natomasschoolsfoundation.org.

The Natomas Schools Foundation is offering $6,000 in scholarships this spring to deserving current or former local residents who attend or attended high school in the Natomas Unified School District and plan to further their education.

Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded specifically to current high school seniors, while  college students can compete for six additional scholarships of $500 apiece. 

Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and, during the past two years, have served 50 hours or more in formal employment or volunteer service, which can include school clubs. A short essay is required about lessons learned from that service. 

Entry deadline is April 13. Winners will be announced in May by the Natomas Schools Foundation, a nonprofit group committed to raising funds to benefit students and schools within NUSD boundaries.

 Scholarship funds can be used toward expenses at a two-year college, four-year college or trade school. More information and an application form are posted below.

Applications are available here.

If you have questions, contact Janine Trevino at (916) 561-5288 or email her at [email protected].

College costs can hurt, so the Natomas Schools Foundation is doing its best to ease the pain a little for a handful of standout 12th-graders.

The nonprofit group gave away $6,500 in college scholarships this week and plans to award another $2,500 in coming days or weeks.

Scholarships of $1,000 apiece were presented to Mateo Ramirez, Olivia Johnson and Owen Wurgler.

Twelve $500 scholarships also were given away, to Mikaela Carrillo, Madelyn Peterson, Sarah Jacobs-Luttrell, Alyssa Wagner, Brenda Hernandez, Kelly Anne Lumaquin, Melissa Loupeda, Brian Dudley, Maya Gorman, Keyleigh Nealon, Daniel Lan and Victoria Vera.

NSF scholarships are designed to further the education of students who not only have shown promise academically but have a solid work ethic and/or go out of their way to serve their campus or community.

Applicants were required to have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and, during the past two years, have served 50 hours or more in formal employment or volunteers service, which would include clubs. A short essay was required about lessons learned from that service.

Scholarship funds can be used toward expenses at a two-year college, four-year college or trade school.

The Natomas Schools Foundation is a nonprofit group committed to raising funds to benefit students and schools within NUSD boundaries. Separate from the monetary scholarships, the foundation recently awarded Chromebooks to 15 deserving youth in 5th grade or higher who needed them to maintain or enhance academic performance.

The foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser is the Natomas 5K “Run for Their Future,” which will be held this year on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Inderkum High School.

Winners of Chromebook computers in this year’s Natomas Schools Foundation’s “NextGen Computer Grant Program” for committed students who need a laptop to enhance or maintain their academic success include:

• Priyanka, a 5th-grader who takes extra Math and English lessons in her spare time to prepare for high school and college. Her goal is to become a medical doctor and find a cure for genetic disease that a very close friend – “he is not my real brother, but he treats me like a sister” – suffers from.
• Charlesa, a top-notch 15-year-old student who has been very involved in her school’s Broadcast Media class, culinary club and cheerleading team. In her spare time, she volunteers for an organization that promotes a tobacco-free lifestyle. Charlesa’s goal is to “help my mom in any way possible” and “give her all that she deserves.”
• Kush, 15, who tutors young children in Math and Scratch, which is a free visual programming language developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also enjoys programming iPhone apps. “Ever since I was 8 years old, I knew I was destined to be a programmer,” he wrote.
• Yesenia, a 17-year-old high school senior, has a grade point average above 4.0 and plans to be the first in her family to attend college. Her goal is to become a social worker. “One day, I want to be able to have my siblings look up to me and say, ‘Wow, if my sister became successful, then so can I,’” she wrote.

Fifteen winners were selected for Chromebooks by the Natomas Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money to supplement art, athletic and academic programs for students living within Natomas Unified boundaries.

Two NSF officials, Anna Vue and Monty Maxwell, surprised many of the winners May 16 at their schools, handing out Chromebooks on the spot. Honorees attend six local schools: Natomas High, Inderkum High, Heron, Two Rivers, Westlake Charter, and H. Allen Hight.

NSF’s “NextGen” competition was open to students who attend school within NUSD boundaries, are in the 5th grade or higher, and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average.

Applicants were judged on academic performance and potential, service to others, leadership potential, and on their need of a computer for school-related work. NSF’s goal is to help close the digital divide and assist promising students in achieving their academic and career dreams.

Jason, 15, said his new Chromebook will come in handy for schoolwork, homework, and Internet research.

Kush, a high school freshman, said he has been hoping for many weeks to win the Chromebook and can put it to good use in the tutoring he does with kids.

Mia, a 5th-grader, smiled when asked if she owns a Chromebook.

“Yes – now,” she said, cradling her prize. “Because I have this.”

Natomas 5K Run For Their Future