National Scholarship Earned by Local Student

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) announced its 11th class of Dell Scholars, providing 300 students with the chance to obtain a college degree. Among the winners is Rancho Verde High School senior Kimberly Enriquez. MSDF offers resources, mentoring and financial assistance to ensure that low-income, at-risk students have the comprehensive support needed to successfully earn a bachelor’s degree. To date the program has helped a total of 867 students earn a college degree and another 1,650 are currently working toward graduation. Enriquez has been involved with the AVID program since 7th grade. Vivien Kearney Serowik, RVHS AVID Coordinator, said, “She is a dedicated student who is remarkable in her ability to find time to take Honors and Advanced Placement classes, care for her younger siblings, complete community service, and be an active member of clubs on our campus." According to Ms. Dao, Enriquez' AP Physics teacher, “Kim’s determination is what sets her apart from other students. She is very organized and tenacious when faced with a challenge. This is the main reason Kimberly will be successful in college; she relies on hard work and doesn’t take her grades for granted.” “It’s our belief that all students – regardless of their economic status – should have the opportunity to receive a college degree,” said Janet Mountain, executive director of the MSDF “We work to understand the obstacles that this group of students faces, and then provide them with the support they need.” “I’m excited to meet and work with this new group of scholars,” said Oscar Sweeten-Lopez of the Dell Scholars Program at the MSDF. “It is always amazing to see how determined these students are in their quest to graduate from college. We have found that, with the right support, they are unstoppable.” [END] The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation announced its 11th class of Dell Scholars, providing 300 students with the chance to obtain a college degree. Among the winners is Rancho Verde High School senior Kimberly Enriquez. The program offers resources and mentoring, in addition to financial assistance, to ensure low-income, at-risk students have the comprehensive support needed to successfully earn a bachelor’s degree. To date, and despite the challenges in their lives, the program has helped a total of 867 students complete college with a degree in hand while another 1,650 are currently working toward graduation. Kimberly Enriquez has been involved with the AVID program since 7th grade. “She is a very mature, polite, and kind young lady who has handled her family and school obligations with grace and dignity. She is a dedicated student who is remarkable in her ability to find time to take Honors and Advanced Placement classes, care for her younger siblings, complete community service, and be an active member of clubs on our campus such as National Honor Society, Key Club, Science Club and ASB” said Vivien Kearney Serowik, RVHS AVID Coordinator. According to Ms. Dao, her AP Physics teacher, “Kim’s determination is what sets her apart from other students. Kim is very organized and tenacious when faced with a challenge. This is the main reason Kimberly will be successful in college; she relies on hard work and doesn’t take her grades for granted.” College completion can be a significant challenge for low-income students due to rising costs of higher education and debt often associated with it. Research shows that these high-risk students are more likely to drop out of college due to pressure from financial difficulties, family responsibilities and work hours. Driven by this reality, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s innovative approach aims to not only get more students to college, but also invests in services that will significantly increase their chances of achieving success with lower than average debt. As a result, 80 percent of Dell Scholars graduate in a six-year period – significantly higher than the national average of 19 percent[i] of students in the same socioeconomic category. “It’s our belief that all students – regardless of their economic status – should have the opportunity to receive a college degree,” said Janet Mountain, executive director of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. “We work to understand the obstacles that this group of students faces, and then provide them with the support they need. With Dell Scholar Program graduation rates above the national average, we are seeing more promising results with our program each year.” The Dell Scholars Program takes a multifaceted approach to its college completion program. In addition to providing financial support to each student, the program offers wrap-around services to help scholars and their families overcome personal challenges that could adversely affect a student’s ability to graduate. These challenges fall within the areas of academic, financial and personal issues – all of which the program is equipped to address in order for the scholar to complete the courses required to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Upon being accepted into the program, scholars become part of a support network comprised of their schools, families, peers and a dedicated Dell Scholars Program team at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. This network offers technology (including a Dell computer and printer), mentoring and peer interaction – all with one goal in mind: to ensure every Dell Scholar earns a college degree. “I’m excited to meet and work with this new group of scholars,” said Oscar Sweeten-Lopez of the Dell Scholars Program at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. “It is always amazing to see how determined these students are in their quest to graduate from college. We have found that, with the right support, they are unstoppable.” Since the program’s inception, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has awarded $63.9 million in scholarships, which includes $20,000 and essential technology for each Dell Scholar. For a complete listing of the class of 2014 Dell Scholars, go to www.dellscholars.org.