Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship
Fund, Ltd.
We awarded 17 undergraduate scholarships in
2012.
Here they are:
Albert Ambris
John and Sunne McPeak Scholar
Emancipation from foster care brought many challenges for Mr. Ambris.
After taking a break, he returned to community college at CCC, retook
every class and is now a highly successful student. He has served in
several leadership positions at the college and is the founder of a newsletter
on sociopolitical issues in Richmond. Mr. Ambris is of Black, Latino
and Chirichaua Apache Native American ethnicity. He will attend
the University of California and major in political economy.
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Quwana Bashir
Ms. Bashir enrolled at CCC in 2010 at age 36. Although she had
many challenges prior to returning to college, she never lost sight of
her educational goals. Since her return, she has achieved a 4.0
GPA three consecutive semesters. Ms. Bashir tutors fellow students
in English and math and provides meals and clothing for the homeless. Her
goal is to assist in the healing process in her community as a clinical
psychologist/spiritual practitioner.
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Erik Brown
CalPine Scholar
“You’re always on the move,” most people say about
Mr. Brown. Over the past five years, due to financial necessity,
he and his mother have changed addresses “more times than most
people have changed light bulbs.” While a full-time student,
he works three jobs to support his mother and himself. He is a
first-generation college student majoring in business administration
at LMC and hopes to become an accountant.
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Alfredo Coronel
Gagen McCoy Scholar
Mr. Coronel is majoring in architecture at DVC where he has a high GPA. He
has worked hard to pay for his education and contribute to his family’s
expenses. He has also been active in the Contra Costa Interfaith
Supporting Community Organization and has worked on various projects
to assist low- and moderate-income communities. He is passionate
about education and immigration issues.
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Marisela Garcia
Perfecto Villarreal Scholar
The first in her family to attend college, Ms. Garcia is active in Latina
community affairs and a sociology major at LMC with a 3.8 GPA. She
hopes to continue her studies at the University of California, and thereafter
seek a master’s degree in public policy. One of her
professors writes that she is in the top 5% because of her incredible
work ethic and ability to grasp complex and interdisciplinary ideas in
a way seldom seen in students.
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Veronica
Hernandez
Ms. Hernandez attends CCC and is the first in her family to pursue higher
education. She is a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma honor society,
an active member of the Center for Science Excellence, and has won awards
for her work in biology. She plans to transfer to UC Davis to pursue
her B.S. degree in biology. After that, she intends to apply to graduate
school, get her Ph.D. and conduct biomedical research.
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David Lopez
Federal Glover Scholar
David Lopez is another first generation college student who works to
pay his college expenses and help his family while doing well academically. He
is a political science major at LMC, hopes to continue those studies
at the University of California, and has been very active in Latino affairs
and student government. He is interested in working as a
city manager and perhaps later going to law school.
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Robin Lopez
Phillips 66 Scholar
Mr. Lopez persevered through a rough upbringing.
The traumatizing death of his best friend motivated him to seek academic
achievement and elevate his life. A first generation college student who must work to support
himself, he is a talented musician, member of the Center for Science
Excellence at CCC, and a civil engineering major. He is vice president
of the Alpha Gamma Sigma honor society and is one of the co-founders
of the college’s Engineering & Math Club.
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Guadalupe Martinez
One of Ms. Martinez’s professors describes her as an “extremely
hard-working student who strives to be the first in her family to graduate
from college … works 30 hours per week, … never missed
a class or assignment … and received the highest grade in [the
professor’s] honors critical thinking course.” She
will receive LMC’s highest academic award, the Honors Scholar medal,
this May. She is majoring in psychology and hopes one day to become
a lawyer.
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Jose Martinez
Ed and Gwen Regalia Scholar
A biology major, Mr. Martinez attends DVC and aspires to become a medical
doctor. He learned his hard work ethic while assisting his father
in landscaping, painting and masonry work. He is described as a “hard
worker” with “perfect attendance and never late,” and
demonstrates “excellent time-management skills and research potential.” He
is a student leader and active in various organizations, including the
Puente program and DVC’s Chemistry Club.
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Gerardo Pacheco-Montalvo
Ron and Diane de Golia Scholar
Mr. Pacheco-Mantalvo is a necessity-driven hard working and innovative
entrepreneur, carpenter, tax consultant, and member of the Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce. A tae kwon do champion and instructor, he volunteers
for Habitat for Humanity and with the IRS helping people with tax preparation. He
is also a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma honor society at DVC, has a
3.9 GPA, and is majoring in business administration, which he intends
to further pursue at the University of California.
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Marta Pastore
Barclay and Sharon Simpson Scholar
Marta Pastore attends both Middle College High School and Contra Costa
College. She will graduate from high school with honors and from
CCC with an associate degree this spring. She will pursue a major
in astrophysics upon transferring in the fall. She is an active
tutor for the Metas program, sometimes tutoring groups of 20 students
at a time, and also volunteers at the Chabot Space and Science Center
as a guide.
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Kabria Pervoe
Ms. Pervoe had a very difficult and abusive childhood in a single-parent
family. Through it all, she has persevered, and her journey has
made her stronger. She is a full-time student at DVC majoring in
psychology, taking 16 units while holding one full-time job and two part-time
jobs. She also volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and is a vice
president of the Pan African Union. She hopes to transfer to UC
Berkeley or UC Davis in the fall.
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Paul Rhone
Ralph Griffin Scholar
Mr. Rhone has spoken to many Sickle Cell support groups at hospital seminars,
discussing pain management of his disease and the struggles he has overcome. His
purpose is to reach individuals with health issues who feel the same
way he did, to let them know they have a variety of choices and suicide
is not one of them. They can manage their illness, achieve greatness
and see dreams come.
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April Romero
Lesher Foundation Scholar
Married and the mother of three, April Romero has faced many obstacles
in her life. Yet, she is described as “invariably optimistic and
perpetually involved” in numerous school and civic projects to
assist children and students with disabilities. She volunteers 60 hours
or more each semester while completing her motherly duties and being
a full-time student. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Sigma honor
society and has a 3.55 GPA at LMC, where she is majoring in special education.
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Robert Sanchez
George Miller Scholar
Mr. Sanchez, a single father, grew up in Oakland and witnessed many friends
succumb to drugs and violence. After losing his job of eight years
at NUMMI, he enrolled in CCC where he maintains a 4.0 GPA. He is
actively engaged in community work and is involved with youth at his
church. He will pursue a degree in sociology at UC Berkeley.
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Brandy Wilson
Ms. Wilson attends CCC, where she is majoring in criminal justice, a
subject she hopes to pursue this fall at Cal State Easy Bay. After
that, she intends to attend a police academy to become a police officer. Her
desire is to make a positive difference in people’s lives by helping
youth and providing a stable home for her young son and herself.
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Kennedy King Memorial College Scholarship Fund, Ltd.
P.O. Box 2643, Martinez, Ca. 94553
email: info@kennedyking.org
IRS Tax ID# 94-1677726
