Six AVID Students Receive Scholarships
Totaling Over $134,000

ORANGE, CA — April 22, 2016 — Orange Unified School District is proud to announce that six of the District’s Advancement Via Individualized Determination (AVID) seniors were honored by the AVID Scholarship Program at Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) during the 2016 AVID Senior Standout Recognition and Scholarship Presentation at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Esmeralda Becerril, Michael Merino, Jenny Rodriguez and Brenda Ruvalcaba seniors at Orange High School and Alexandra Guerrero and Bea Zayco seniors from Villa Park High School received scholarships totaling more than $134,000.  The students were selected from more than 500 applicants.

To apply for scholarships through OCCF seniors must meet these qualifications: be enrolled in the AVID program for a minimum of three years, demonstrate a commitment to higher education despite personal and/or financial obstacles, be accepted to and will attend an accredited four-year college or university; have earned a minimum GPA of 2.8 in high school course work, and have a demonstrated commitment to the community. This AVID scholarship program is made possible by the generous support of Orange County philanthropists and community leaders committed to the academic and life success of AVID students. Working in partnership with the Draper Family Foundation Fund, Dad’s House, Kingston Technology, the Orange County Department of Education’s AVID Program, Schools First and the AVID Orange County Dollars for Scholars, the AVID Scholarship

AVID is a global educational nonprofit organization established 30 years ago. AVID’s mission is “to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society” (AVID.org). Embedded within the AVID curriculum is an emphasis on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading (WICOR). Today, AVID “impacts more than 800,000 students in 44 states and 16 other countries/territories” (AVID.org).

Orange Unified School District is committed to providing strong educational programs like AVID.  It is one part of the District’s vision to ensure equity and access for all students, laying a foundation that will positively impact their future educational and career paths. We thank all OUSD staff participating in the AVID program.

OHS Senior Standout-Brenda Ruvalcaba, 2nd row left-Jenny Rodriquez, Michael Merino, Esmeralda Becerril

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AVID 12 Seminar Teacher Alice Prothero (L), Michael Merino, and Board Member Kathy Moffat (R)