What Project GRAD Los Angeles Scholars Are Saying

“Being a Project GRAD scholar has greatly influenced my outlook on education, community involvement, and cooperation. PG has taught me crucial life lessons and skills that I use in my everyday life, everything from public speaking to having a firm handshake (the ‘PG shake’ as some scholars like to call it). I have gained a passion for passing down these and other skills to aspiring college students and for advocating for quality education in San Fernando and other communities. These skills have allowed me to make my way successfully through UCLA and now I am able to utilize them in the business world. When I meet new people, they are impressed with my speaking skills and my confidence; I can honestly credit Project GRAD for that. I was lucky enough to find a job in San Fernando, so I can continue to be a part of Project GRAD and pass along and PG’s philosophy in my hometown where it counts.”
Veronica Casillas
Project GRAD Scholar 2004
University of California, Los Angeles ‘08
Sociology Chicano/a Studies and Urban and Regional Studies

“PGLA has always been that lending hand in most of our high school lives; exposing us to different experiences to prepare us for college. Now that I am a college student, I feel as though its my duty to become part of that lending hand and guide students who are in high school fighting their way into a well known university. It is with proper the peer to peer advising where students are given the motivation and courage to get into a university and prove themselves as strong individuals.”
Michael Andrew Parra
Project GRAD Scholar 2007
University of California, Berkeley ‘11
English Literature/ Mass Communication

“Being in Project GRAD has helped me greatly in getting into college. My family didn't have any money to send me to college and so with the help I was able to attend CSUN and pursue my dream of studying English and being the first in my family generation to attend a university. It’s a good feeling to know that there are people who believe in your success and are willing to lend a helping hand. THANK YOU PROJECT GRAD!!! You have made a change in my life.”
Brenda Gonzalez
Project GRAD Scholar 2007
CSU Northridge ‘11
English

“PGLA was like the yellow brick road to college. Informative workshops, college visits, a supportive team of staff members, and a $6,000 scholarship?! It doesn't get any better than that. You gain so much valuable information through project grad that I'm really thankful to have been part of such a beneficial program.”
Adriana Sandoval
Project GRAD Scholar 2004
University of California, Los Angeles ‘08
Psychology/Spanish

“Thanks to Project GRAD my college experience has been awesome not only did they help me get into college but they have also helped me stay in college. College is very expensive luckily with the help of their scholarship I don't have to worry about tuition and can concentrate on my studies. I worked really hard to earn my place at PGLA and I don't regret it for a second.”
Maritza Lopez
Project GRAD Scholar 2005
CSU Northridge ‘10
Spanish Language and Culture Psychology

"Being a Project GRAD scholar has meant a lot to me. It has brought honor and satisfaction to my life and to those who have always supported me, my family and friends. Through Project GRAD, I have had the opportunity to find encouragement, support, and guidance to procure a better life and future. The Summer Institutes (attended while being in SFHS), brought me experience of the College life and taught me to be a more organized and responsible person. Furthermore, Project GRAD is important in my life because it has been part of the beginning and the realization of a dream, which was to do a career in Psychology. If it was not for the dedication of Project GRAD, my dream of getting a higher education might have not been accomplished!"
Ana C. Espinoza
Project GRAD Scholar 2003
Graduated from CSU Northridge Fall 2007
B.S., Psychology

“Being a Project GRAD Scholar has meant a lot in my life. Just being a scholar makes me feel like I have accomplished a small task in my academic life. It has taught me that I have the ability to pursue and become whatever it is that I want to be. Being a scholar got me to gain a great college experience when having to fulfill off-track institutes. When taking a college Japanese 101 class my sophomore year in high school, it made me understand how different college is over high school. Also, being a PGLA scholar means a lot to my family and also me because it not only pays a portion of my schooling, but it also has my siblings looking up to me and wanting to following my foot steps into getting into a good college or university.”
Jaime Antonio Rogero
Project GRAD Scholar 2007
University of Wisconsin-Madison ‘11
Business in Finance/Accounting

Please consider supporting our work to enable more students to complete high school and succeed in college. Higher education is a key ingredient for attaining economic self-sufficiency. Investing in Project GRAD Los Angeles with a donation is an investment in the economic prosperity of the greater Los Angeles area for many future generations to come.