Class of 2023

Graduating from Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School was not the only commencement in which Marissa participated in May of 2023.  Through the Dual Enrollment program, the multi-sport athlete, AP class-taking teenager also graduated from Los Angeles City College (LACC) with an Associate of Arts degree the same week that she graduated from Bishop Conaty.

“Knowing that I can save my parents money and saving myself some time were my motivators for being in the Dual Enrollment program,” said Marissa.  “Being a first-generation college student is a way I can give back to my parents.”

Enrolled at LACC since her freshman year at Bishop Conaty, Marissa was often the only high schooler in her college classes.  She carried nine college units during her summer breaks, then scaled back to three during the school year.

“I kind of found the college courses easier. You had to fit so much information in one semester so they would just touch on the basics.  At Conaty, we would go more in-depth with the material,” said Marissa.

While at Bishop Conaty, Marissa played basketball and volleyball. She was a member of the National Honor Society, National Honor Society for Hispanics, the Ambassadors Program and the P.A.W. Squad, a service club that stands for Promoting All Women.  She also graduated on the Dean’s List at LACC, which recognized her outstanding scholastic achievement.

“I’ve seen the difference between Catholic education and other forms, and I am grateful that I was able to go to Catholic school. I don’t think I would have been able to attain my AA if I wasn’t going to a Catholic school,” Marissa added. “I don’t think I would be where I am today without the help of CEF and the donors.  I am so thankful to everyone.”

Having been accepted into 21 schools, Marissa chose to attend UCLA, entering as a junior this year. Planning ahead, Marissa has the next five years planned out to earn a Ph. D in computer science by the age of 23.

Alvaro’s success story is a very proud moment for CEF. Alvaro has been a CEF recipient through our Save Our Students (SOS) program, which specifically supports children with circumstances beyond their control.  Alvaro began attending Catholic school in the fifth grade at Resurrection Catholic School and just graduated from Bishop Mora Salesian High School in May of 2023.

“I appreciate the opportunity to attend Catholic school because I wouldn’t have had the same success and the same mindset that I would have, had I been at a public school,” said Alvaro.

At the start of his senior year, Alvaro, along with his younger siblings and mother, struggled with housing insecurity.  He would stay late after school to complete his homework because he did not know where he would be sleeping, or the environment he would be in each night. His family would stay in the homes of various friends until they were able to establish a stable dwelling.

“We were homeless for a short period of time and that took a toll on me. But we got through it. Studying and education is the only way out,” said Alvaro.

In the Spring of 2023, when CEF hosted a school tour at Salesian High School, Alvaro shared his story with us. The graduating senior is now studying engineering at his dream school Loyola Marymount University.

As the eldest in his family, Alvaro, a first-generation college student, is grateful for the educational opportunities created through the Catholic Education Foundation.

“I appreciate that CEF donated so much money and time into my elementary and high school education.  I want to give the donors the biggest thanks because you all put me in this position to have greater success,” said Alvaro.  “I wish I could just give them a big hug, a handshake and a hug, because not everybody does that.”

With the support of her family, Pomona Catholic High School and the Catholic Education Foundation, Savannah has excelled at making the most of the opportunities available to her and is now attending Brown University with both QuestBridge and Gates scholarships.  The QuestBridge program promotes low-income students with great learning potential.  The Gates program takes a highly selective approach to elevate outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households with a last-dollar scholarship.

Savannah is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering at Brown with the intention of continuing her higher education to receive a Ph.D. in that field.  “Going to an Ivy League school speaks to my success and all of my hard work and dedication for the last 15 years. It speaks to the opportunities available to me, which is something that I have not always been guaranteed before, coming from a low-income family.  This means the world to me, to be able to have the same opportunities as everyone else,” said Savannah.

Savannah has been a recipient of tuition assistance from CEF for the past four years and is a great representation of how our foundation is “Investing in Children and Empowering the future.”  While at Pomona Catholic, the class of ’23 graduate was a Varsity Cheer Captain, Damien Color Guard Captain, Debate Captain, and served on the Make-A-Wish Club, the Interact Club, National Honors Society, PC Ambassadors and was in Associated Student Body (ASB).

Always an academic overachiever, Savannah started preschool early at 2-years-old and was the first to read and write, and led her class in comprehending subjects overall. Savannah has always focused on her academics and success. At an early age, she had her heart set on the Ivy League.

“In kindergarten, I was always saying that I was going to go to Harvard,” said Savannah.

She settled in well at Brown University and is a cheerleader for the Brown University Cheerleading Team.

Being fortunate enough to receive financial assistance to attend Catholic school, Savannah believes that she would not have ended up a QuestBridge and Gates scholar attending Brown University, had she attended a public high school.

“I know I would not have found this love for academics at a public school as these are things that have been fostered here at Pomona Catholic.  I don’t believe I would have been as seen by teachers elsewhere,” said Savannah.

She has a great appreciation for the support and tuition assistance she has received and encourages CEF supporters to continue to make an impact on future students to come.

“I would not have been able to attend Pomona Catholic without the help from the donors of the Catholic Education Foundation and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a Catholic education. I would love to express my gratitude and I would encourage the same kind of help for incoming girls to have the same opportunities for success.”

A product of the New Enrollment Initiative, Jeffery left his public school and enrolled at Bishop Mora Salesian High School in 2022.  Immediately, the Salesian student body welcomed him, and he immersed himself in football and service organizations.

“Mom, I have a great opportunity to attend a Catholic school in Boyle Heights, vamos (let’s go),” said Jeffery.

“Coming here I didn’t know what to expect because I was coming from the public school system.  Never in my life would I have thought that I would be able to come to a school like this because my parents were not financially able to be able to pay for tuition.  CEF and the school really helped me out with that and I was able to just focus on my academics and play football,” said Jeffery.

Entering his junior year, the 4.01 grade point average transfer had his eyes set on attending UC Berkeley to become an engineer.  During his time at Salesian, he grew not only in his faith and athletic prowess, but also in the classroom. Jeffery further grew in academics and graduated with a 4.3 GPA.

As colleges and universities began visiting the Salesian campus to provide further information about their schools, there was no doubt that Jeffery would have numerous acceptances.  As luck would have it, call it the luck of the Irish, after attending a school visit to the University of Notre Dame, he quickly pivoted and chose to continue his Catholic school education in South Bend, Indiana.  Jeffery experienced a series of firsts while at Salesian. It was his first time experiencing a faith-filled environment, first time flying on an airplane, and he is the first in his family to attend college.

The tuition assistance that CEF provided coupled with the opportunities and structure that Salesian High School offered, helped make the difference for Jeffery to follow his academic dreams to attend Notre Dame.

“I’ve been able to work hard, keep my grades up, and as a result, I received a full scholarship to attend Notre Dame,” said Jeffery.