Meet CEF Scholar Nathan Valencia. He was recently recognized and honored for having one of the top five grade point averages in his respective graduation year.

Nathan has been a CEF scholar since 2013, and is now a sophomore at St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy. He is currently taking English 10 Honors, Honors Biology, Pre-Calculus, Theology, Spanish II, and AP European History, while maintaining a 4.5 GPA. Way to go Nathan!

“Thank you so much CEF for providing me with the opportunity to attend St. Pius Matthias Academy. Without the assistance from you I would not be able to do what I have done. I am so thankful to be lucky enough to receive tuition assistance. I am doing my best with the money you have granted me and making the most of it,” said Nathan.

Sarah Camarena, Senior at Sacred Heart of Jesus, has recently received First Team All-League award for volleyball. Sarah plays setter and this is her fourth time receiving this award. She went on to say, “Volleyball is my passion. I fell in love with the sport from the very beginning.”

Varsity Coach Jennifer Beltran said, “Even before Sarah came to us, one thing that stood out was her work ethic along with her leadership. She is the heartbeat of the group, and what she feels the team feels. It is a great quality of hers that she continues to use in a positive way.”

Sarah plans to attend college and study kinesiology. She feels called to help people take care of their bodies.

Sarah has yet to meet a CEF donor but has this message for them, “Thank you for helping me, for helping me get to where I am today. Without you, this wouldn’t be possible.”

Sarah looks forward to donating and giving back to the Catholic Education Foundation someday to assist students just like her.

Jose David Chanchavac, a current Senior at Bishop Mora Salesian High School and CEF scholar, was recently accepted to Dartmouth College with a full four-year QuestBridge scholarship.

QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program gives outstanding low-income high school students an early advantage during the college admissions process. Chanchavac applied to ten colleges, eight of which were Ivy league colleges, and was selected to attend Dartmouth College for the fall semester of 2018. Chanchavac has received this merit scholarship which will cover all of his tuition and fees for four years.

However, the road leading up to this great accomplishment was not a walk in the park. Chanchavac was born in Guatemala. At the age of six, his family decided to move to Los Angeles. Throughout his childhood, the Chanchavac family moved from place to place due to financial hardships. During that time, Chanchavac attended St. Matthias Elementary School in Huntington Park and went on to attend Bishop Mora Salesian High School in Boyle Heights.

“From my time at Salesian, I have learned how to be resourceful,” said Chanchavac. “I was always the shy kid and would not often talk to people, but here I was able to open up and begin to communicate with others and teachers.”

While at Salesian, Chanchavac has been part of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Humanitarian Club. He also runs for the schools’ cross country and track team. This year he was elected Associated Student Body President, all while taking five AP classes and maintaining a 4.37 grade point average.

Chanchavac will be graduating in May of this year and said, “Every teacher has had an impact on me in various ways and every moment at Salesian has been worth it.” Chanchavac looks forward to starting a new chapter and plans to study computer science at Dartmouth.

“If it wasn’t for CEF donors, I don’t know if I would be where I am now,” said Chanchavac. “Thank you.”

To stay up to date with CEF news, or to send us information about a student who shines at your school visit www.cefdn.org and sign up for our monthly newsletters.

“Whether acting in a play, singing in the choir, leading a school tour, or experimenting in the lab, Chloe Furlong is a true renaissance woman,” said Pomona Catholic High School Science teacher, Mr. Don Bell.

Chloe received her first CEF award in 6th grade while attending Sacred Heart School in Covina. Since then she has continued her Catholic education journey and is now a Junior at Pomona Catholic High School (PC).

Chloe is continuously showing passion and dedication to her studies. She is currently taking Spanish III, Pre-calculus, U.S. History, Religion, AP Biology, and AP Language and Composition, all while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Chloe enjoys each class and every teacher at PC, but is particularly passionate about AP Language and AP Biology.

She said, “Both classes are difficult in their own distinct way, and both teachers push me to excel in my efforts and help me reach my fullest potential.” Mr. Bell has had Chloe in both his Honors Chemistry and AP Biology and has nothing but good things to say about Chloe. He went on to say, “She is courteous, respectful, spiritual, and humble while still being fun-loving with a great sense of humor.”

Not only is Chloe an excellent student, but she is also an active ambassador at PC and participates in multiple clubs like Home EC, the Buddy Project, fashion, music, choir, and drama club. This spring will be her third time participating in the schools’ spring musical.

Chloe is a strong believer in giving back to the community. She demonstrates this belief by participating in the Buddy Project, which is a non-profit movement that aims to prevent suicide and self-harm by pairing people as buddies and raising awareness for mental health.

Chloe said, “Through these clubs, I am able to participate and give back to my PC community in countless ways and I am taught valuable life lessons.”

From the classroom to the stage and back to the community Chloe is ready to start planning her college career. She has expressed an interest in majoring in Psychology particularly learning disabilities and mental illness. Her desire for this subject has been sparked by the positive impact her brother has on her.

Chloe’s brother has a learning disability; however, this does not affect the close relationship the siblings have. She said, “Many people think it is difficult to have or know someone close to you with a disability, but it is actually the opposite for my family and I.” She went on to say, “Having a brother with a learning disability along with friends and family who have suffered and still suffer from mental illnesses has helped me better understand and respect people of all kinds. Through my continuous studies, I hope to make a major impact in the world through my future career and give hope and love to those who may not have it.”

It’s no secret that the success of the Catholic Education Foundation is measured by our scholars’ success. This 2017-2018 school year, we have the honor of serving more than 9,000 scholars in schools across the Archdiocese. This month, CEF would like to highlight the story of one outstanding young man who was highlighted in our most recent e-newsletter. Junipero Serra High School Senior, David Eure, is the epitome of a “Serra Cavalier.”

David performs at a high level academically and has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll every year. Throughout his high school career David continues to put his studies first, while remaining connected to the school’s extra-curricular activities. David has played on the Varsity football team each year and has been selected as team captain the past two years. He also serves on the Serra L.I.F.E. Team, a religious student led group.

Serra Athletic Director Joshua Dabbs said, “David is one of the most driven, respectful, intelligent, humble servant leaders that I have had the privilege to coach.”

When David is not at school or on the field, he is working part time to help his family financially. David’s family, like many others, face financial difficulties, however, his family faces another obstacle. His mother is currently battling cancer, but through it all, David spreads faith and positivity. Serra Director of Campus Ministry, Paul Murphy, said, “David is an exceptional young man with a bright future ahead of him that is made possible in part by CEF.” 

David is just one of the thousands of scholars who depend on CEF to provide access to a quality Catholic education.

With all that is going on in the world, along with the uncertainty of what the future holds for this country, hope for better days ahead are in the hands of bright young students like Allyana White. A junior at Bishop Conaty – Our Lady of Loretto High School in the Harvard Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, White is more than just an academic scholar – she is a talented athlete, a community volunteer, and is passionate about driving social change.

White is one of the top students in her class with a 4.73 GPA and is involved in a number of on-campus activities. She is member of the National Honor Society and runs for the cross-country team. Outside of school, she keeps busy by volunteering at her local library.

White attributes much of her success to the guidance and support she receives from her mother and older sister, Najwah, who was the salutatorian of Bishop Conaty’s graduating class of 2015.

“My older sister is definitely a role model for me because everything she’s done is something I can learn from. My mom [has] done a lot for me and my family. I consider her a role model because she doesn’t let anything that she’s struggled with affect [her].”

Additionally, she credits her teachers and school community for providing her with an environment that motivates her to succeed.

“I’ve learned a lot from being in a Catholic school and I’ve learned a lot about perspective based on religion and different people’s backgrounds,” she explained.

With college application season right around the corner, White plans to apply to colleges and universities in New York. NYU and Barnard College, a liberal arts college for women, are at the top of her list. As an aspiring journalist, White is confident that New York is the perfect environment for her to study and start a career in investigative journalism. She hopes to change the way that information is delivered to the public, especially around topics like women’s rights and international news. The recent events in Aleppo have inspired her to bring truth to the public and justice to those who are victims of war and violence.

“If I become a journalist, I want to develop my own way of presenting news accurately. To determine what really matters, what’s affecting people, and what is most important [is] what we should focus on.”

White’s determination to create positive change and her passion for helping the most vulnerable in society are just a few of the many reasons she is an inspiration to all those around her. Ms. Catalina Salazar, Bishop Conaty’s Development Director, is among those in awe of White’s accomplishments and goals. “She is quite amazing,” Salazar stated.

Before attending Bishop Conaty, White was a student at Nativity Elementary School in Los Angeles. She has been a CEF Scholar for three years.

Patience, dedication, and a strong foundation in faith are among the reasons why Tysyn Parker has accomplished so much in and out of the classroom. Parker, a senior at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, admits that time management is the key ingredient to his recipe for success as an academic scholar, student ambassador, and a star player on Serra’s football team. His athletic abilities have already gained him offers for full scholarships to San Diego State University and Colorado State University, but he will ultimately narrow his decision down to a school that will enable him to achieve both his athletic and academic goals.

Parker truly epitomizes a well-rounded student. He has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll since his freshman year at Serra, has maintained over a 4.1 GPA since his sophomore year, and is currently in the top 15% of the graduating class of 2017. Of course, his athletic success speaks for itself. Parker has received all mission league honors and is an integral part of one of the top-performing high school football teams in the state of California. And on top of his already busy schedule as a scholar and an athlete, he makes time to serve as a student ambassador. “Being a student ambassador, being able to help the young students, that’s big to me because somebody did that for me as [an incoming freshman],” Parker shared.

Parker is grateful to Serra for providing him with the community and learning environment that he now considers his family and home. “You have more of a personal involvement with students and teachers, so you can get that one-on-one time you need,” he explained. “Serra changed my perspective. It changed me tremendously because I feel more open to people. I feel like I can express myself more to others around me. It has also taught me to always lend a hand when people are down.”

Despite the many challenges he has faced in his young life, Parker has always been able to summon the strength to remain positive in his outlook on life and continue to move forward. At the age of three, Parker’s mother passed away and his father did not play an active role in his upbringing. He was lovingly raised by his Aunt Micole, his grandfather, and a few uncles. “As I’ve grown older, the loss of my mom hasn’t really taken a negative effect on me. I think [it] made me a better person because I know she’s there for me. Losing her is [a] negative but…I’ve been able to develop to stay true to who I am.”

Adversity has always been a motivation for Parker to strive for success and accomplish his goals. His future is bright as he is now selecting from several colleges and universities that have already made him offers of admission. He plans to major in criminal justice and hopes to one day become a detective so that he can continue to make a positive impact on his community. “Whether I am a police officer, or [an] officer in the Army, I just want to make a difference. I want to impact somebody’s life. I just want to be able to give back and see people happy.”

Pride of CEF

From his humble beginnings in the Boyle Heights community and Salesian High School, to his college days at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Alex Chacon has never failed to acknowledge the support of his parents, teachers, community, and CEF, and how they have significantly impacted his achievements and success. As the new principal of his alma mater, Principal Chacon believes that faith and community are integral components of the educational success. He is dedicated to creating the same nurturing environment for his current students. 

CEF recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Principal Chacon about the role his community and CEF have played in his life and success. He shared: 

“That’s something we try to teach the boys here…that it isn’t just by chance that they are here. This community is sacrificing a lot. CEF is sacrificing quite a bit to make sure the kids are receiving these great awards. And at some point the hope is that they can return that favor. Our school would not be open without CEF’s support.” 

St. Genevieve High School student and CEF scholar, Sonny Jefferson, received the exciting news that she was being funded to travel to her dream destination: Tokyo, Japan. Los Angeles Times HS Insider sponsored the Discover Asia Correspondent Contest in which high school and college students were asked to write a 1000-word essay explaining why and what about Asian culture was of interest to them. Jefferson’s essay was chosen out of the 227 that were received.

Jefferson took an interest in Manga and Anime at a young age. She explains that it was Japanese comics and animation that brought her comfort in times of struggle and hardship. Additionally, the opportunity to attend a Catholic school also fueled Jefferson’s desire to learn and achieve.

Jefferson’s journalism teacher, Ms. Chang, has been a first-hand witness of the positive impact CEF and St. Genevieve has had on her student. Ms. Chang recounts how shy Jefferson initially was and how she has slowly evolved into an individual who “always [gives] the full effort and [takes] the opportunities that [are] given to her.”

Jefferson’s entry essay can be read here.

Congratulations, Sonny! We are extremely proud of you!