On May 1, the Gunn Foundation hosted 19 college-bound seniors and their families in the Flex Room for its annual scholarship award ceremony. Gunn Foundation Board President Kimberly Eng Lee wrote in an email that, this year, the foundation awarded over $120,000 in need-based scholarships to bridge financial gaps for those pursuing post-secondary education.
According to Eng Lee, students receive scholarships upon college enrollment, after which they can use the funds for any personal and education-related expenses needed for the transition to college, including tuition, room and board, textbooks and meals. The scholarships are between $1000 to $4200 per student, and though the recipient application process includes an essay and interview, Eng Lee emphasized that the primary purpose of the screening is to assess financial needs, rather than to be selective.
“Our hope is to attract as many students as possible who are in need (of financial support), and for us to have done our very best to raise enough money to give to them,” she said. “It’s really not meant to be a weeding out type process. It’s really meant to be inclusive.”
Seniors TuUta Fisiiahi, Valentin Carranza Garcia and Jocelyn Perez-Gutierrez are among this year’s scholarship recipients. Respectively, they will be attending the University of California, Davis; San Jose State University and Foothill College.
For Fisiiahi, who plans to study food science — which was sparked by a chemistry lab in his sophomore year — his scholarship money will help cover textbooks and other school supplies.
“I feel like (this scholarship) is going to help me financially with basic necessities for education,” he said. “Maybe a laptop so I can (study), since I’ve been living off of a Chromebook.”
At his university, Fisiiahi hopes to continue playing sports — even if not professionally or at the collegiate level — as he did on Gunn’s sports team. He mainly plays football, but has also branched out into volleyball and basketball.
“I’m very happy and excited (that) I got into (UC Davis),” he said. “I heard there are a lot of opportunities for intramural sports, so if I don’t really want to play for a league or division, I could just have fun.”
Carranza Garcia also intends to transfer to a UC campus after completing his studies in engineering at Foothill College, a process which takes approximately two years. He plans to dedicate part of his scholarship for school supplies and put the rest in savings.
Perez-Gutierrez, who was drawn to studying business because of its math and problem-solving components, expresses a similar sentiment as her award funds will go towards her tuition.
“The money that I am going to receive is really going to help me take that step forward and be able to afford the school that I’m going to,” she said. “So it’s really important that I got this money, and I’m thankful for it.”
The Gunn Foundation fundraises year-round to secure enough money to provide scholarships for all the students who apply. Most contributors are private donors, including current and past Gunn parents and other community members. Eng Lee explained that most donations occur around the beginning of the school year, when the Gunn Foundation appeals to parents at events like Back to School Night.
“We’ve had a back-to-school packet for a long time, so there’s sort of this ask within the Gunn community,” she said. “We also have donors who have returned year after year, even after their children have finished Gunn, (and) past board members from (the) Gunn Foundation.”
Ultimately, the foundation’s efforts work to ensure that every student attending Gunn has a chance to further their education, regardless of financial circumstances.
“It’s super corny when people say, ‘If I were to see myself four years ago where I am now, I’d be surprised,’” Fisiiahi said. “(But) that corny stuff — it’s somewhat true. When you first enter high school, you feel like you’re going to stay here forever. I’m just still in awe about going to college, it’s just a whole new experience.”
