By Erika Flores |Staff Writer|
Elena Jacobo, 27, and Ruben Suarez, 19, were both awarded a $500 scholarship towards their education from the Office of Advising and Academic Services.
They received the Dianna Pelletier Resilience Scholarship for their academic achievements during Winter quarter 2015 on Tuesday, April 28.
Both students were on academic probation and, by working hard, they qualified for this opportunity.
“I applied because I saw the criteria, and I met them and thought, why not? I have nothing to lose,” Suarez said.
For Jacobo, the motivation to apply came from her daughter.
“I had never applied for a scholarship because there were too many requirements, or I didn’t qualify. But for this scholarship, I saw it as an opportunity,” said Jacobo.
These students, like many others, have had to overcome different life challenges that caused them to stumble academically.
Pelletier loved working with students here at CSUSB and when she died from cancer, her legacy continued through this scholarship that intends to reward students’ motivation and achievement who have been on academic probation.
One of the requirements needed to qualify is to have earned a minimum of a 3.2 grade point average for a specific quarter.
“My daughter, who was in third grade at that time, was going through some medical problems and I knew I had to help her, so she wouldn’t get behind in her class. That is when I started getting behind,” said Jacobo.
It was while she was trying to help her daughter with her education she realized that she too needed help.
“As adults we sometimes forget to ask for help. There are many resources that we can use here and we take them for granted. I thought I could handle it myself but it wasn’t until my daughter said, ‘Mommy, if you need help just ask’ that I realized that I too needed help,” said Jacobo.
Suarez describes his resiliency as a way to excel in his academics and a comeback from what had been a hard time in his life.
“When I finally snapped out of the funk I was in, I decided it was time to hit the books again and hit them hard.
Taking the proper steps to get where I am today was tough and it isn’t over yet, but it’s a start,” Suarez stated in his application essay.
“Since I don’t come from a wealthy family, this scholarship will help me with school supplies and even for summer school. Freshmen year I started off kind of rocky and I want to catch up,” added Suarez.
The scholarship recipients both had to learn life lessons that in the long run will benefit their academic careers.
The Dianna Pelletier Scholarship gives priority to students who work to pay for their education and do not receive financial aid.
“I’m glad I learned a life lesson from this and I’m ready for the years to come,” said Suarez.
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