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100% of your contribution supports the following education equity initiatives

championed by Winward Academy and Enduragive

Carol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship

Celebrating All-Stars of Grit, Heart, & Purpose

Carol, a K-12 educator, always said her kids were born on third base sliding into home, and that the students she taught in South Central Los Angeles, who were equally deserving, smart, and hard-working, could go their entire lives without getting a chance at bat. Now they can hopefully hit a home run.

To honor the memory of Mrs. Carol Kimmelman, we're delighted to introduce seven of our exemplary college-bound scholarship recipients who exude the drive and talents Carol would love and admire.

Joselin M.

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Kehila M.

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Omar H.

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Kenly C.

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ShaLisa P.

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Somadina E.

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Simon T.

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Joselin M.

As a child in Guatemala, Joselin didn’t understand that not everyone receives the same kind of care when they’re sick. A harrowing experience drove home that hard truth in a way that changed her life. As an eight-year-old, she was given medicine for her nausea from a pharmacy. Hours later, she was paralyzed, unable to move a muscle. Fortunately, her parents could afford to take her to the hospital. If that hadn’t been the case or if she’d had a bit more of the medicine, she would surely have died. “I often think of the kids who had that extra tablespoon,” the salutatorian writes. This experience inspired Joselin to enter the field of public health, so she can make a change and harness her power to transform access to health care. Joselin will attend Mount Holyoke College in the fall to pursue that dream.

Kehila M.

Many people go their entire lives without finding their purpose. Kehila discovered hers when she witnessed a horrific act of child abuse at a gas station one summer as a teenager. Since then, Kehila has been laser-focused on pursuing a career in criminal justice and raising awareness of human trafficking in the San Diego area. Now set to begin her college career at San Diego State University, Kehila is eager to take her activism and education to a new level with hopes of engaging a global population.

Omar H.

Knowing his mother’s cancer could have been diagnosed earlier had she been in the United States instead of Egypt forced Omar to confront uncomfortable truths about equal access to health care. Now, on the cusp of attending the University of Pennsylvania, Omar is eager to pursue an education that will prepare him for leadership opportunities in the complex world of healthcare policy. His ultimate goal is to help level the playing field -- both in the United States and around the globe.

Kenly C.

Even in the midst of growing up, Kenly knew her childhood wasn’t typical. The screams, accusations, and fights between her parents were impossible to ignore. Following her father’s departure, Kenly learned firsthand from her mother and grandmother about the importance of independence and stability. Now, years later and with an admission letter from Vanderbilt University, Kenly hopes to honor her elders by becoming a special education teacher who uses her experiences to inspire others to never settle.

ShaLisa P.

Look around a crowded room – each and every person you see is facing a challenge. For ShaLisa, that challenge came in the form of a serious health scare, endured by her mom. ShaLisa compares the experience of caring for her mother while working to do her best in school to trying to keep a full glass of water from spilling during an obstacle course. It’s impossible, of course. Water spills. But through the experience, ShaLisa - who was valedictorian of her class - learned the importance of caring for herself and remaining calm when life is at its most stressful. She’ll have the opportunity to put that philosophy into action this fall, when she attends The College of New Jersey, located near her family.

Somadina E.

Most people never realize that other people’s opinions don’t matter. However, Somadina learned that bit of wisdom early. Raised in Nigeria until he was 14, Somadina and his family came to the United States after getting a much-coveted visa. Somadina’s transition to American culture wasn’t always smooth. He writes that classmates often called him Simba, a reference to “The Lion King.” While the word – and the discrimination it implied – stung Somadina, it also helped to spark an inner strength he still carries with him today. After enduring grave poverty, missing a year of school, and facing discrimination, he learned that only he determines who he is. He put that philosophy in action to graduate in the top of his class. Somadina will study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one of the nation’s top-ranked engineering schools.

Simon T.

Set to graduate first in his class and to start at Yale University in the fall, Simon clearly understands the value of hard work. But like most born leaders, Simon is quick to give thanks to others for his own accomplishments. Simon credits his highly diverse Houston neighborhood for exposing him to a variety of cultures and ideas and his extended family for giving him a sense of belonging as a minority. With a level of maturity far beyond his years, Simon brings a deep amount of sympathy and heightened social consciousness to his understanding of the world.

Our Education Equity Initiatives

Scholarships

We partner with foundations across the country to support exceptionally bright, hard-working students. These are the students who stay until 9 PM on Friday nights, who come every day at lunch for extra practice, and who work tirelessly from home despite social and financial barriers. Many of these students who epitomize grit and determination find themselves with tuition gaps at their dream colleges. Help us fill their tuition gaps.

College Success

Many first generation college students struggle to overcome their fear of rejection and fear of sharing their personal experiences in applications. Help us harness the power of the peer voice by spreading a message of hope and confidence. Help us empower youth to manage the emotional process of college applications and to complete college with confidence.

Academic Support

Through our work with charities, we've learned about many incredible after school programs. Some support the academic success of students in military families moving around the world. Others assist teens battling cancer who miss weeks or months of school. And some strive to help youth in foster care or victims of trauma. Help us support community groups working to transform students' professional and academic development.