Campbell, California Since 1999
Education
(Photograph courtesy of Marilyn West) Kiwanis rewards students who turn their lives around Good Work: Campbell Kiwanis Club members Leo Shortino and Marilyn West (at right) were on hand when the service organization distributed Turnaround scholarships to Blackford High School students (from left): Heather Andree, 17, and Kristina Dipko, 18; and Westmont High School students Pamella Woolman, 19, Tarah DiNardo, 17, Steven Rivera, 18, and Chong Zhao, 19. (By Juliane Ngan ) Heather Andree isn't your average high school student. She never graduated from middle school, and while other students at her high school spent their time studying, playing sports or being involved in clubs, Andree hardly spent any time at school. In fact, she spent her first 21/2 years of high school partying with friends and drinking alcohol. Her lifestyle eventually brought her into the depths of depression and through a series of emotional breakdowns. However, Andree isn't the only student who has faced such obstacles in high school, and thanks to the Campbell Kiwanis Club, Andree and five other seniors who started slow but finally blossomed have been awarded $1,000 each to further their education or careers. On May 28, four students from Westmont High School and two from Blackford High School were awarded the service club's Turnaround Scholarship at a luncheon at the Pruneyard's Hobee's restaurant in Campbell. The scholarship was designed to reward students who have overcome major difficulties, such as a disability or an illness, drug addiction, gang membership, teen pregnancy or parenthood or other obstacles. The scholarship provides financial assistance to seniors who have surpassed these difficulties and made a turnaround in order to graduate from high school. Andree's depression and constant breakdowns eventually brought her to realize that she needed to make a change in her life. "I had no respect for myself," Andree says. "And no respect for anyone around me at all." It wasn't until halfway through her junior year that the 17-year-old moved to Blackford High School, where her grades improved dramatically. Andree's desire to graduate from high school was spurred by the fact that she had never graduated from middle school, and she wanted to make her parents proud. "I wanted to make something out of my life," she said. "The direction I was going just wasn't going anywhere." Her hard work for the past 11/2 years has paid off, and Andree will be a high school graduate continuing her education at West Valley College. She hopes to become an elementary school teacher or a school counselor who can help students to overcome difficulties like she did. Chong Zhao's struggle in school did not arise from not wanting to learn. Zhao, now 19, came to America from China six years ago. Like other immigrants, he had to learn in classes that were taught in a language that was completely foreign to him. He struggled and lost motivation to try in his classes. His grades dropped to almost all F's, and he believed his teachers were uninterested in helping him. Eventually he was cutting classes on a regular basis. "I was trying to do better," Zhong said, "but the teachers were already failing me so it made me not want to study anymore." Zhong's struggle turned him to his father for help, but his father was only able to encourage Zhong to study harder. Since he was constantly working, it was difficult for Zhong's father to assist his son in his studies. When his family moved near Westmont High School, Zhong found that the teachers at his new school were willing to assist him in his studies. He began to work harder in school and pulled his grades up, managing a 2.7 grade point average. When Zhong graduates in June, he will be continuing his education at De Anza College, and he hopes to transfer to another college. He hopes to become an acupuncturist like his father. The Campbell Kiwanis Club aims to give the students "as big a push as they need financially," said Marilyn West, Campbell Kiwanis Club president, "and the emotional support we can give them to let them know we are proud of what they did." The acknowledgement of her turnaround was exactly what 17-year-old Tarah DiNardo needed to motivate herself in school. As a freshman, DiNardo had a 1.5 grade point average and called herself the typical slacker who didn't want to do her homework. She wasn't accepted at school; she felt unhappy, but she realized if she wanted to improve her situation, she would have to change herself. "I looked around and I saw people who were happy, and I tried to see what they were doing differently," DiNardo said. "It was people who were involved in school activities. I realized that if I wanted to change, those were the kinds of things I needed to be a part of." Fortunately, once she indicated to some of her friends who were active in student government that she wanted to learn how to be more involved, they were happy to help her out. She turned out to be a quick study, throwing herself into activites such as student government. She became a Link Crew commissioner, successfully tried out for the school's cheerleading squad and was elected homecoming queen. For 19-year-old Pamella Woolman, getting motivated in school was difficult when her mother worked full time and was never home. She spent her entire freshman year ditching school and hanging out with about 20 guys who did drugs. She said she never did drugs with them but several of her friends spent their time selling marijuana. Her grade point average was at 1.25 after cutting class almost every day. Woolman made a change in her life when she moved in with her father in her sophomore year. His guidance encouraged her to become more active at school and work harder in class. Woolman will be graduating from Westmont High School with a 3.0 and will be attending West Valley College in the fall. All 18-year-old Steven Rivera needed to turn his life around was to grow up. "I didn't really care, I just wasn't motivated to do any work," said Rivera. Rivera's turnaround his sophomore year was spurred by his realization that he had been immature and needed to begin planning for his future. He will be graduating from Westmont High School with a grade point average of 3.6. Rivera hopes to study economics at De Anza College and may go into investment banking in the future. Kristina Dipko pulled her grade point average up from 1.6 to 2.9 after transferring to Blackford High School. As a freshman, Dipko convinced herself that she didn't need to go to college. She was constantly cutting classes and hanging out with friends. Her turnaround was "a personal goal," Dipko said. "I wanted to graduate from high school and be accepted into a college." Her hard work paid off, and she will be graduating from Blackford High School in June. She will be studying psychology at West Valley College and hopes to transfer to San Jose State University. The Kiwanis Club of Campbell has participated in the Kiwanis Turnaround Scholarship Fund for two years. This year the six were selected from 10 applicants. The total amount awarded to the six students was $6,000. The Leo Shortino Family Trust Fund was a major contributor for the scholarship, donating $4,000. |
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