Innovative Program Awards 14 students Funds for Higher Education

Words Alive, a leading San Diego non-profit literacy organization that inspires a commitment to reading and develops shared reading experiences for children, youth and adults, has selected 14 outstanding young people from nine San Diego County Juvenile Court and Community Schools as the 2013-2014 Words Alive Westreich Scholarship recipients. Each will receive a scholarship award ranging from $1000 to $5,000 for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The 2013 Words Alive Westreich Scholarship program recipients are: Brittany Jackson from University of California, Santa Cruz; La’Shanae Johnson from San Diego State University; Judith Garcia and Maria Sarali Lozano of Southwestern College; Cynthia Medina, Jessika Valenzuela, Cynthia Valenzuela, Luis Ibarra, Karina Amaya, Maura Arroyo, J’Mescia Price, and Fernando Salas from San Diego City College; Cathy Campos from San Diego Mesa College; and Martika Lee from Arizona State University.

Unlike other scholarship programs, which typically fund only books, tuition and educational supplies, each recipient is eligible to receive funds to cover the cost of rent, food, childcare, travel expenses, and clothing, among other expenses.

Additionally, this scholarship program is unique in that each recipient is expertly matched with a one-to-one mentor who meets with them regularly throughout the school year providing guidance, direction, and often times, that simple “shoulder” to lean on.

On the cusp of the announcement of the scholarship recipients, Words Alive is also celebrating SDSU student Trisha McElroy as the first graduate to have gone through the Words Alive program- from participating in the Adolescent Book Group (ABG) program in high school- to being selected as a Words Alive Westreich Scholarship recipient. Trisha graduated from SDSU this year on May 18. Trisha’s experience and story are one of many within the community of Words Alive participants, but being the first college graduate to have gone through the ABG program as well as the scholarship program, is a significant milestone for the organization and is a tribute to the mission of Words Alive.

Words Alive will host its annual Words Alive Westreich Scholarship Awards Ceremony to recognize the 2013-2014 scholarship recipients in August 2013.

The Words Alive Westreich Scholarship Program was created by Ruth Westreich, a noted San Diego philanthropist, whose generosity with Words Alive allowed for the founding of the scholarship. The program awards scholarships to past Words Alive Adolescent Book Group program participants to support them in their pursuit of higher education at the college or vocational level.

“Words Alive is honored that Ruth Westreich and the Westreich Foundation established the Words Alive Westreich scholarship. Their generosity has allowed us to help many bright, talented, dedicated teens achieve their educational goals. The whole community will benefit from what the students, in turn, offer back to all of us,” remarks Words Alive founder and board member, Leslye Lyons.