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Our 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations Scholarship Recipients

Artemisa Garcia Family Scholarship

These scholarships are named for a remarkable woman, Artemisa Garcia. While she and her husband were raising four kids, she worked in the cafeteria of Rancho Starbuck Middle School, where all four of them attended. After the kids were out of the house she decided to go to college. She promised her grandmother in Mexico that she would. She became a teacher, a counselor, a vice principal, a bi-lingual coordinator and finally an elementary school principal in Rowland Heights.

During her entire career in education her passion was to motivate children, all children, to do their very best, to go to college and become even more than they themselves thought they could be. She eventually lost a long struggle with cancer. Twenty years later her adult children approached Advance! to ask us to award scholarships in her name.

2023 Joseph Song, Whittier Christian High

2023 Julianne Canda, La Habra High

2022 Catherine Alcala, La Habra High

2021 Gracie Tancre, La Habra High

2021 Zia Diaz, La Habra High

2020 Lauren Bagdonoff, La Habra High

2020 Jane Hernandez, La Habra High

2020 Walter Lopez, La Habra High

2020 Cindy Soria, La Habra High

2020 Joseph Luna, La Habra High

2020 Jessica Gallegos, Sonora High

2019 Ramona Ornelas, Sonora High

2019 Estephanie Gonzalez Mora, La Habra High

2019 Giselle Hernadnez Sonora High

2019 Miranda Darensbourgh, Sonora High

2019 Vanessa Avila, La Habra High

2018 Zuly Villegas, La Habra High

2018 Kevin Jimenez, La Habra High

2018 Milah Afonin, Sonora High

2017 Delany Tran, Sonora High

2017 Valerie Gutierrez, La Habra High

2017 Yareli Segura, La Habra High

2016 Kawkab Chigri, La Habra High

2016 Vanessa Torres, La Habra High/ Rio Hondo College

2016 Kimberly Arreguin, Sonora High

2016 Julie Duda, Sonora High

2015 Jessica Sanchez, Sonora High

2015 Briana Soto, La Habra High

2014 Monica Gamino, Sonora High

2014 Maria Ornelas, Sonora High

2014 Daisy Soria, La Habra High

2013 Arturo Garcia, Sonora High

2013 Suzy Ramirez, La Habra High

2012 Jonathan Ishii, La Habra High

2012 Diana Munoz, Sonora High

2012 Jazmin Quiroga, La Habra High

2012 Guangseop Shin, Sonora High

2011 Alejandra Benitez, La Habra High

2011 Ivan Contreras, Sonora High

2011 Jennifer Fernandez, Sonora High

Dan Casey Scholarship

This scholarship carries the name of Dan Casey, who was Executive Director of the La Habra Boys & Girls Clubs for many years. He and his wife, Cathy, had two sons, Alex and Nolan, both of whom graduated from Sonora High School. Dan was a longtime advisor to Advance! and one of our strongest supporters in the La Habra community. He lost his battle with cancer in 2017. Advance! is honored to award scholarships in his name.

2023 Tannya Gallegos, Sonora High

2022 Clarissa Cabrera, Sonora High

2022 Michelle Mourey, La Habra High

2022 Morgan Billingsley, La Habra High

2021 Tyler Triviz, Sonora High

2021 Anya Shah, Sonora High

2020 Christian Angulo, Sonora High

2020 Eliana Afonin, Sonora High

2020 Angeline Marie Dequit, Sonora High

2020 Celeste Ramirez, Sonora High

2019 Brandon Porras, Sonora High

2019 Daisy Mendez-Villanueva, Sonora High

2018 Elizabeth McMillan, Sonora High

2018 Yara Ismael, Sonora High

2017 Maria Hernandez, La Habra High

2017 Valerie Gutierrez, Sonora High

2016 Samantha Casanas, Sonora High

2016 Lemar Stanekzai, Sonora High

2015 Stacy Flores, Sonora High

2015 Vanessa Gomez, La Habra High

Fred Lentz Scholarship

Advance!'s co-founder, Fred taught for 34 years, first at Lowell High in Whittier and then for 25 years at La Habra High before he and a former student established Advance! in 2002. For his 70th birthday, Fred was surprised to learn that friends and family agreed to set up a scholarship fund in his name, enough to fund two awards annually.

2018 Robert Munnerlyn, La Habra High

2018 Vivienne Gray, Sonora High

2017 Jose Alcala, Sonora High

2017 Monique Hernandez, La Habra High

2016 Nikki Chamberlain, La Habra High

2016 Oscar Rolon, Sonora High

2015 Juan Villalobos, Sonora High

2015 Carly Wong, La Habra High

2014 Chris Ledezma, La Habra High

2014 Maricela Perez, Sonora High

2013 Daniel Duque, Sonora High

2013 Jose Zuniga, La Habra High

Friends of Advance! Scholarship

These scholarships are funded primarily by two anonymous donors and are awarded primarily to students who are already in college and who need help continuing.

2020 Trinity Gomez, Sonora High

2018 Johnathan Vargas, La Habra High

2018 Ashmed Lozano, La Habra High

2018 Matthew Merino, La Habra High

2017 Bessy Sanchez, UCLA

2016 Alondra Gonzalez, Rio Hondo College

2015 Josue Mendez, Fullerton College

2014 Benjamin Garcia, La Habra High

2013 Lissette Bonilla, La Habra High

2012 Bellal Stanekzai, Fullerton College

2011 Everado Arrizon, Fullerton College

2011 Amanda Manzanares, La Habra High

2011 Azucena Mora, Sonora High

2011 Cynthia Ledesma, La Habra High

2010 Luis Liang

2010 Derek O'Hanlon, Sonora High

2010 Alex Oliva, Sonora High

2010 Julio Ruiz, La Habra High

2009 Victor Alatorre Jr., La Habra High

2009 Jessica Alvarez, La Habra High

2009 Angie Estrada, Sonora High

2009 Janet Ontiveros, Sonora High

2008 Jessica Mayorga, Sonora High

2008 Paola Rodriguez, La Habra High

2008 Sarahi Rodriguez, La Habra High

2007 Angelica Gaeta-Toro, Sonora High

2007 Alexis Bernal, La Habra High

2007 Alma Valle, Sonora High

2007 Cecilia Perez, La Habra High

2006 Maria Guerra, La Habra High

2006 Martha Guzman, Sonora High

2006 Edward Machorro, Sonora High

2006 Martha Sanchez, La Habra High

Sierra Vista Scholarship

The student council of Sierra Vista, a K-6 school in La Habra City School District, came up with the idea of awarding a college scholarship for graduating seniors at Sonora High. Candidates are interviewed by a panel form the school's student council and the scholarship recipients are honored at the school's annual end of the year assembly.

2019 Jocelyn Aguilera, Sonora High

2019 Giselle Hernandez, Sonora High

2019 Graciela Nava, Sonora high

Eileen and Henry Cohen

2023 Nicolas Carillo, Sonora High

2023 Tracy Tran, La Habra High

2023 Benjamin Green, La Habra High

2023 Alondra Garcia, La Habra High

2023 Jocelyn Lopez, Sonora High

2022 Troy Kaufman, La Habra High

2022 Tyler Porter, La Habra High

2022 Malini Pandey, Fullerton High

2022 Scarlet Marenco, Fullerton High

2022 Makayla King, La Habra High

2021 Khanyisile Makonese, Troy High

2021 Emily Ruiz, Fullerton High

2021 Clara Guirguis, Sonora High

2021 Joseph Saada, Fullerton High

2021 Melanie Sanchez, Godinez High

2021 Truong Ngo, Savannah High

2021 Jackelin Flores-Godinez, Buena Park High

Alex Buck Scholarship

A family in Fullerton lost their won Alex to cancer on Christmas Day in 2006 when he was only halfway through his freshman year at Pomona College. Even though he was an honors graduate of Troy High School in Fullerton, his parents asked Advance! to find deserving students in La Habra for these scholarships. Every year we are honored award two of these scholarships in his name.

2023 Adalyn Rodriguez, La Habra High

2023 Raegan Arroyo, La Habra High

2023 Patrick Woo, Sonora High

2023 Kendra Wise, Sonora High

2022 Arizbeth Arcos, La Habra High

2022 Maya Equihua, La Habra High

2021 Tyler Triviz, Sonora High

2021 Mohammadi Ali Sina, La Vista High

2021 Ryan Esquivel, La Habra High

2020 Ashley Villegas, Sonora High

2020 Sahara Espino Solis, Sonora High

2019 Jina Byun, La Habra High

2019 Cristian Romero, Sonora High

2018 Jazmine Troncoso, La Habra High

2018 Braulio Ramirez, La Habra High

2018 George Rico, La Habra High

2018 Abigail Lopez, La Habra High

2017 Anhthu Pham, La Habra High

2017 Nicole Luna, La Habra High

2016 Lauren Hernandez, La Habra High

2015 Michelle Ledezma, Sonora High

2015 Javier Urias, La Habra High

2014 Vanessa Martinez, La Habra High

2013 Diana Felix, La Habra High

2013 Jasmin Gamino, Sonora High

2013 Jorge Ordorica, Sonora High

2012 Jennifer Caudillo, La Habra High

2012 Sarahi Paek, Sonora High

2011 Ryan Luna, La Habra High

2011 Diana Melendez, Sonora High

2010 Susana Ortiz Vargas, Sonora High

2010 Alejandra Rodriguez, La Habra High

2009-2012 Alex Bielawiec, La Habra High

Cash 4 College Scholarship

"Cash 4 College", a division of the California Student Aid Commission based in Sacramento, encourages organization like Advance! to help as many students as possible fill out their FAFSA with one of these agencies, Cash 4 College provides a $1000 scholarship chosen by lottery.

2012 Diana Martinez, La Habra High

2011 Luis Cisneros, Sonora High

2011 Anna Martinez, La Habra High

Philip Haworth Scholarship

Phil Haworth is a 1995 graduate of La Habra High School. He went from there on to the University of Southern California, majoring in Aerospace Engineering (Class of 1999). He seeks to help local La Habra high school seniors fulfill their ambition to complete four-year degrees in science or engineering or related fields.

2023 Lydia Nguyen, La Habra High

2023 Justin (Brent) Grantham, La Habra High

2023 Jesus Vargas, Sonora High

2022 Matthew Cheah, Sonora High

2022 Troy Kaufman, La Habra High

2021 Ryan Esquivel, La Habra High

2020 Jose Pavon, La Habra High

2020 Jonathan Cheah, Sonora High

2019 Estephanie Gonzalez Mora , La Habra High

2018 Braulio Ramirez, La Habra High

2018 Carlos Alatorre, La Habra

NROTC Scholarship

2020 Anne Edwards, Sonora High

Sandi Bates Scholarship

2021 Odalys Garcia, La Habra High

2021 Joanna Saavedra, Sonora High

2020 Nadia Espitunal, Sonora High

Highlander Scholarship

Advance's newest scholarship, established 2018, is funded by two long time La Habra High staff members who recently retired. This annual scholarship will go to a student who is entering nursing or another health field.

2021 Karen Hinojosa, La Habra High

2019 Stefany Garcia Mora, La Habra High

2018 Gladys Estrella, La Habra High

Institute for Healthcare Advancement Scholarship

The Institute for Healthcare Advancement is a large medical facility in La Habra that serves thousands of local residents every year. It was Advance!’s home for several years. IHA provides scholarship funds to assist students who plan to enter the medical/healthcare field. Beyond funding scholarships IHA is a primary source of support for Advance! in the city in the city of La Habra.

2023  Yuna Lee, Sonora High

2023  Johnny Ruiz, La Habra High

2023  Juhyeong Mun, Sonora High

2023  Marissa Estrada, Sonora High

2023  Samuel Berduo-Canlas, La Habra High

2023  Jessica Salgado, La Habra High

2022  Lukas Garberg, La Habra High

2022  Caitlyn Konecne, La Habra High

2022  Courtney Haraguchi, La Habra High

2022  Kimberly Camacho, Fullerton High

2022  Mireya Ruiz, Sonora High

2022  Robert Arellano, Whittier Christian High

2021  Grecia Garcia, Sonora High

2021  Daniel Martinez Jaime, Sonora High

2021  Alyssa Arreola, Sonora High

2021  Parmida Bakhtiari Ghaleh, Fullerton High

2021  Karen Hinojosa, La Habra High

2020  Sahara EspinoSolis, Sonora High

2020  Safiyya Patel, Sonora High

2020  Ellen Hwang, Sonora High

2020  Madeline Arreguin, Sonora High

2020  Jonathan Cheah, Sonora High

2019  Catherine Antuna, La Habra High

2019  Veronica Barajas, Sonora High

2019  Miranda Darensbourg, Sonora High

2019  Ashley Haraguchi, La Habra High

2019  William Leonard, La Habra High

2018  Jose Alcala, Cal State Long Beach

2018  Diana Magana, UC Davis

2018  Gladys Estrella, La Habra High

2017-18  Madelynn Sopp, University of Southern California

2016  Araceli Casillas, Sonora High

2016  Green, Pfaff, La Habra High

2013  Bruce Briquelet, La Habra High

2013-2016  Asia Williams, La Habra High

JMR Foundation Scholarship

A young man who graduated from one of La Habra’s two public high schools was the victim of gang violence back in 2008. The “JMR Foundation” was established in his name and inn 2016 his family came to Advance! and asked if we would honor their son with two scholarships every year.

2023 Ailin Torres, La Habra High

2023 Charlie Garcia

2023 Paul Siapin, Sonora High

2023 Marissa Estrada, Sonora High

2022 Andrea Navarrete, La Habra High

2022 Jesus Camacho, La Habra High

2022 Eliza Flores, La Habra High

2022 Julieta Araiza, Sonora High

2021 Angel Navarro, Sonora High

2021 Samantha Pineda, Sonora High

2020 Jennifer Lee, Sonora High

2020 Omar Padilla, Sonora High

2019 Jennifer Rivera, Sonora High

2019 Daliana Solis Solis, Sonora High

2018 Johnathan Vargas, La Habra

2018 Brian Agallo, La Habra High

2017 Yareli Alatorre , La Habra High

2017 Pamela Padilla, Sonora High

2016 Cailin Grantham, La Habra High

2016 Kristen Sauceda, Sonora High

Augustine Family Scholarship

These scholarships are presented to honor the two deceased sons of Michael and Marilyn Augustine. Rex Augustine, a 1982 graduate of La Habra High School, was killed by a drunk driver in 1986 in the intersection of Imperial Highway and First Avenue. His closest friend died with him in the same car. Another Augustine boy, Steven, succumbed to a brain tumor when he was only three. This family started funding these scholarships in 1987 at La Habra High School, 15 years before Advance! was founded Beginning in 2006, they have given Advance! the honor of awarding these scholarships. The Augustine family wants to give other young people the opportunity for a college education that their two sons did not live long enough to enjoy. The Augustines, especially their son Michael, have funded close to 60 scholarships.

2023 Sarah Baker, Sonora High 

2023 Dulce Gonzalez-Munguia, Fullerton High

2023 Natalie Osuna, Sonora High

2023 Johnny Ruiz, La Habra High

2023 Jeannine Ruiz, La Habra High

2023 Isaiah Ervin, Fullerton High

2022 Gracie Rhode, La Habra High

2022 Nicholas Gutierrez, Sonora High

2022 Jayden Hyer, La Habra High

2022 Julian Atari, Sonora High

2022 Valerie Alvarez, La Habra High

2022 Nadezda Li, Sonora High

2021 Odalys Garcia, La Habra High

2021 Angel Navarro, La Habra High

2021 Gracie Tancre, La Habra High

2021 Joselle Barnoya, La Habra High

2020 Jose Pavon, La Habra High

2020 Reem Asad, La Habra High

2020 Enjy Mekhaiel, Sonora High

2020 Ezekiel Zizo, Sonora High

2020 Jessica Gallegos, Sonora High

2019 Veronica Barajas, Sonora High

2019 William Leonard, La Habra High

2019 Ramona Ornelas, Sonora High

2019 Ciello Penilla, La Habra High

2018 Oscar Alcala, La Habra High

2018 Chandara Heng, La Habra High

2018 Meliton Hernandez, Sonora High 

2018 Arlene Arrequin, Sonora High

2017 Jose Alcala, Sonora High

2017 Nitya Loganda, La Habra High

2017 Neha Loganda, La Habra High

2017 Diana Magana, La Habra High

2016 Madelynn Sopp, Sonora High

2016 Tiffany Sanchez, La Habra High

2016 Gustavo Cruz, La Habra High/Fullerton College

2016 Alejandro Avila-Alatorre, La Habra High

2015 Andrea Agramon-Leon, Sonora High

2015 Monica Estrada, La Habra High

2015 Monica Menjivar, La Habra High

2015 Michael Wheeler, La Habra High

2014 Kelcey Khen, La Habra High

2014 Jolin Morcos, La Habra High

2014 Mohammed Raza, Sonora High

2014 Frank Rios, Sonora High

2013 Daniel Duque, Sonora High

2013 Yocelin Gomez, Sonora High

2013 Brianna Retama, La Habra High

2013 Jose Zuniga, La Habra High

2012 Nur Bayaa, Sonora High

2012 Brandy Macias, La Habra High

2012 Linda Morales, La Habra High

2012 Jessica Wang, La Habra High

2011 Lucia Cortez, La Habra High

2011 Robert Vargas, Sonora High

2010 Chrystel Murrieta, La Habra High

2010 Shirley Santos, Sonora High

2009 Joel Ledezma, Sonora High

2009 Amparo Meneses, Sonora High

2008 Karissa Guerrero, Sonora High

2008 Huy Nghiem, La Habra High

2007 Ducle Navarro, La Habra High

2007 Bianca Hernandez, Sonora High

2006 Valentina Duque, Sonora High

La Habra Goes to College Scholarship

For several years Advance! awarded a scholarship at its annual community wide event called "La Habra Goes to College" to a local High School Senior in attendance. Ten of these scholarships were awarded between 2006 and 2012.

2012 Jennifer Caudillo, La Habra High

2011 Jared Leung

2010 Chrystel Murrieta, La Habra High

2009 Brian Aleman

2009 Joel Ledezma, Sonora High

2008 Joana Mojica, La Habra High

2008 Emmanuel Hernandez, Sonora High

2008 Ricardo Garcia, La Habra High

2007 Daisy Velasco, Sonora High

2007 Raul Bonilla, La Habra High

2006 Efrain Dominguez

La Habra HS - Class of 1995

2016 Rachel Kirylo, La Habra High

Tarek Captan Scholarship

Tarek Captan was a 1993 graduate of La Habra High School. His brothers Rashad and Kareem are also former Highlanders. Tarek went
on to graduate from UCLA and then devoted all his time and energies to help low-income, at-risk youth in Los Angeles break out of the cycle of poverty and lead a better life. In 2006 while crossing a street in LA he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Tarek’s dad, Habib, is Advance!’s treasurer and office manager.

2023 Ilisa Medrano, La Habra High

2023 John Barrios, La Habra High

2022 Arianna Dominguez, La Habra High

2022 Aletza Romero-Herrera, La Habra High

2021 Joseph Saada, Fullerton High

2021 Zia Diaz, La Habra High

2020 Monica Herrera, La Habra High

2020 Mary Ibrahim, Sonora High

2019 Ashley Haraguchi, La Habra High

2019 Noah Salas, La Habra High

2018 Kevin Jimenez, La Habra High

2018 Asmed Lozano, La Habra High

2017 Monique Hernandez, La Habra High

2017 Diana Magana, La Habra High

2016 Michelle Perales, La Habra High

2013 Nikki Villegas, Los Altos High

2012 Gianna Ramirez, Sonora High

2012 Jennifer Tagle, La Habra High

2011 Janet Soria, La Habra High

2011 Katelyn Van Leir, Sonora High

2010 Ashely Lowery, La Habra High

2010 Gustavo Murillo, Sonora High

2009 Lizbeth Martinez, La Habra High

2008 Karina Garcia, La Habra High

2008 Vanessa Juarez, Sonora High

2007 Carmen Lopez, La Habra High

2007 Juan Pulido, Sonora High

Trino Corral Scholarship

The La Habra High School’s class of 1985 lost one of its classmates just two weeks before graduation in a freak jeep accident over Memorial Day weekend. Since then, every year his closest friends from that class have been honoring Trino by helping make college possible for graduating seniors from La Habra High.

2023 Angelica Itzep Soc, La Habra High

2022 Logan Leone-Carranza, La Habra High

2021 Ryan Esquivel, La Habra High

2020 Joseph Luna, La Habra High

2019 Adrian Cortez, La Habra High

2018 George Rico, La Habra High

2017 Maria Becerril, La Habra High

2016 Maria Vega, La Habra High

2015 Armandro Alatoree, La Habra High

2014 Eder Fuentes, La Habra High

2013 Leslie Teo, La Habra High

2012 Alida Patchen, La Habra High

2011 Maria Camberos, La Habra High

2010 Pablo Carrillo, La Habra High

2009 Brian Jara, La Habra High

2008 Ricardo Garcia, La Habra High

2007 Julio Garcia, La Habra High