Scholarships
Our 2023 Scholarship is now CLOSED!
The application for 2023 graduates is currently closed. Check back here next year in February for the 2024 application.

ID: 2023 High School Scholarship Recipients pose for Advance! 24 students from FJUHSD.
Scholarship Application for 2023 Graduates
Every year Advance! offers scholarships to graduating La Habra, Sonora, Fulleton, and Whittier Christian seniors. The application for 2023 graduates is currently closed. Check back here next year in February for the 2024 application.
Congratulations Scholarship Recipients!
Artemisa Garcia Family Scholarship
These scholarships are named for a remarkable woman, Artemisa Garcia. While she and her husband were raising their four kids she worked in the cafeteria of the middle school that they all attended. After raising them she decided to go to college. She became a teacher, a counselor, a vice principal, a bi-lingual coordinator and, finally, a principal. During her entire career in education her passion was to motivate children to do their very best, go to college, and be successful. She eventually lost a long struggle with cancer. Twenty years later her adult children approached Advance! to ask them to award scholarships in her name.
2023 | Joseph Song, Whittier Christian HS
2023 | Julianne Canda, La Habra HS
2022 | Catherine Alcala, La Habra HS
2021 | Gracie Tancre, La Habra HS
2021 | Zia Diaz, La Habra HS
2020 | Lauren Bagdonoff, La Habra HS
2020 | Jane Hernandez, La Habra HS
2020 | Walter Lopez, La Habra HS
2020 | Cindy Soria, La Habra HS
2020 | Joseph Luna, La Habra HS
2020 | Jessica Gallegos, Sonora HS
2019 | Ramona Ornelas, Sonora HS
2019 | Estephanie Gonzalez Mora, La Habra HS
2019 | Giselle Hernandez, Sonora HS
2019 | Miranda Darensbourg, Sonora HS
2019 | Vanessa Avila, La Habra HS
2018 | Zuly Villegas, La Habra HS
2018 | Kevin Jimenez, La Habra HS
2018 | Milah Afonin, Sonora HS
2017 | Delany Tran, Sonora HS
2017 | Valerie Gutierrez, La Habra HS
2017 | Yareli Segura, La Habra HS
2016 | Kawkab Chigri, La Habra HS
2016 | Vanessa Torres, La Habra HS/Rio Hondo
2016 | Kimberly Arreguin, Sonora HS
2016 | Julie Duda, Sonora HS
2015 | Jessica Sanchez, Sonora HS
2015 | Briana Soto, La Habra HS
2014 | Monica Gamino, Sonora HS
2014 | Maria Ornelas, Sonora HS
2014 | Daisy Soria, La Habra HS
2013 | Arturo Garcia, Sonora HS
2013 | Suzy Ramirez, La Habra HS
2012 | Jonathan Ishii, La Habra HS
2012 | Diana Munoz, Sonora HS
2012 | Jazmin Quiroga, La Habra HS
2012 | Guangseop Shin, Sonora HS
2011 | Alejandra Benitez, La Habra HS
2011 | Ivan Contreras, Sonora HS
2011 | Jennifer Fernandez, Sonora HS
2011 | Cynthia Ledesma, La Habra HS
2010 | Alex Oliva, Sonora HS
2010 | Julio Ruiz, La Habra HS
2009 | Victor Alatorre Jr., La Habra HS
2009 | Jessica Alvarez, La Habra HS
2009 | Angie Estrada, Sonora HS
2009 | Janet Ontiveros, Sonora HS
2008 | Jessica Mayorga, Sonora HS
2008 | Paola Rodriguez, La Habra HS
2008 | Sarahi Rodriguez, La Habra HS
2007 | Angelica Gaeta-Toro, Sonora HS
2007 | Alexis Bernal, La Habra HS
2007 | Alma Valle, Sonora HS
2007 | Cecilia Perez, La Habra HS
2006 | Maria Guerra, La Habra HS
2006 | Martha Guzman, Sonora HS
2006 | Edward Machorro, Sonora HS
2006 | Martha Sanchez, La Habra HS
Alex Buck Scholarship
A family in Fullerton lost their son Alex to cancer on Christmas day in 2006 when he was only half-way through is freshman year at Pomona College. Even though he was a graduate of Troy High School in Fullerton, his parents asked Advance! to find deserving students in La Habra for these scholarships. Advance! awards two of these scholarships every year.
2023 | Adalyn Rodriguez, La Habra HS
2023 | Raegan Arroyo, La Habra HS
2023 | Patrick Woo, Sonora HS
2023 | Kendra Wise, Sonora HS
2022 | Arizbeth Arcos, La Habra HS
2022 | Maya Equihua, La Habra HS
2021 | Tyler Triviz, Sonora HS
2021 | Mohammadi Ali Sina, La Vista HS
2021 | Ryan Esquivel, La Habra HS
2020 | Ashley Villegas, Sonora HS
2020 | Sahara Espino Solis, Sonora HS
2019 | Jina Byun, La Habra HS
2019 | Cristian Romero, Sonora HS
2018 | Jazmine Troncoso, La Habra HS
2018 | Braulio Ramirez, La Habra HS
2018 | George Rico, La Habra HS
2018 | Abigail Lopez, La Habra HS
2017 | Anhthu Pham, La Habra HS
2017 | Nicole Luna, La Habra HS
2016 | Lauren Hernandez, La Habra HS
2015 | Michelle Ledezma, Sonora HS
2015 | Javier Urias, La Habra HS
2014 | Vanessa Martinez, La Habra HS
2013 | Diana Felix, La Habra HS
2013 | Jasmin Gamino, Sonora HS
2013 | Jorge Ordorica, Sonora HS
2012 | Jennifer Caudillo, La Habra HS
2012 | Sarahi Paek, Sonora HS
2011 | Ryan Luna, La Habra HS
2011 | Diana Melendez, Sonora HS
2010 | Susana Ortiz Vargas, Sonora HS
2010 | Alejandra Rodriguez, La Habra HS
2009-2012 | Alex Bielawiec, La Habra HS
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. Another Augustine boy, Steven, died of a brain tumor when he was only three. This family wants to give other young people the opportunity for a college education that their two sons didn’t get to enjoy because their lives were cut short. The Augustines, especially their son, Michael, have funded four Advance! scholarships every year since 2006.
2023 | Sarah Baker, Sonora HS
2023 | Dulce Gonzalez-Munguia, Fullerton HS
2023 | Natalie Osuna, Sonora HS
2023 | Johnny Ruiz, La Habra HS
2023 | Jeannine Ruiz, La Habra HS
2023 | Isaiah Ervin, Fullerton HS
2022 | Gracie Rhode, La Habra HS
2022 | Nicholas Gutierrez, Sonora HS
2022 | Jayden Hyer, La Habra HS
2022 | Julian Atari, Sonora HS
2022 | Valerie Alvarez, La Habra HS
2022 | Nadezda Li, Sonora HS
2021 | Odalys Garcia, La Habra HS
2021 | Angel Navarro, La Habra HS
2021 | Gracie Tancre, La Habra HS
2021 | Joselle Barnoya, La Habra HS
2020 | Jose Pavon, La Habra HS
2020 | Reem Asad, La Habra HS
2020 | Enjy Mekhaiel, Sonora HS
2020 | Ezekiel Zizo, Sonora HS
2020 | Jessica Gallegos, Sonora HS
2019 | Veronica Barajas, Sonora HS
2019 | William Leonard, La Habra HS
2019 | Ramona Ornelas, Sonora HS
2019 | Ciello Penilla, La Habra HS
2018 | Oscar Alcala, La Habra HS
2018 | Chandara Heng, La Habra HS
2018 | Meliton Hernandez, Sonora HS
2018 | Arlene Arrequin, Sonora HS
2017 | Jose Alcala, Sonora HS
2017 | Nitya Loganda, La Habra HS
2017 | Neha Loganda, La Habra HS
2017 | Diana Magana, La Habra HS
2016 | Madelynn Sopp, Sonora HS
2016 | Tiffany Sanchez, La Habra HS
2016 | Gustavo Cruz, La Habra HS/Fullerton College
2016 | Alejandro Avila-Alatorre, La Habra HS
2015 | Andrea Agramon-Leon, Sonora HS
2015 | Monica Estrada, La Habra HS
2015 | Monica Menjivar, La Habra HS
2015 | Michael Wheeler, La Habra HS
2014 | Kelcey Khen, La Habra HS
2014 | Jolin Morcos, La Habra HS
2014 | Mohammed Raza, Sonora HS
2014 | Frank Rios, Sonora HS
2013 | Daniel Duque, Sonora HS
2013 | Yocelin Gomez, Sonora HS
2013 | Brianna Retama, La Habra HS
2013 | Jose Zuniga, La Habra HS
2012 | Nur Bayaa, Sonora HS
2012 | Brandy Macias, La Habra HS
2012 | Linda Morales, La Habra HS
2012 | Jessica Wang, La Habra HS
2011 | Lucia Cortez, La Habra HS
2011 | Robert Vargas, Sonora HS
2010 | Chrystel Murrieta, La Habra HS
2010 | Shirley Santos, Sonora HS
2009 | Joel Ledezma, Sonora HS
2009 | Amparo Meneses, Sonora HS
2008 | Karissa Guerrero, Sonora HS
2008 | Huy Nghiem, La Habra HS
2007 | Ducle Navarro, La Habra HS
2007 | Bianca Hernandez, Sonora HS
2006 | Valentina Duque, Sonora HS
Cash 4 College Scholarship
“Cash 4 College”, a division of the California student Aid Commission based in Sacramento, encourages organizations like Advance! to help as many students as possible fill out their free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For every 25 students who complete their FAFSA with one of these agencies, Cash 4 College provides a $1000 scholarship, chosen by lottery.
2012 | Diana Martinez, La Habra HS
2011 | Luis Cisneros, Sonora HS
2011 | Anna Martinez, La Habra HS
Philip Haworth Scholarship
To help La Habra High School seniors and alumni currently in college to fulfill their ambition to complete a four year degree in Science or Engineering. Phil Haworth is an alumnus of La Habra High School (class of ’95), and of USC’s School of Engineering with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (class of ’99)
2023 | Lydia Nguyen, La Habra HS
2023 | Justin (Brent) Grantham, La Habra HS
2023 | Jesus Vargas, Sonora HS
2022 | Matthew Cheah, Sonora HS
2022 | Troy Kaufman, La Habra HS
2021 | Ryan Esquivel, La Habra HS
2020 | Jose Pavon, La Habra HS
2020 | Jonathan Cheah, Sonora HS
2019 | Estephanie Gonzalez Mora , La Habra HS
2018 | Braulio Ramirez, La Habra HS
2018 | Carlos Alatorre, La Habra
NROTC Scholarship
2020 | Anne Edwards, Sonora HS
Sandi Baltes Scholarship
2021 | Odalys Garcia, La Habra HS
2021 | Joanna Saavedra, Sonora HS
2020 | Nadia Espitunal, Sonora HS
Dan Casey Scholarship
This scholarship carries the name of Dan Casey, who was executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of La Habra for many years. He and his wife Cathy had two sons, Alex and Nolan, both of whom attended Sonora High School. Dan was a long-time advisor to Advance! He lost his battle with cancer in 2017. Advance! is honored to award two scholarships in his name.
2023 | Tannya Gallegos, Sonora HS
2022 | Clarissa Cabrera, Sonora HS
2022 | Michelle Mourey, La Habra HS
2022 | Morgan Billingsley, La Habra HS
2021 | Tyler Triviz, Sonora HS
2021 | Anya Shah, Sonora HS
2020 | Christian Angulo, Sonora HS
2020 | Eliana Afonin, Sonora HS
2020 | Angeline Marie Dequit, Sonora HS
2020 | Celeste Ramirez, Sonora HS
2019 | Brandon Porras, Sonora HS
2019 | Daisy Mendez-Villanueva, Sonora HS
2018 | Elizabeth McMillan, Sonora HS
2018 | Yara Ismael, Sonora HS
2017 | Maria Hernandez, La Habra HS
2017 | Valerie Gutierrez, Sonora HS
2016 | Samantha Casanas, Sonora HS
2016 | Lemar Stanekzai, Sonora HS
2015 | Stacy Flores, Sonora HS
2015 | Vanessa Gomez, La Habra HS
Fred Lentz Scholarship
Advance!’s co-founder, Fred, taught for 34 years, first at Lowell High School in Whittier and then for 25 years at La Habra High School before he and a former student of his 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 HS
2018 | Vivienne Gray, Sonora HS
2017 | Jose Alcala, Sonora HS
2017 | Monique Hernandez, La Habra HS
2016 | Nikki Chamberlain, La Habra HS
2016 | Oscar Rolon, Sonora HS
2015 | Juan Villalobos, Sonora HS
2015 | Carly Wong, La Habra HS
2014 | Chris Ledezma, La Habra HS
2014 | Maricela Perez, Sonora HS
2013 | Daniel Duque, Sonora HS
2013 | Jose Zuniga, La Habra HS
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 HS
2018 | Johnathan Vargas, La Habra HS
2018 | Ashmed Lozano, La Habra HS
2018 | Matthew Merino, La Habra
2017 | Bessy Sanchez, UCLA
2016 | Alondra Gonzalez, Rio Hondo
2015 | Josue Mendez, Fullerton College
2014 | Benjamin Garcia, La Habra HS
2013 | Lissette Bonilla, La Habra HS
2012 | Bellal Stanekzai, Fullerton College
2011 | Everardo Arrizon, Fullerton College
2011 | Amanda Manzanares, La Habra HS
2011 | Azucena Mora, Sonora HS
2010 | Luis Liang
2010 | Derek O’Hanlon, Sonora HS
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 HS
2019 | Stefany Garcia Mora, La Habra HS
2018 | Gladys Estrella, La Habra HS
Institute for Healthcare Advancement Scholarship
The Institute for Healthcare Advancement is a large medical facility in La Habra that houses Advance!’s college counseling center. IHA provides funds to Advance! to assist students who are committed to entering the medical/healthcare field. Their initial commitment was to help four students for all four years of their undergraduate work. They are continuing their support for two of those students beyond their four undergraduate years.
2023 | Yuna Lee, Sonora HS
2023 | Johnny Ruiz, La Habra HS
2023 | Juhyeong Mun, Sonora HS
2023 | Marissa Estrada, Sonora HS
2023 | Samuel Berduo-Canlas, La Habra HS
2023 | Jessica Salgado, La Habra HS
2022 | Lukas Garberg, La Habra HS
2022 | Caitlyn Konecne, La Habra HS
2022 | Courtney Haraguchi, La Habra HS
2022 | Kimberly Camacho, Fullerton HS
2022 | Mireya Ruiz, Sonora HS
2022 | Robert Arellano, Whittier Christian HS
2021 | Grecia Garcia, Sonora HS
2021 | Daniel Martinez Jaime, Sonora HS
2021 | Alyssa Arreola, Sonora HS
2021 | Parmida Bakhtiari Ghaleh, Fullerton HS
2021 | Karen Hinojosa, La Habra HS
2020 | Sahara EspinoSolis, Sonora HS
2020 | Safiyya Patel, Sonora HS
2020 | Ellen Hwang, Sonora HS
2020 | Madeline Arreguin, Sonora HS
2020 | Jonathan Cheah, Sonora HS
2019 | Catherine Antuna, La Habra HS
2019 | Veronica Barajas, Sonora HS
2019 | Miranda Darensbourg, Sonora HS
2019 | Ashley Haraguchi, La Habra HS
2019 | William Leonard, La Habra HS
2018 | Jose Alcala, Cal State Long Beach
2018 | Diana Magana, UC Davis
2018 | Gladys Estrella, La Habra HS
2017-18 | Madelynn Sopp, University of Southern California
2016 | Araceli Casillas, Sonora HS
2016 | Green, Pfaff, La Habra HS
2013 | Bruce Briquelet, La Habra HS
2013-2016 | Asia Williams, La Habra HS
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 in 2016 his family came to Advance! and asked if it would honor their son with two scholarships every year.
2023 | Ailin Torres, La Habra HS
2023 | Charlie Garcia
2023 | Paul Siapin, Sonora HS
2023 | Marissa Estrada, Sonora HS
2022 | Andrea Navarrete, La Habra HS
2022 | Jesus Camacho, La Habra HS
2022 | Eliza Flores, La Habra HS
2022 | Julieta Araiza, Sonora HS
2021 | Angel Navarro, Sonora HS
2021 | Samantha Pineda, Sonora HS
2020 | Jennifer Lee, Sonora HS
2020 | Omar Padilla, Sonora HS
2019 | Jennifer Rivera, Sonora HS
2019 | Daliana Solis Solis, Sonora HS
2018 | Johnathan Vargas, La Habra
2018 | Brian Agallo, La Habra HS
2017 | Yareli Alatorre , La Habra HS
2017 | Pamela Padilla, Sonora HS
2016 | Cailin Grantham, La Habra HS
2016 | Kristen Sauceda, Sonora HS
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 HS
2011 | Jared Leung
2010 | Chrystel Murrieta, La Habra HS
2009 | Brian Aleman
2009 | Joel Ledezma, Sonora HS
2008 | Joana Mojica, La Habra HS
2008 | Emmanuel Hernandez, Sonora HS
2008 | Ricardo Garcia, La Habra HS
2007 | Daisy Velasco, Sonora HS
2007 | Raul Bonilla, La Habra HS
2006 | Efrain Dominguez
La Habra HS- Class of 1995
2016 | Rachel Kirylo, La Habra HS
Tarek Captan Scholarship
Tarek Captan was a 1993 graduate of La Habra High School. He went on to graduate from UCLA and then devoted all his time and energy 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 killed by a drunk driver. Tarek’s dad, Habib, is now Advance!’s office manager and treasurer.
His wife, Tarek’s mother, along with their two sons, who are also La Habra High graduates, are proud to award two scholarships every year in Tarek’s name.
2023 | Ilisa Medrano, La Habra HS
2023 | John Barrios, La Habra HS
2022 | Arianna Dominguez, La Habra HS
2022 | Aletza Romero-Herrera, La Habra HS
2021 | Joseph Saada, Fullerton HS
2021 | Zia Diaz, La Habra HS
2020 | Monica Herrera, La Habra HS
2020 | Mary Ibrahim, Sonora HS
2019 | Ashley Haraguchi, La Habra HS
2019 | Noah Salas, La Habra HS
2018 | Kevin Jimenez, La Habra HS
2018| Asmed Lozano, La Habra HS
2017 | Monique Hernandez, La Habra HS
2017 | Diana Magana, La Habra HS
2016 | Michelle Perales, La Habra HS
2013 | Nikki Villegas, Los Altos HS
2012 | Gianna Ramirez, Sonora HS
2012 | Jennifer Tagle, La Habra HS
2011 | Janet Soria, La Habra HS
2011 | Katelyn Van Leir, Sonora HS
2010 | Ashely Lowery, La Habra HS
2010 | Gustavo Murillo, Sonora HS
2009 | Lizbeth Martinez, La Habra HS
2008 | Karina Garcia, La Habra HS
2008 | Vanessa Juarez, Sonora HS
2007 | Carmen Lopez, La Habra HS
2007 | Juan Pulido, Sonora HS
Trino Corral Scholarship
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 in that class have been honoring Trino by helping make college possible for a graduating senior from LHHS.
2023 | Angelica Itzep Soc, La Habra HS
2022 | Logan Leone-Carranza, La Habra HS
2021 | Ryan Esquivel, La Habra HS
2020 | Joseph Luna, La Habra HS
2019 | Adrian Cortez, La Habra HS
2018 | George Rico, La Habra HS
2017 | Maria Becerril, La Habra HS
2016 | Maria Vega, La Habra HS
2015 | Armandro Alatoree, La Habra HS
2014 | Eder Fuentes, La Habra HS
2013 | Leslie Teo, La Habra HS
2012 | Alida Patchen, La Habra HS
2011 | Maria Camberos, La Habra HS
2010 | Pablo Carrillo, La Habra HS
2009 | Brian Jara, La Habra HS
2008 | Ricardo Garcia, La Habra HS
2007 | Julio Garcia, La Habra HS
Sierra Vista Scholarship
The student council of Sierra Vista, a K-6 school in the La Habra City School District, came up with the idea of awarding a college scholarship for graduating seniors at Sonora High School. Candidates are interviewed by a panel from the school’s student council and the scholarship recipients are honored at the schools annual end-of-year assembly.
2019 | Jocelyn Aguilera, Sonora HS
2019 | Giselle Hernandez, Sonora HS
2019 | Graciela Nava, Sonora HS
Eilean and Henry Cohen
2023 | Nicolas Carillo, Sonora Hs
2023 | Tracy Tran, La Habra HS
2023 | Benjamin Green, La Habra, HS
2023 | Alondra Garcia, La Habra HS
2023 | Jocelyn Lopez, Sonora HS
2022 | Troy Kaufman, La Habra HS