We believe that all students including immigrants, regardless of their legal status, should be allowed to pursue higher educational opportunities. Scholarships for Scholars of Montebello (SSM) is a community organization dedicated to ensuring all students get a chance at higher education with priority to those who qualify for AB540. Each year, scholarships are awarded to high school students from the Montebello Unified School District who apply and meet the criteria. As of January 2010, approximately twenty-seven two-year scholarships have been awarded. SSM recipients have attended the following institutions:
California State University at Long Beach
California State University at Los Angeles
California Polytechnic Institute at Pomona
Cerritos Community College
East Los Angeles Community College
Humboldt State University
Mount San Antonio College
Pasadena City College
Rio Hondo Community College
University of California at Davis
University of California at Los Angeles
Each year, the board of Scholarships for Scholars of Montebello holds a backyard luncheon for student recipients and their parents. Students gain an opportunity to meet one another and board members learn about the struggles, academic challenges and successes that both students and their parents face in the pursuit of higher education. TESTIMONIALS:
“At the University, I am not only gaining knowledge but I am also growing as a person. Life isn’t easy, especially if you have legal obstacles and other challenges in your path. If there is one thing in life I have learned, it is that I must live my life by design, not by default.” – Jorge, 2008 SSM recipient
“I am proud to be the daughter of wonderful parents that made me believe that it is possible to reach my goals. I have faced several problems because of racial remarks, prejudice, and mainly immigration… but this has encouraged me to want to prove that I can have a future by reaching my goals.” – Miriam, 2008 SSM recipient
GOALS
Our organization's primary goal is to ardently support the college bound AB 540 and disadvantaged youth through our community based fundraising efforts. Our board dedicates itself year round to building relationships with other organizations, artists, individuals, corporations and community leaders to help build fiscal support for the unfunded needs of our college scholars.