Glow Foundation Announces 2007 Glow Scholarship Winners

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 21, 2007—Today the Glow Foundation, a provider of financial education, mentoring, and “unmet need” scholarships to high potential, college-ready students from under-resourced communities, announced the foundation’s 2007 scholarship winners.

“We’re extremely proud of 2007’s Glow Scholars,” said Adam Marchick, Glow co-founder and board member. “These 11 students have shown everyone the meaning of true commitment and perseverance. We look forward to watching this group of 11 grow into the potential they have been building up to this point.”

The Glow Foundation offers “unmet need” college scholarships to high potential students from under-resourced communities, helping them bridge the gap between the financing needed to attend college, and that which their families can provide. Unlike many scholarship programs that limit themselves to monetary grants, the Glow Foundation focuses first on providing students with the tools to proactively plan and seek the financial resources they need for college. Glow’s application process includes financial education courses supplied through financial education partners, like Wells Fargo, Silicon Valley Bank, and Lenders for Community Development. Additionally, applicants must not only complete a rigorous financial analysis of their college budgetary needs, but apply to additional financial aid and scholarship sources in to qualify for a Glow scholarship.

“Even though I have already begun to contribute positively to my community, I feel that I need to do more,” says Mayra Gomez, 17, a 2007 Glow Scholar. Mayra was admitted to UC Berkeley for the fall of 2007. “I would like to become a lawyer and make sure that people are not treated unfairly. I know that the road to this career is long and hard, but I am determined to work hard to study what I love.”

Jolene Walton is another example of the great potential found in 2007’s Glow Scholars. She balanced high school and working 20 hours a week at Macy’s and Stanford Dining Services to help her family financially. “On many occasions before bed, my grandmother would tell me stories about growing up in the south,” says Jolene. “She picked her own food, did manual labor, and dealt with segregation. I knew that she wanted to see me succeed in life, and be the first in my family to go to college.”

A key part of Glow’s mission is to address the lack of financial literacy that not only prevents high-potential, college ready students from attending colleges but can have the long term consequences of prolonging the students’ limited financial circumstances. “Students are frightened by loans,” says Lisa Carr, a professional consulting college counselor who volunteers her services at Palo Alto’s BUILD youth entrepreneurship program. “The thought of borrowing money is too daunting. They will opt to not go to college rather than apply for a loan.”

Glow is also unique in that rather than focusing solely on top students from under-resourced communities, the Foundation looks to identify and support high potential students overlooked by the typical academically competitive scholarships. Glow seeks to fill the gap in the existing scholarship eco-system, in which top students are overwhelmed with scholarship opportunities while many highly motivated, and deserving students from under-resourced communities fall through the cracks. Most Glow students have GPAs that fall in the 2.7 ~ 3.7 range. 80% of Glow’s students are also the first in their family to attend college.

Central to achieving Glow’s mission is its strategy of partnering with strong, proven high school programs for applicants. Partner organizations such as BUILD, Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), and East Palo Alto Academy’s Early College Program, ensure that all of Glow’s applicants are success-ready. These partnerships and the student track record they provide give Glow a deeper understanding of applicants beyond GPA numbers and application forms. Jim Cates, CIO of Altera Corporation, and Glow board member believes strongly in Glow’s mission. “I believe Glow is an organization that can find high-potential kids, and unlock lots of talent that would otherwise be in danger of being lost.”

Glow will be awarding its 2007 Glow Scholarships on June 21, 2007 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the SVB Financial Group’s Kellogg Auditorium in Santa Clara (3005 Tasman Drive).

2007 Glow Scholarship Winners:

Name College Glow Partner Organization

Pauline Brown High School Junior FLY
Angelina Gallardo San Jose City College FLY
Mayra Gomez UC Berkeley East Palo Alto Academy
Luis Martinez UC Davis East Palo Alto Academy
Luis Mora De Anza College East Palo Alto Academy
Fernando Munguia UC Santa Cruz BUILD
Cindy Osguera CSU, San Francisco BUILD
Peter Sok San Jose City College FLY
Maricela Torres CSU, Chico East Palo Alto Academy
Michelle Urmeneta Evergreen Valley College FLY
Jolene Walton University of Arizona BUILD

About the Glow Foundation: Founded in 2006, the Glow Foundation addresses the financial barriers that high-potential, low-income students face in attending and graduating from college. The Glow Foundation combines financial education, mentoring, and monetary grants to ensure that deserving students attend college. Since its founding in 2006, Glow has provided financial education to more than 50 students, and scholarships to 17 students. For more information, visit www.glowfoundation.org or call 415-309-4576

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