Carol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship awarded to TGR Foundation students
Last summer, TGR Foundation welcomed its newest cohort of College Bound Academy students to the TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim. Beyond the two weeks of immersive college prep courses offered by TGR staff, the students had a chance to engage with special guests and friends of the foundation. One such guest was Dr. Jennifer Winward, an instructor at the University of California, San Diego and creator of the online platform, Winward Academy.
Through the generosity of Dr. Winward along with the Kimmelman Family Foundation, 100 students including those enrolled in TGR Foundation’s College Bound Academy (CBA) received access to Winward Academy’s award-winning curriculum geared towards ACT and SAT preparation.
From the 2018 CBA cohort, Winward, along with a committee from the Kimmelman Family Foundation, selected two deserving students – Erick Ho and Albert Tran – to receive the Carol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship.
“Erick and Albert were personally chosen because they exude the traits Carol loved in her students: unparalleled drive, passion for life and love for others,” explained Winward.
“Carol, a K-12 educator, always said her kids were born on 3rdbase sliding into home and that students she taught in South Central L.A. were equally deserving, smart and hard-working but could go their entire lives fighting for a chance at bat,” said Winward. “The goal of the Carol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship is to honor Carol’s memory by giving more students a chance to hit a home run. That possibility is everything she would have wanted.”
Erick, who will be attending the University of California, Irvine in the fall, shared just how meaningful it was for him, a first-generation college student coming from a low-income household, to be the recipient of theCarol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship.
“You’re twice as appreciative and thankful for every dollar that comes in because that alleviates your worries of not just overcoming the financial barriers to a high quality college education, but also the peace of mind that the everyday necessities: food, water, electricity, and even rent, the money and somewhat stable life that your parents would’ve happily sacrificed for your education, is put back into their pocket,” said Erick.
“That right there is beyond any sort of appreciation and gratitude that my family and I can wholly express for the Carol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship. More than money comes with this scholarship. It’s a restoration of faith in my own abilities and potential, and I think even more than that—hope. It’s hope. A whole lot of it.”
Erick stopped by the TGR Learning Lab to share his appreciation in person. See his moving story of hope in his own words below.
Albert Tran, who will be attending the University of California, Berkeley in the fall, sees the scholarship as a motivator, encouraging him to continue to succeed and pursue his passion within the medical field.
“As a first-generation student in my family to attend a four-year university, the Carol Kimmelman Memorial Scholarship will greatly benefit my journey to higher education. I am further motivated to work even harder in college with the trust of the committee behind me,” said Albert.
“This scholarship provides me an opportunity to improve myself as a student and a person. It helps prove to me that I should believe in myself and push forward as much as others do.”
TGR Foundation is grateful for the generosity and support of the Kimmelman Family Foundation and Winward Academy. All of us offer our congratulations to Erick and Albert as they step into their next academic chapter. With their unrelenting spirit and passion to succeed, we’re certain they will not only accomplish but surpass their academic and professional goals.
Learn more about TGR Foundation’s partnership with the Kimmelman Foundation to launch an academic and sports complex in Los Angeles.
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