FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13th, 2010
PRESS CONTACT: Marissa Moss,
mmoss@griffinschake.com
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver
Announce Minerva Scholarship Winners for 2010
WE Educate awards 20 scholarships totaling $100,000 for 2010
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2010 — California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver today announced the winners of the 2010 Minerva scholarships, which seek to meet the needs of dedicated college students and assist outstanding California women in their pursuit of higher education.California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver today announced the winners of the 2010 Minerva scholarships, which seek to meet the needs of dedicated college students and assist outstanding California women in their pursuit of higher education.
WE Educate is a program of the Women’s Conference, the nation’s premier forum for women. Through this scholarship program, the Women’s Conference is able to honor women who exemplify the values of the Women’s Conference, continuing our work of empowering women 365 days a year to realize their potential.
“Since WE Educate began in 2005, we have awarded 48 Minerva Scholarships totaling $350,000. The impact of this scholarship program is extraordinary and we are overjoyed to invest in these talented young women by expanding their educational opportunities with these scholarships,” said First Lady Maria Shriver. “This diverse group of women have shown not only a commitment to their education but a proven dedication to their community. Whether volunteering at a domestic violence organization, mentoring high school students or serving as a translator at a legal clinic for immigrants, these women are truly Architects of Change.”
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "I am so pleased to honor these young women for their perseverance and determination to attain a higher education. They are true examples of what is possible and they should take great pride in this fantastic achievement."
WE Educate partners include Scholarship America (SA), Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and California State National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who help facilitate and distribute the scholarship funds.
“For the second year, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund is very pleased to award scholarships to five high-achieving Latina students through the Minerva Scholarship Program,” said Frank D. Alvarez, President and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “We are proud of our partnership with the California Women’s Conference, and very appreciative of the support given to help us achieve our vision of a college degree in every Latino household.” "Having experienced homelessness during my junior and senior years of high school, affording a higher education has been second in priority only to reaching it. Now attending my second year at UCLA, with the Minerva Scholarship, I am able to continue in both my academic pursuits and future career in education with surety and success,” said 2010 Minerva Scholarship recipient, Angela Sanchez.
The 2010 Minerva Scholarship Recipients are:
Nelly Chavez from Modesto, California attends University of Southern California and is majoring in Ethnic Studies.
Patrice Collins from Long Beach, California attends California State University, Long Beach.
Guadalupe Cruz from Azusa, California attends University of California, Santa Barbara and is majoring in Psychology.
Baldeep Dhaliwal from Sacramento, California attends University of California, San Diego and is majoring in Biology.
Reina Ferrufino from Whittier, California attends University of California, Berkeley and is majoring in Sociology.
Elaine Flores from Rancho Cucamonga, California attends California Lutheran University and is majoring in Political Science.
Erin Ford from Altadena, California attends Tuskegee University and is majoring in Psychology.
Tiffany Harrison from San Diego, California attends University of San Diego.
Anissa Leong from Pomona, California, attends University of California, Berkley and is majoring in Legal Studies.
Lynn Osorio from Banning, California attends University of Redlands and is majoring in Government and Religious Studies.
Lacie Pierre from Los Angeles, California attends University of California, Merced.
Jessica Powell from Costa Mesa, California attends Orange Coast College and is majoring in Elementary Education.
Karlesha Roland from Oakland, California attends Spelman College and is majoring in Mathematics.
Angela Sanchez from Los Angeles, California attends University of California, Los Angeles and is majoring in History.
Tiani Small from San Jose, California attends Spelman College and is majoring in International Studies.
Zephanii Smith from Stockton, California attends Claremont McKenna College.
Pamela Themm from Murrieta, California attends Azusa Pacific University and is majoring in Education.
Briana Valencia from Oak Park, California attends University of California, Los Angles and is majoring in Gender/Gay-Lesbian studies.
Royal Williams from Colton, California attends Oakwood University and is majoring in Communication.
Xu Yu Zeng from San Francisco, California attends University of California, San Diego and is majoring in Human Biology.
About WE Educate
WE Educate, a program of The Women’s Conference, invests in young women by providing scholarships to enable promising students to expand their educational pursuits. Since 2005, the conference has awarded 48 Young Minerva Scholarships totaling $350,000. WE Educate is proud to partner with Scholarship America, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, United Negro College Fund, and the California State National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to facilitate the scholarships.
About The Women’s Conference
Hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Women’s Conference is the nation’s premier forum for women. From October 24 through October 26, The Women’s Conference 2010 will engage more than 30,000 people. The three-day forum will be kicked off this year on Sunday, October 24 with Maria Shriver’s March on Alzheimer’s in Long Beach. Alzheimer’s disproportionately impacts women – both as victims and caretakers of loved one’s suffering from it – and the disease will feature prominently both during the three days of the conference and a full week before as Maria Shriver plans to publish a groundbreaking new Shriver Report focused on Alzheimer’s. Proceeds from The Women’s Conference’s Main Event, Grand Finale featuring The 2010 Minerva Awards, Night at The Village, A Day of Health, Wellness & Transformation, and Night at the Theater events all support the conference organization’s six WE Programs – WE Educate, WE Invest, WE Connect, WE Act, WE Inspire and WE Honor. For more details, visit: www.WomensConference.org.