Carpinteria girls receive $25K in scholarships from Girls Inc. National Scholars Program
CARPINTERIA, Calif. - Two members of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria were awarded a total of $25,000 in college scholarships through the competitive Girls Inc. National Scholars Program.
Michelle Alpizar and Laura Flores were two of 23 young women around the nation who were hand-selected to receive the prestigious recognition, from a pool of more than 100 applicants.
Girls Inc. said their National Scholars Program selects outstanding young women across the U.S. who exemplify the Girls Inc. mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Recipients are role models for other girls who demonstrate a commitment to achieving academically and serving their communities.
“Michelle and Laura are truly driven, resilient, and compassionate young women and we are thrilled to see them receive this well-deserved recognition,” said Jamie Collins, executive director at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. “We are so proud of the confident, assertive, and focused young women they have grown to be and all that they have achieved through their hard work. We look forward to seeing Michelle and Laura continue to thrive and use their voices to serve as agents of social change.”
Each year, Girls Inc. National awards the selected Scholars with scholarships for educational expenses at any accredited college or university. Of the 23 national recipients, 17-year-old Alpizar is one of only 13 to score the $20,000 scholarship.
Alpizar is a senior at Carpinteria High School. She joined Girls Inc. of Carpinteria when she was in first grade.
“Girls Inc. provided a safe place for me where I was able to make new friends and find adults I could trust and confide in,” said Alpizar. “When it felt as if everything was going downhill, Girls Inc. taught me about persistence, inner strength, and self-determination. They provided me a shoulder to cry on, knowledge about college, and experiences that helped me take on the real world.”
Fellow winner Flores is a junior at Carpinteria High who joined Girls Inc. of Carpinteria as a sixth grader.
“I was unsure of myself as a young girl, but everything changed when the power of Girls Inc.’s programming, environment, and staff helped me challenge stereotypes, find my voice, and gain confidence,” said Flores. “Girls Inc. became my practice field for courageous, bold moments. I know I will continue to overcome the barriers set in front of me and challenge the limits set by others because of my gender.”
Since 1993, Girls Inc. said they have awarded over $4.6 million in scholarships in an effort to make higher education a reality for hundreds of high school girls across the United States and Canada.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria participants have received a total of 35 National Scholar awards and $228,500 in total scholarships.
To learn more about Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, you can call (805) 684-6364 or visit their website at www.girlsinc-carp.org.
