Melissa Quintana knows firsthand that the decisions one makes now will affect you long into the future. She is determined to give her all in the game of life and to always do her best. “Education is the key,” she believes. “My parents have always told my siblings and me that the most valuable thing a person can obtain is knowledge.” The only thing standing in her way is the necessary funding to make a college education become a reality. That’s where the Simon Family Foundation comes in. When her older brother suffered an almost-fatal stabbing in Mexico and her other brother spent Christmas and New Year’s in the hospital with a respiratory problem, Melissa came to understand how fragile life is and the importance of having family by your side “to make the journey less severe. These events changed my life – it made me a stronger person and helped me realize I should never take anything for granted.” With a GPA of 4.6, Melissa is giving school her all and hopes to graduate from a university in California with a degree in law. Her greatest desire is to fulfill her parents’ dreams for her. “I want to prove to them that I am capable of reaching great heights.” Melissa’s English teacher believes that she has only begun to tap into her true potential. “I have watched Melissa blossom this year into a lovely young lady,” her teacher said, observing Melissa as she expands her horizons to reach outside the classroom. “It is my feeling that Melissa is capable of much more growth in the future.” The Simon Family Foundation also believes that she has only just begun.

Vietsimon Tran remembers his father always saying, “Education is the most important thing in life.” Immigrants from Vietnam, neither of his parents had a chance to complete their education, and Vietsimon wants to make a difference by changing that. “Being a Simon Scholar will enable me to attend college and receive a degree, which will greatly improve my chances of being successful in life,” he said. Financial difficulties have abounded since Vietsimon’s father suffered a serious heart attack in 2003 and has been unable to work. “School is, as my dad tells me, your job until you go to college,” Vietsimon said. Immersing himself in his studies, maintaining a GPA of 4.3, and being involved in extracurricular activities such as Marching Band and community service keep him constantly on the move. The President of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society recommends Vietsimon as a “bright young adult who shows a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work, all the while doing it with a sense of humility and respect.” His AVID teacher said that Vietsimon not only has great potential, but he also has the drive and the discipline to go far. “When I saw the poster for the Simon scholarship,” Simon said, “I knew it was an opportunity I could not pass up, since it had my name written all over it, literally.” The Simon Family Foundation is proud to welcome Simon Tran to its rank of Scholars.

Life has thrown him more than a few curves, but Pedro Vidales, a Junior at Segerstrom High School, has proven that even when he gets knocked down, “I’ll pick myself right back up and keep moving forward…with a big smile on my face.” Pedro has lived with his brother and family since his mom passed away in 2009 from cancer. Despite her absence, she continues to serve as his inspiration in life. “It’s been a rough year without her, but I know that she is watching over me and the rest of my family every second,” he said. Thankful for the family support he’s received, Pedro wants to continue on with his education after graduating high school. “I would love to have a profession in the culinary arts and open up a business as a memorial to my mom.” Pedro prides himself on being known as a person willing to lend a helping hand to others and defending those who cannot do it for themselves. The school clerk said Pedro “is a complete joy to know. If there were more students like him, being a teacher would be easy.” The school registrar concurred, recommending him highly for a scholarship because of his energy, enthusiasm, charm and joyful spirit. She said that Pedro has already endured enormous tragedy in his young life, but “continues to remain positive. He is a gentle soul with great potential if he has the proper support behind him.” As a Simon Scholar, Pedro knows that his future is yet to be written and with the Simon Family Foundation behind him all the way, his optimism knows no bounds.

Living in a household with 13 members makes concentration on schoolwork difficult, but Kelly Vo, a Junior at Segerstrom High School, manages to maintain a 3.4 GPA in her efforts to stay focused on her goal – graduating from college with a degree in social science. Among other things, becoming a Simon Scholar means her father won’t have to worry about college tuition, and it is affording Kelly an opportunity to get out of her shell and overcome her shyness. Kelly is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. Her father risked his life on a small boat to come to America. Her parents are now divorced, and Kelly still struggles with a lack of self confidence. Becoming a Simon Scholar forces her to step out of her comfort zone and try something new and connect with students from different backgrounds. Financial difficulties are the norm for Kelly and her family, but she remains undeterred. “My dream is to rise up from the disadvantages of my living conditions and personal problems,” she said. “I plan a career in social science, because I like learning about people and what they think and why they behave in certain ways.” Her Social Science teacher said she believes Kelly “epitomizes the characteristics” that the Simon Family Foundation is seeking. “Kelly is a person of integrity who holds herself to high ethical standards,” she said. “Being part of a group, working with a mentor – this is just what Kelly needs, and I really believe that both she and her father deserve it. He dreams of his little girl going to college and becoming successful.” With the Simon Family Foundation’s willing support, their dream will surely be realized.

Leonardo Zermeno knows what it means for a parent to worry about not having a job or be able to provide for one’s family. In 2007, his father suffered a severe heart attack. Enormous medical bills have accumulated since and Leonardo notes “my family is in economic crisis. My mother’s income is the only source of money we are receiving.” Leonardo said he knows that getting a college education will make a difference, not only in his life, but in the lives of all of his family members. With a current GPA of 3.6, Leonardo wants to attend the University of California San Diego and major in accounting. “Being dependable is something that I feel is rewarding,” Leonardo said. “My family relies on me to do a lot of work in our home…from normal house chores to translating conversations to filling out documents my parents don’t understand.” His baseball coach said Leonardo “enhances the morale of the team with his positive attitude and sense of humor.” He said that Leonardo is a team leader who excels not only in baseball but in the classroom as well. Leonardo’s Spanish teacher said that he “contributes greatly to enhancing the quality of learning at Saddleback High School by providing us with high quality assignments, a high level of motivation, and a natural disposition to help others.” He added that Leonardo will give back to the community of Santa Ana because of his intense desire to help others in need. The Simon Family Foundation highly encourages a giving spirit like his.