A member of the Segerstrom Chamber Singers, Juan Calzada loves music. He hopes someday to use it in his professional career, either as a musician or in some way to enhance the lives of others. When he competed in Santa Ana’s Classical Art Song competition, he took first place. This gave him motivation to keep pursuing his goals, and it is motivation that he desperately needed because he believes that whatever success he enjoys in the future must come from within. Juan has had to face many challenges beginning early in his life. “When I was 7 years old, my best friend, my dog, died in front of my eyes. When I was 10 years old, I found out the man I had thought was my father wasn’t,” he said. “Ever since then, I’ve been worried about who I can trust.” A victim of child abuse and removed from his parents’ home, Juan lives with his grandmother and uncle. He works hard in school, maintaining a 3.6 GPA, because he knows that all of his goals will be fulfilled with a good education. “My major goal in life is to be a doctor,” he said. “I want to practice and train in the medical field so that I can help people who really need it. My secondary goal is to become a musician. I have been in choir and honor choir since I was in 4th grade. The Simon Scholarship will help me reach my goal.” Juan’s Vocal Music Director agrees. “Juan is an ideal candidate for the Simon Scholarship,” he said. “He has an excitement for learning that makes him a delight to work with. He serves as a mentor and tutor for students who are struggling to raise their proficiency scores.” His Honors Chemistry teacher said that Juan exhibits many “leadership qualities that will make him an exceptional student at the college level.” Having a new family of Scholars to provide him with love and support means the world to Juan. In becoming a Simon Scholar, he feels that he has “become part of something big. Being given the chance to meet people who have the same goals, having friends who will support me, and being part of a real family has changed my life,” and definitely for the better. The Simon Family Foundation believes in Juan and looks forward to watching him shine.

Brenda Carmona's parents came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1987 to give their children a better life. While in Mexico, they suffered the loss of two of their children, ages 15 and 13, who were shot and killed trying to defend their home during a robbery. Brenda never knew her older brothers, as she had not yet been born, but she understands extremely well the sadness that her family has felt, because she sees it in their faces daily. After arriving in the States, Brenda's parents "would wake up early every morning to pick up cans and newspapers so they could sell them for money." Her older brother and sister later dropped out of high school, which was a huge disappointment to her parents, "especially my dad," said Brenda, "who worked all day at Taco Bell, riding there on his bike because he didn't have a car." Her father later enrolled in ROP and became a licensed refrigeration technician, subsequently starting his own business. Such determination also runs through Brenda's veins. "I am my parents' only hope," she said, "and I will be the first one graduating high school. I want my parents to be proud of me – I have goals in life, and my #1 goal is to become a veterinarian. I really want to go to Davis University – that's my dream. With the (Simon Family Foundation) scholarship, I know I will accomplish it." Brenda currently maintains a GPA of 4.0. Her Spanish teacher said that Brenda is "a student of outstanding character," describing her as "bright, determined, and a genuinely good person." Her Earth Science teacher concurred stating that Brenda is a "positive, friendly young lady who is serious about her studies. She always makes a scholarly effort and is never satisfied with mediocre results." Brenda is convinced that remaining positive is the key. With the financial and emotional support the Simon Family Foundation provides, she knows she will succeed.

Describing his life thus far as a “rigorous journey in which I have learned to appreciate hard work and significant moral values,” Jonathan Chinchilla has grown up around the often-violent streets of Santa Ana recognizing that three life choices awaited him. “The first path was a favorite with other male students – forget about school and join a gang. But I didn’t want to end up in the E.R. with a stab wound a few inches away from my heart,” like others he knew. The second path before him was another favorite with his peers – get involved in drugs. “I had already lost a few of my friends to this dark road,” Jonathan said. Instead, Jonathan opted for Path #3, the route “greatly ignored by 90% of students at my school – I chose to care about my future and push my intellectual abilities.” With his parents always by his side, urging him on, Jonathan has managed to impress, maintaining a 4.5 GPA, while taking a heavy load of AP and Honors courses. He has achieved excellent grades even while being involved in marching band and varsity football, requiring him to get up at 5:30 a.m. each morning in order to catch the bus by 6:10. Jonathan hopes to graduate from Cal Poly Pomona and become an automotive engineer. His Algebra teacher calls him a “quiet rock star, who remains humble, kind and never flaunts his achievements. Once he opens up, he is a star student that every teacher wants in his class.” The Simon Scholarship is providing Jonathan with the opportunity he needs to pursue and live his dream of becoming an engineer. “This opportunity will lift my parents’ burden. I have been blessed with the hardest working parents in the world,” he said. “I would love nothing more than to let them relax while knowing I have a bright and secure future ahead.” The path Jonathan has chosen seems paved for success, and the journey that lies ahead for him is one that the Simon Foundation is excited to share.

Desiring to pursue a career as an engineer, Eric Cuevas knows he needs help in turning his long-term goals into reality. His family has been plagued with financial woes for as long as Eric can remember, and it’s a continual struggle for them, as his family of 3 lives in a small one-bedroom apartment. “We have never been as financially unstable as we are now,” Eric noted. “We mostly eat simple, low-cost foods to save the most money we can. Every day I live with the realization that if my parents can barely support paying for the rent and monthly expenses, they probably won’t be able to send me to college.” That’s unacceptable for Eric, who is bent on graduating from UCI, USC or UCLA. “As time passes by, I try to maintain good grades to put me ahead of other students and increase my chances of succeeding in school.” Eric currently maintains a 3.9 GPA and is considered by his teachers to be “highly motivated, intelligent and mature.” His GATE Math teacher said that Eric is in the top 2% of his class. His P.E. teacher said that Eric challenges himself daily in his physical performance. “He finishes all work with excellent time management skills and achieves a strong understanding of his writing assignments,” he said. “Eric has perfect attendance and gives 110% every day, be it participation with his peers, his individual California fitness testing or his academic written assignments.” Eric’s mom is a daycare worker, and his father recently lost one of his part-time jobs. This has created even more anxiety for the family, and Eric would like nothing better than to lessen their stress. He is highly involved with his church, where he receives much needed emotional support. With the assistance of the Simon Family Foundation, Eric believes his career goal is achievable. “I am a hard working individual,” he said. “I know I will make a great addition to this year’s Simon Scholars.” The Foundation wholeheartedly agrees.

For as long as Alexina Estrada-Parada can remember, she’s been told that she was meant for greatness. “I was always told that I would be someone important,” she recalled. “As I grew older, however, I found out that every child is told the same thing.” Instead of doubting herself, Alexina decided instead to “become someone special and make great things happen for myself.” Thus far in her young life, Alexina is on track. With a GPA of 4.1, she is working to become Editor-in-Chief for her school’s senior yearbook. Being part of this type of project that enables “people to look back, reminisce, and remember” is something in which Alexina takes much pride. Her goal is to graduate from UC Berkeley or UCLA with a degree in journalism. “I want to get a job for a newspaper or a magazine and work my way up to Editor,” she said. Most of all, “I want to make sure that what I do for a living is something I love.” Alexina has watched her single-parent mother labor too long and too hard to provide only the basics for their family of 5. Currently living with 7 family members in a 2-bedroom, 1-bath house, Alexina said, “I see how hard my family struggles. I want to grow up and show my younger siblings that doing your best leads to being a great person. I also want to give back to the adults who gave so much for me,” which includes, but is not limited to, her grandparents and uncle. Her Math teacher describes Alexina as “exceptional,” saying she is a “tremendous representative of the excellence that young people are capable of.” Her Yearbook advisor said Alexina is “always conscientious” and a “joy to teach.” But, Alexina puts it best in her own words. “I want to leave a legacy behind so that others will remember me. I want to inspire others. The sky is the limit, the stars are my goal, and the universe is mine to make of it what I want.”