2023 Joy A & Gayland P Smith Influential Teacher Award Winner, David Munoz
I felt on top of the world when they called my name at Roosevelt High School’s Senior Award Banquet. I also couldn’t believe it. I was caught off guard because this is my very first year of teaching. I had an overwhelming feeling of joy and appreciation for my students, the students who voted for […]
Donaldo Barraza, Fresno High School, 2023 award winner of the first Jim Newton Memorial Scholarship
My life changed at 15 years old. My aunt told me he was no longer with us. When I was a freshman at Fresno High, my father was deported to Mexico. My dad was such an inspiration to me first, he was gone physically and a year later, he was gone forever. How much more […]
Samaria Simpson, $10,000 Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools, and Giving Tuesday scholarship winner!
I didn’t know how this was going to happen. I grew up quickly in life! In elementary school, my grandmother and my best friend passed away, and my mom was diagnosed with diabetes. I saw her struggle trying to manage it, which landed her in the hospital. I learned to help her by testing her […]
Keana Hokama, Bullard HS
Graduate of Bullard High School Keana is a 2023 Bullard High School graduate who will be attending UC Berkeley. She wants to be an aerospace engineer. Keana was involved in theatre, forensics, and speech and debate. “One of my favorite things about engineering is that it’s a field where I believe I will never run out of new things to learn […]
Marco Suarez, Sunnyside HS
Graduate of Sunnyside High School College: Fresno State Career goal: Software engineer Marco is a Sunnyside High School graduate. Marco gravitated to science, technology, engineering, and math, excelling in Advanced Placement courses and leading the robotics club. “As a kid, my father always told me that my mind is the most powerful tool. He would tell me whatever I set my mind to, I can […]
Emily Varela, Roosevelt HS
Graduate of Roosevelt High School College: Fresno State Career goal: Criminology Emily is a 2023 Roosevelt High School graduate looking forward to a career in criminology.Through her participation in Roosevelt’s Public Service Pathway, she completed over 40 community service hours, helping at a wide array of events and health clinics. “My parents always told me tu sola te pones tus propios limites, which translates to “you create your own […]
