girls, inc. Scholarship
WHCE supports girls, Inc. of the Island City (Alameda and the surrounding communities) through the WHCE girls, inc. scholarship fund and has sponsored young women from girls, inc. in summer internship programs for health related fields through a program called "Eureka!" girls, inc. of the Island City is part of a national organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.
If you would like more information about the girls, inc. scholarship program, please contact Karen Rago, Co-Chair of WHCE's Scholarship Committee at karen.rago@ucsfmedctr.org.
Previous girls, inc. awardees include:
2010: Aujenee Johnson. A recent graduate from Holy Names High School in Oakland, she will attend Xavier University of Louisiana in the fall and plans to become a pediatric cardiac surgeon as a result of her experience volunteering in the Pediatric Surgery Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She has been active with the girl's inc. program since 2004. Aujenee was selected as the Eurekan of the Year for 2008-2009. She is passionate, persuasive and has a tremendous heart. She balances her active volunteer life with a challenging academic schedule and still finds time to mentor other girls in math and science.
2009: Brianna Pang. A recent graduate of Skyline High School in Oakland CA, Brianna is an honors student, a JROTC leader, accomplished musician, & academic scholar. Among her many accomplishments, Brianna received the Directors' Award from the Young Musicians Program (YMP) at the University of California, Berkeley and is a Coming Up Taller Award winner (First Lady Laura Bush.) Brianna will attend Stanford in the fall majoring in pre-med/healthciences.
2008: Melissa Hayes. Melissa graduated from Castro Valley High School on June 12, 2008 with a long history of giving to her community as a camp counselor, library volunteer and dedicated girls, inc. volunteer. She developed her presentation skills as a Peer Educator teaching her classmates about healthy choices related to sexuality, smoking and drugs. Melissa has served as a Mentor with girls inc teaching other students how to act as counselors. As one of only two girl's inc Interns this year, she organized a Health and College Resources Fair at girls inc by inviting local health and academic organizations to an educational event at girls inc. When not volunteering, Melissa works as a lifeguard, babysitter, supervisor at an art studio. Melissa graduated with a 4.10 GPA despite all of her many extracurricular activities. She plans to study biology at UC Davis and become a researcher, nurse or doctor.
2007: Madrianne Wong. Madrianne graduated with High Honors from Castro Valley High School in June, 2007 and is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Anthropology at Swarthmore College in suburban Philadelphia. As an intern for HEART (Helping Everyone Achieve Respect Together,) a program of Girls Inc. of Alameda County, Madrianne facilitated health and sexuality peer education programs focused on teen pregnancy prevention and harm reduction. Madrianne also served as President of her school's Red Cross Club and worked with the ACLU's Youth Activist Committee in planning the largest youth-run student activist conference in California. Madrianne was voted "Most Likely to Change the World" by her high school classmates. Her ultimate goal is to work on behalf of women in developing countries on issues of reproductive health.
2006: Catherine Nguyen. Motivated by her mother’s illness and the knowledge that in their native country, Vietnam, that illness may not have been well managed, Catherine wants to become a doctor. However, it was not until Catherine got involved with a Girls, Inc. wrestling team that she was able to discern that she wants to focus on Sports Medicine. Catherine’s scholarship is helping to support her expenses at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine.
2005: Channel Taylor. Channel was planning to attend a community college, majoring in nursing and child development, with an ultimate goal of completing a 4-year degree at either Stanford or the University of Southern California. At the time of her award, she stated that her ultimate goal is to become a pediatric nurse, because she has a passion for children and a passion to help people.