VISION:CollegeBound SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TESTIMONIALS

A program that makes a difference to our students and community...

Designed to promote scholarship and community involvement while inspiring students to set college as a goal for their future, VISION:CollegeBound (VCB) requires students to maintain a 3.4 GPA or higher, 95 percent school attendance and complete 100 hours of community service. In May 2007, CEF awarded 135 CUSD seniors with $1,000 scholarships to be used for post-secondary education.

“VISION:CollegeBound taught me how to manage my time between academics, between helping my community and between working. I learned to balance all of those.” Karen Noll, Basha High School

“Even after the 100 hours of community service I was still going out and doing more. I learned more that you don’t do service for the scholarships, you don’t do it for the money, you just do it because you enjoy it.” Scott Brzuchalski, Chandler High School Class of 2007

“VISION:CollegeBound gave me another incentive to come to school and do well. Knowing there was a way for me to pay for my college really motivated me to do my best.” Bach-tru Chau, Hamilton High School Class of 2007

“I would not have been the same person I am today if I had not done the community service involved with VISION:CollegeBound.” Tyler Libey, Basha High School Class of 2007

“I would tell other students to enroll in VCB, no doubt about it, because it helps you be involved in your community, which is number one in life. It helps you build character and just become a better person.” Brandon Van Norman, Chandler High School Class of 2007

“This scholarship taught me that hard work pays off. All your dedication and responsibility to school pays off in the end when you get a scholarship like VISION:CollegeBound. It made me want to try harder in order to meet the requirements.” David Cortez, Chandler High School Class of 2007

“Having to do the 100 hours of service really got me out into the community and made me feel so grateful for the things I have. It gave me another perspective on what I have to offer. I learned that helping your community and giving back is something you should always do.” Danielle Tetreault, Chandler High School Class of 2007
 

Student Testimonial
Attending Hamilton High, I participated in the VISION:Collegebound program. I was required to fulfill at least 40 hours of community service. I think this experience helped me tremendously in shaping my character. Community service often exposed me to diverse cultures and introduced me to people of all socio-economic classes. I believe community service requirements for scholarships are extremely important because it exposes the student to new experiences and gives back to the community, in turn giving back in a way to the scholarship organization.

Some may argue that students should not be forced to complete community service…but without mandatory requirements, students would probably not pursue community service by themselves. As a freshman at ASU I was required to do community service for a scholarship and decided to get involved with Habitat for Humanity. After only a few Saturdays building I already had my hours completed but I was addicted to helping the working poor and pounding nails every weekend. It’s been four years since I started volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and I have progressed from a general volunteer to a team leader to a house leader now supervising a 15-week build in Guadalupe. Volunteering in high school for VISION:CollegeBound requirements allowed me to become a leader and a successful person in my life. It also taught me compassion and showed me that any amount of time spent for free helping another person in the community means a lot.

I know someone that was required to do ten hours of community service and ended up helping children write papers in school. Even after his ten hours was done, he kept going back until the projects were done to make sure the students had all the guidance they needed to submit a successful project. If these first ten hours weren’t mandatory, this person wouldn’t have even thought about participating in a community service activity.

Another bonus for students involved in community service is that it can be put on a resume. With Habitat for Humanity on my resume, I have not had one job interview that talked about my role with Habitat for less than 30 minutes. I had one job interview where it was all that was discussed. I feel my community service experience has gotten me further in school and my career. It also makes me feel like I’m doing my part as a citizen of the community and I hope that many more students will start volunteering due to programs like VISION:Collegebound and continue volunteering even when it is not a requirement.

Yung Cossar
VISION:CollegeBound Scholar
Hamilton High School Class of 2003