SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR
Kathy Sasabuchi, ’73
sjaakathy@gmail.com
(916) 209-3089 
 

SJAA Newsletter – Issue #119, December 2020

San Juan Alumni Association (SJAA) Scholarship Campaign

The SJAA Scholarship program was started 40 years ago. The Class of 1929 had money leftover after their 50th class reunion. They used this money to award two $250 scholarships.

Seniors who have a 2.5 weighted grade point average and have been at San Juan High School (SJHS) for at least two years are eligible to apply for an SJAA scholarship. All students who apply are interviewed. Individuals receive up to 5 points for the quality of their application and 5 points for the interview. Individuals are rated separately by each SJAA scholarship panel member. When the process is complete, the points are added up by the chairperson.

The students with the highest points are award- ed a scholarship. The only time the scholarship panel orally discusses the candidates is if a tie occurs. Once all candidates have been notified, they are receiving or not receiving a scholarship, the SJHS faculty is notified of the results. 

The rating process is extremely fair. Generally, the SJAA panelists do not know the candidates. After the students are awarded the money, they have up to three years to collect their award in two installments. They must provide proof of school registration from the school’s Registrar’s Office each time they request payment.

The current SJAA budget allows funding for seven student scholarships at $2,000 each, for a total of $14,000. Individual classes or families also donate amounts to award scholarships named in honor of persons or groups above and beyond the amount from the SJAA. So far, we have only collected about $5k toward the Spring, 2021 SJAA general scholarship fund.

We are now starting a campaign to reach our goal of $14,000 for annual scholarship giving!
After all, the students of today are our future. We need to keep them well educated to make informed decisions.

2019 Scholarship Recipient Vanessa Luviana

Pam Duncan-Groft, ‘74 (far right) presents a scholarship to Vanessa Luviana, ‘19 at Senior Awards Night.

PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO OUR  SCHOLARSHIP FUND!

Any amount is welcome. We  are a 501c3 corporation and will furnish a receipt to validate that your donation is tax-deductible. If you or your family or your class would like to fund a named scholarship in the amount of $2,000 or above, we can create one in the name of a favorite teacher, coach, class, or family name. Recognition is given at the spring awards ceremony and in our newsletter. You may have a representative of your own choosing present your award.

Scholarship Recipients 2018

Back row: Lee Cheungsomboun, Malayzia Ritch, Jacob Kent, Liana Shilo, Joel Pogozelski Front row: Kynberly Garcia, Isis Solorzano, Yuliana Buenrostro, Jacqueline Roman Navarro, Cynthia Juarez

2018 San Juan Alumni Association scholarship winners have something to smile about.
They received a combined amount of $32,500 in scholarship awards. 

DONATE HERE