Three LA-area foster youth will be honored at the first-ever “Unstoppable Awards,” a ceremony to celebrate the achievements of these students, who have beaten considerable odds to graduate from high school while being in foster care. Each student will receive an “Unstoppable” scholarship in an amount ranging from $500 to $3400, to cover tuition and other costs for college or trade school.
According to the California Department of Education, out of nearly 60,000 children in foster care statewide, only about 50 percent graduate from high school, out of which 10 percent attend college or technical school, and 3 percent finish.
The “Unstoppable Awards” are aimed at youth with average GPAs of 2.3 to 3.2, in recognition of the significant obstacles that impact many transition-age foster youth – chief among them, multiple home and school placements, and the resulting disruption in their lives.
The creator of the “Unstoppable Awards” is Dr. Anissa McNeil, an education consultant and a former foster youth. “After being homeless with my mother, I was raised by my grandmother, who is my inspiration to try to help make a difference in these kids’ lives,” said Dr. McNeil. “This year, we will provide scholarships to ten foster youth who have overcome challenges and have a can-do attitude about life and learning. In the years to come, I’d like to build the momentum via increased community awareness, so we can honor the achievements of increasing numbers of graduating foster youth.”
This year’s awards will also honor Jude D. Zeke Zeidler with the Foster Youth Service Award and Retired Referee Sherri Sobel with the Trailblazer Award for leading the effort to develop education services for foster youth in Edelman’s Children’s Court.
The “Unstoppable Awards” ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 11, at the Brookside Country Club in Pasadena.
