Reserve your seat by April 15! Join us on Wednesday, May 5 as we celebrate the 2010 New Futures scholarship winners.

Bikram Subba, Scholarship recipient for The Heights at Burien
Cecilia Mora, Scholarship recipient for Windsor Heights
Genesis Guardado, Scholarship recipient for Arbor Heights
Yadira Trujillo Lopez, Scholarship recipient for Woodridge Park

Bikram Subba, New Futures 2010 Scholarship recipient for The Heights at Burien

Bikram is a compassionate individual who cares deeply about his family and community. Upon arriving in the United States, he quickly learned how to speak English and uses this skill to help his peers and older adults with translation, advocacy, and training in schools and at home.

While living in Nepal amid daily violence and extreme poverty, Bikram looked to dancing and singing as a source of joy and strength. He started a dance group to share this gift with children and youth in Nepal and has brought his passion and talent with him. Bikram has started a Nepali dance group here in Seattle, which now involves more than 50 Nepali students. This group has performed in numerous shows around South King County.

As a high school senior, Bikram is an excellent student who earns A’s and B’s and never grows tired of learning. He is not afraid to ask questions of his teachers, peers, and New Futures staff. After observing many of his community members struggle with navigating the medical system in America, Bikram has expressed a desire to pursue a post-high school education in medical administration. Bikram is well-deserving of this scholarship and will be an incredible visionary and contributor to our community.

Cecilia Mora, New Futures 2010 Scholarship recipient for Windsor Heights

Cecilia is a very dedicated and hard-working 10th grader. After setting academic goals with New Futures’ youth coordinator and taking advantage of opportunities to improve, Cecilia quickly excelled and now earns A’s in school. This year she is participating in the National Honor Society. After graduating from high school, Cecilia is interested in pursuing training to become a crime scene investigator and is excited for all the opportunities to come.

Already very active in New Futures’ programs, Cecilia is always looking for ways to be more involved. As an enthusiastic participant in our volunteer opportunities, community events, and all of our Youth Program activities, Cecilia has impressed New Futures staff members with her passion, independence and self-motivation.

Cecilia is an ambitious and responsible teenager, and she takes on the role of being a good example for her siblings, cousins, and peers. Cecilia is not one to give in to negative peer pressure but rather encourages others to stand up for who they are.

Cecilia is turning into a conscientious young woman who desires to continually grow in every aspect of her life. It is apparent that she fully intends to be a life-long learner and to make a positive difference wherever she is.

Genesis Guardado, New Futures 2010 Scholarship recipient for Arbor Heights

Genesis is a mature, responsible teenager who successfully balances an impressive number of priorities. As a high school junior, she works a part-time job to contribute to her family’s income and is involved in multiple community activities, including New Futures’ youth program, church, sports, and volunteering.

Genesis is highly self-motivated; she is determined to do whatever it takes to graduate from high school, move on to college, pursue a master’s degree, and even a PhD. She speaks openly about going to law school or studying criminal justice, is willing to work to pay her way through school, and has started attending college tours and information sessions on her own.

Genesis is a very caring and compassionate young woman. She volunteers to give youth a voice by participating in meetings with the King County sheriff and local police departments. She also went to Olympia this year to meet with legislators and advocate for greater funding for education and better learning environments for students. She enthusiastically participated in New Futures’ Youth Voices project, to share student insights on how they can best learn and succeed in school. Genesis is a leader in her community whose energy and enthusiasm is contagious to everyone around her.

Yadira Trujillo Lopez, 2010 Scholarship recipient for Woodridge Park

Yadira is an excellent example of a youth who has persevered and developed into a mature young woman. She works hard to make smart decisions, learn from her mistakes, and take on new challenges that will help her grow. A high school freshman, Yadira juggles many responsibilities at home in addition to working hard at being a successful student while being faced with the challenge of learning English as a second language. She is determined to pursue a post-high school education and create a successful future for herself.
In addition to her dedicated participation in New Futures’ youth program, Yadira adheres to a strict boxing training schedule and is an active member of the Latino Stand Up club at her school. She was recently invited to participate in the prestigious Latino Educational Achievement Project (LEAP). Yadira is extremely proud of her Mexican heritage and enjoys being an expert on cultural traditions, food, and language. She is learning how to define her blended cultural identity and master fluency in two languages.

Yadira gives other youth pep talks on doing well in school, asks the group to quiet down when needed, and always offers to lend a helping hand. She is a compassionate, thoughtful, and focused young woman who is emerging as a respected and admired leader among her peers.