Gina Michelle Aragon
SF State University

"I come from a world of high school dropouts, gang-bangers and drug dealers, and I've been robbed at gunpoint. Yet throughout life, I've tried to be optimistic about things, always looking for the positive. I always had my mother there telling me I could make it out of this place and that I had the mind and intelligence to do right and succeed. I believed in what she told me, and that is what kept me going. Tragically, she passed away to liver cancer the summer before my junior year in high school. I thought of giving up, but I would hear her in my mind telling me to keep going, and not to give up. I want to prove to her that I can make it and be somebody in life. "

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Sponsor a Scholar (FAQs)

Community members who value education can contribute between $500- $3,000 per year for four years to be part of the Meritus scholarship program. You and your group have the opportunity to name the scholarship and, best of all, to meet with and get to know your Scholar. Pledge Form

Underwrite Scholar Programs (FAQs)

Each year Meritus supports its Scholars through programs and services, such as outreach, counseling, mentoring, and career networking, which necessitate additional funding resources. Since 100% of scholarship pledges go directly to the students, we seek programmatic grants from individuals, foundations, and corporations to help us ensure that the needs of our students are met. With your help, Meritus can continue to sustain the ongoing services which are making a crucial difference to our scholars and contributing to their retention in college. Donate Now!

Sponsor the Awards Ceremony (FAQs)

Each year Meritus celebrates its new scholarship recipients, their donors, families and members of the education community at our annual Awards Ceremony. This is an opportunity for individual, foundation or corporate sponsorship to demonstrate your commitment to the success of our youth as they move beyond high school.

Leverage Matching Gifts

Meritus College fund is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and, therefore, all contributions are tax-deductible and eligible to be matched by employee matching gifts programs. If your employer has a matching gifts program, please make your contribution go that much further by contacting your corporation’s representative and asking for your gift to be matched.