Franklin Arriola-Guandique
San Jose State University
"Going to college is going to be a great achievement for me because nobody in my family has gone to a four-year college. When I was young I always wondered why things were the way they were. I lived in a low-income apartment my whole life until my family decided that we had to work harder than we already were to get out of there. It was all violence and hate between people because of what the other had or because of the color of their skin. For that reason I work hard in school and for myself, as I work three jobs outside of school, which I'm very proud of doing in my senior year. Giving up is never an option and that is something I bring with me everywhere."
Scholars
Meritus scholarship recipients achieve an admirable record in high school while tackling unique, sometimes challenging circumstances. In addition to facing financial hardship, most Meritus Scholars are the first in their families to go to college. Many are confronted with complexities posed by recent immigration, non-native English speaking backgrounds, single parent families, and exposure to neighborhood violence and drugs, or foster care. Nevertheless, their drive and determination to pursue a college education remains a goal that lights the way.
Through its efforts, Meritus hopes to bridge the gap for these students who are often overlooked for merit-based awards from other institutions, both private and public. Without the sponsorship of our community, many could not hope to pursue higher education. Meritus Scholars successfully attend a variety of accredited four-year institutions as they enroll in in- state (88.2%) and out-of-state colleges (11.8%). In all, 17.7% attend independent/private colleges and 82.3% attend public institutions.
Scholarship recipients represent a cross-section of the student population of San Francisco Unified School District. Sixty-percent of our Scholars are female and 40% are male. Over the years, Meritus Scholars have represented the following ethnicities:
Ethnicity |
Total % |
| African American | 26% |
| Chinese | 32% |
| Filipino | 3% |
| HI/Pacific Islander | .5% |
| Japanese | .5% |
| Other/Non-White | 3.5% |
| Other/White | 1.5% |
| South Asian | 1% |
| South East Asian | 6% |
| Spanish Surname | 24% |
| White | 2% |
| TOTAL | 100% |