Sixty-seven scholars travel to Anaheim, Calif., for two-day workshop at Tiger Woods Learning Center.
The Tiger Woods Foundation will host its annual winter workshop for the Earl Woods Scholarship Program at the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, California, Dec. 21-23, 2014. In total, 67 Earl Woods Scholarship Program students will travel from around the country to attend the two-day event that provides networking opportunities with Orange County business leaders, as well as workshops that will help prepare the scholars for life after college.
“It is a very special opportunity for us to host our Earl Woods Scholarship Program recipients together at the Tiger Woods Learning Center after they have traveled nationwide to earn a college education,” Tiger Woods Foundation President & CEO Rick Singer said. “While the program mentors guide these students throughout the year, these workshops provide resources and networks for the scholars in a unique environment.”
Since 2006, the Earl Woods Scholarship Program has grown to more than 100 scholars, attending 74 universities nationwide and boasting an average GPA of 3.23. The Tiger Woods Foundation is proud to honor and celebrate its fifth class of Earl Woods Scholarship Program graduates. Currently, there are 69 students and 40 alumni in the program, and 87 percent of students to participate in the initiative are first-generation scholars.
Freshman Rosa Trujillo is studying mathematics at UCLA as a first-generation Earl Woods Scholarship Program recipient. She comes from a neighborhood surrounded by gang violence, drugs and poverty.
“My greatest fear was for my family. The gang members sold illegal substances next door and once caused our house to be raided by law enforcement. Our family was hated by the gangs because we worked to change our community,” Trujillo recently said in a Tiger Woods Foundation blog post. “But I am determined to be an outlier. I am proud of my home, where I became a stronger person. I learned to stand up for myself against gang members that would holler comments, but never dared to holler threats.”
Trujillo will join her fellow Earl Woods Scholarship Program recipients in the two-day workshop tailored to each year of academic life. Freshmen and sophomores will focus on résumé evaluations and public speaking, while juniors and seniors will focus on résumé building, career placement, graduate school and mock interviews. The scholars will also participate in an industry forum panel with local business leaders and take part in a wardrobe workshop to be provided with job interview appropriate attire.
The winter workshop also includes a luncheon that invites mentors, staff, local community members, donors, and fellow scholars to celebrate the scholars who will graduate next spring.
The Tiger Woods Foundation extends its sincerest congratulations to the 2015 class of Earl Woods Scholarship Program recipients:
• Melissa Arambulo, UC-Berkeley, Architecture
• Alemar Brito, Stanford, Sociology
• Trang Che, UC-Irvine, Public Health
• Stephanie Estrada, Chapman University, Spanish
• Gustavo Lopez, Reed College, Biology
• Grisel Medina, Chapman University, Psychology
• Eduardo Munoz, Allegheny College, Biology
• Kevin Ngo, UC San Diego, Computer Science
• Kevin Nguyen, USC, Computer Engineering and Music
• Ngoc Nguyen, UC San Diego, Aerospace Engineering
• Katrina Obieta, Bryan Mawr College, Biology and English
• Hector Pantoja, Whittier College, Business Administration
• Eduardo Rivas, Lewis & Clark College, Psychology and Hispanic Studies
• Darryl Robinson, Georgetown University, Healthcare Management and Policy