L-R: Andrew Ochola of Pasadena High School and Christina Rozario of Marshall Fundamental High School
College Access Plan (CAP), a Pasadena nonprofit that provides free programs in college preparedness and success, has had the honor of supporting hundreds of students who attend Pasadena’s public schools as they reach for their college dreams. This year, CAP assisted a number of students with their Posse Foundation college applications and essays and is pleased to announce two official Posse Foundation Scholarship winners: Andrew Ochola of Pasadena High School and Christina Rozario of Marshall Fundamental High School. According to the Posse Foundation website, “Posse identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes” and “extends to these students the opportunity to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, multicultural teams—Posses—of 10 students.” Scholars receive full-tuition scholarships for four years at the partnering schools. (https://www.possefoundation.org/).
Andrew first attended CAP’s after school program at PHS in his junior year and then participated in CAP’s summer SAT preparation course conducted in partnership with the Pasadena Educational Foundation. Since then, he has been a regular attendee during CAP’s drop-in program at his school. Andrew, who exceptionally illustrates the Posse focus on leadership, serves on the executive committee of the City of Pasadena’s Youth Council with the Human Services Commission and is the Vice President of Pasadena High School’s Black Student Union in addition to being class treasurer. According to Andrew, “My family and I are extremely blessed to be in this position. It still hasn’t become apparent to me how much I’ve accomplished throughout high school, but all the love and support definitely helped me along the way. I couldn’t have done it without all the amazing staff at CAP who helped me to become the Posse Scholar I am today.” Andrew is excited about the prospect of joining the Tulane University Posse in the fall and wishes to one day work with high-poverty communities in developing countries as a pharmacist.
Christina, also a dedicated leader, has been accepted as a Posse Scholar at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York. This past year, Christina spearheaded the organization of a club run by seniors to fundraise for supplemental sex education guest speakers to educate underclassmen at Marshall Fundamental and communicate the importance of safe sex practices and mutual consent. As a future educator, Christina plans on studying Child Development and Gender Studies during her undergraduate career. Christina says that working with one of CAP’s college experts, Lina Calderón-Morin, on her personal statement “really paid off,” as a Posse Foundation representative noted that her essay was one of the best they reviewed.
Calderón-Morin, who has worked closely with both students, beams about them both, saying that she is “so proud of both their accomplishments and can not wait to see what brilliant and amazing things they continue to do in the future.”
About College Access Plan
College Access Plan is an independent 501c3 nonprofit that prepares underserved students to succeed in college. Through partnerships with PUSD, Pasadena LEARNs, and other local agencies, CAP provides no-cost drop-in college readiness advisement and topic-specific workshops on site at PUSD high schools and middle schools. CAP’s programs are open to all students who aspire to Dream Bigger about their futures. www.collegeaccessplan.org
