Hello again. No, wait! Before you delete this email, thinking we
are just asking for donations, we actually need your input on
selecting this year's recipient. First, though, I'd like everyone to
give themselves a pat on the back because, this will be the 11th
straight year the scholarship has been awarded and it has ALL
been done with just your donations! That is really spectacular,
Thank You!

This year the school has identified several good candidates and
we'd like to get your vote on which one to award the scholarship.
Though Poly can't give out too much information on students, here
are the pertinent details of the candidates from the administration:

Miaram - 3.28 GPA - PAC RIM Academy
Mariam is an amazingly resilient individual, possessing an abundance
of positive energy and determination despite the obstacles she has
faced. Last spring, her teachers approached the counselors, concerned
that Mariam was uncharacteristically absent and missing assignments.
Her grades were dropping. After much reluctance, Mariam revealed that
she was homeless, having been kicked out of her house. Her living
situation stabilized this year, and she is again excelling in her classes,
including AP level courses. Despite her turbulent childhood, Mariam
has developed into a caring, positive person with no sense of bitterness.
She puts forth her best effort in everything she does without making excuses.
Mariam knows that the road from her past is paved with furthering her
education, and excels in challenging classes. She has earned Pursuit of
Excellence Awards in English, Geometry, and Modern World History.

Marquinta - 2.78 GPA - PACE Magnet
Marquinta has and continues to beat the odds. Despite battling sickle cell
anemia all her life, Marquinta’s middle school grades and test scores
granted her admission into the Poly PACE Program. There are many times
that she was unable to attend school due to multiple blood transfusions
and other treatments. Marquinta would have her parents bring her school
books, computer, and whatever else was necessary to the hospital to
complete her assignments. She does not use her health as an excuse for
anything, and continues to set high standards for herself, including plans
for attending a four year college next year.

Denise - 3.80 GPA - CIC Magnet
Last September, Denise immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines, along
with her two teenage siblings, joining their mother from whom they had
been separated for the past three years. Denise arrived on the Poly campus
during the first week of classes as an "overflow" student, and was sent to
PAAL, the school’s credit recovery site on Long Beach Boulevard. In a
review of Denise’s transcript, it was apparent that she did not need credit
recovery, but challenging classes. Without missing a step, Denise entered
the CIC academic magnet, and earned straight A’s the first semester. Denise
lives in an apartment with her mother, her aunt, and her brother and sister.
Two days before her father was to come to the States, his petitioner (Denise’s
maternal grandfather) died, terminating his ability to move here. Denise’s
goal is to become a physical therapist and eventually open her own facility.
Without a social security number, her access to financial support is limited,
including qualifying for publicly funded grants and loans. Denise is a bright,
determined, organized young woman who will be successful.

Yesica - 3.53 GPA - Humanities Academy
Yesica moved to the United States from Mexico when she was 5. Her parents
moved back to Mexico when Yesica was in middle school, leaving her in the
care of her uncle. Yesica has been in the Advanced Vision of Individual
Determination program since 9th grade and has volunteered for every AVID
event and program for the past three years. She is taking French 5-6, though
she is a native Spanish speaker, and is serving on Student Commission. On an
AVID visit to U.C. Riverside, Yesica fell in love with their campus and hopes
to attend there. She is fully qualified, but cannot garner any public financial
support because of her citizenship, which she cannot address until she turns 18.

OK, that's the list for this year. So, folks, what we need from you is, by
5pm May 4th, 2012, to email your vote to me for one of the candidates.
I will forward the name of the winner to Poly and they will receive their
scholarship award before school is out. Pretty simple, eh?

Now (and you knew it was coming) it's time for the commercial! By now
you should all know this scholarship is completely funded by donations
from the Class of 1971, and every single dollar donated goes toward the
scholarship. We all remember 1971 as *our* year and 1971 should mean
something to another deserving Poly graduate. The remembrance award
scholarship from the Poly High Class of 1971 was set up just for that purpose.
As you, too, are a member of the "Class of 1971", we'd like to ask you to
support and "give back" to the Poly community with a tax deductible
contribution.

The $1971 scholarship awarded to graduating Poly seniors the last few
years has made immeasurable impact on the careers of the recipients.
We've been able to open doors for them, a major victory thanks to you.

Please make out the checks to:

Poly Class of 1971 Scholarship Fund

and mail them to:

Poly Class of 1971 Scholarship Fund
c/o Long Beach Polytechnic High School
1601 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach, CA 90813


The school will send you a receipt to acknowledge your tax
deductible donation. We thank you in advance for your support
of the scholarship, and our best regards to you and your family!

Scott Thomas
Poly Class '71 Scholarship Fund

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