Carlos Casillas, Andres Casillas, Jocelyn Ambriz
New Horizons Academy High School, Cornerstone Christian Academy
Las Vegas, NV
 

“I always tell my children how lucky they are to receive the AAA Scholarship,” says Linda Ambriz-Carranza. “If it wasn’t for the generous donors, they wouldn’t be able to attend the school of their choice. I tell them every day – make whoever is paying, whomever they may be, make them feel as proud as you make me feel.”

A few years ago, Linda, a single mother of two incredible boys, Andres and Carlos, decided to move from California to Nevada. Linda worked as a pre-school director, and coming from an education background, it was very important to her that her children attend a school where they felt comfortable and confident, especially since Nevada was unfamiliar territory to them. She learned early on that there was a small pool of schools to choose for her children in Nevada, which made the decision process a bit more difficult. Her oldest son, Carlos, was in the third grade at the time. Carlos has always been a diligent student, which is why Linda was even more surprised when she learned that his grades had dropped tremendously, resulting in him needing to repeat the third grade.

Linda racked her brain as to what could have caused this, and came to the revelation that the separation between her and her children’s father had more of an affect on her children than they let on. Linda was so focused on trying to be two parental figures, she hadn’t stopped to think about the emotional distress their separation had caused her children, especially Carlos. When Linda sat Carlos down and explained to him that the school recommended he repeat the third grade, she could see a shift in his overall demeanor. This only motivated Linda to find a school that would give her son his confidence back. Linda went on tour after tour, attended meeting after meeting, but each school had the same common denominator: too expensive. Linda simply couldn’t afford one school tuition, let alone two. It was a tough decision, but Linda decided to enroll her children in a smaller, less expensive school given their financial situation.

The boys seemed to be adapting well to their new school. Carlos’ grades were slowly improving, and Andres was working hard to maintain his grades as well. Because Carlos was older, he was able to take advantage of the extracurricular activities, specifically baseball. However, it took a turn for the worse when Linda was informed that Carlos had been bullied by his teammates during an away game. Linda had zero tolerance for bullying, and immediately pulled Carlos out of that school, which meant she also had to pull out Andres. Linda was put in a difficult situation. She desperately wanted her boys to attend the same school, but couldn’t seem to find one that would work for the both of them. On top of this, it was March and the school year was halfway over, which meant not many schools would take her two boys. Linda brought Andres and Carlos to the school she worked at, and expressed her concerns to a fellow administrator. The administrator replied, “Why don’t you enroll your children here? We will gladly take them.” Ecstatic, Linda was quickly reminded of the one thing that always seemed to hold her back: money. But when she looked into her children’s eyes, she was reminded of all the hurt and pain they had suffered in the past few months, even years. So, Linda got to work.

Linda researched every scholarship program available and applied to all of them. She received countless no’s, but never gave up. There was a moment when Linda was alone in her car, hoping that good news would soon come her way. She got out of her car and walked to the mailbox where she had an envelope waiting from the AAA Scholarship Foundation. She jumped up and down with glee for her family had qualified!

So much has happened since receiving the AAA Scholarship. Linda remarried, and brought a beautiful girl into the world named Jocelyn. Jocelyn attends Cornerstone Christian Academy alongside her brother, Andres. There, the two excel. Jocelyn is reading above her grade level, while Andres has joined student council and the flag football team. He also loves math and art class. Carlos graduated high school from New Horizons Academy a year early and was even accepted into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas! Prior to graduating, Carlos was school president, played on the basketball and soccer team, and in his spare time would help mentor students with learning disabilities. Linda can’t believe what her children have accomplished, and can’t express enough how proud she is of each of them.

As Carlos was preparing for graduation, Linda said to him “I wish you didn’t have to face the challenges you did growing up.” Instead of agreeing, Carlos said “maybe all of that had to happen to me, to our family, to make me work harder and never let anything stop me. I deserved to finish.” Carlos, as well as Andres and Jocelyn, are aware of all the sacrifices their mom has had to make to send them to the school of their choice. That is exactly why they take it upon themselves to work as hard as they possibly can, and prove to not only their mother, but to the donors of the AAA Scholarship Foundation that their donations are making a difference.

“I can never thank the AAA Scholarship Foundation enough,” says Linda Ambriz-Carranza. “We are extremely thankful for everyone at this organization.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this Student Spotlight

Isabella Valdes 2018_06

Robert Valdes 2018_06

Isabella and Robert Valdes
Monsignor Edward Pace High School, Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Hialeah, FL

Miracles happen every day – and for Belinda Valdes, one of those miracles was the day she was awarded AAA Scholarships for her two children, Isabella and Robert.

The Valdes family is passionate about giving back to their community. Even at a young age, Belinda wanted her children to know the importance of helping those in need, because you never know if one day you’ll be the one in need. So, every Sunday, Belinda, her husband Roberto, and their two children, Isabella and Robert, wake up at 5:00 A.M to make sandwiches and hand them out to people around their community. This is just one example of their kindness and thoughtfulness. The Valdes family is known for always lending a hand.

On April 20, 2016, Belinda went about her day like any other. To her disbelief, this would be the day that would change her life forever. That night, her husband and children were fast asleep when Belinda decided to take a shower before heading to bed. Before she could step into the shower, she suddenly felt dizzy and had an excruciating pain in her right eye. She knew something serious was happening and immediately yelled for her husband. Roberto awoke in a panic and rushed his wife to the hospital. It was there Belinda found out she was having a brain aneurysm.

Goodbyes are tricky. When you tell a loved one goodbye, it is usually with the intention of seeing them again. However, when Belinda was told to call her loved ones and give them her final goodbye, she wasn’t sure how to react. Was this really goodbye? She was feeling fine hours ago? The doctor’s words were beginning to blur together. According to her doctor, Belinda was experiencing a severe brain aneurysm and would most likely not make it out of surgery alive, and in the slight chance that she did, she would be in a coma for three months. There was so much to take into consideration – the most important being her 7-year-old and a 15-year-old waiting for her patiently at home. She needed to take care of them; she needed to watch them grow. There were still so many things Belinda wanted to do, places to see, people to help. But she needed this surgery, and regardless of the outcome, she knew in her heart that everything would be ok. She gave her children one final call, and her husband one last kiss, and was wheeled to the operating room.

When Belinda woke up 12 hours later, she was certain her face matched the same surprised expression on the nurse’s face standing beside her. The nurse asked her a set of questions – what’s your name, what’s the color of this blanket, etc. Belinda could answer all of them without hesitation. It was a true miracle, one most people never witness. Belinda had defied all odds, and continued to do so when she left the hospital after only 11 days instead of the required 2-3 months. As Belinda began to settle in at home, she spent the majority of her time with her children asking them questions such as were they getting enough sleep, did they have any homework that they needed to finish, etc. Belinda couldn’t help but cry when they told her that they hadn’t slept for 11 days – the entire time she was in the hospital, and that Isabella had tried her best to keep up with the bills and chores around the house. Robert then grabbed his mom’s hand and asked, “How are we going to afford school?” It was such a simple question, but Belinda couldn’t find the words. With her being in recovery and her husband currently unemployed, there was no possible way they’d be able to continue to send their children to the private schools they were already attending. Belinda desperately wanted to be strong for her children, but it seemed as if her luck was running out. That is, until she was approached by one of her friends who asked her how everything was going post-surgery. When Belinda informed her about the financial struggles their family was currently facing, the woman smiled and said “have you heard about the AAA Scholarship Foundation? You should apply and see if you qualify.” Belinda applied and when she received the news that they qualified, she broke down in tears.

“I have tears in my eyes because of your organization helping me and my family,” says Belinda Valdes. “Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”

Now in 2018, Belinda can watch her children thrive academically from the front row. Being a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation has only motivated Isabella and Robert to do the best they possibly can in school, and to never take their education for granted. “I tell them every day that whatever they choose to do in life, you must always remember who helped you,” says Belinda. At 17-years-old, Isabella is in all Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes, and her love for helping others inspired her to plan to pursue medicine after high school in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. Isabella doesn’t want to go into the medical field for the money, but to be able to travel the world and help children and families that do not have access to medicine. At 10-years-old, Robert may be tiny but he has big dreams, such as becoming President of the United States one day! “I want to give back to AAA someday,” says Robert Valdes. “I was really young when my mom had to have surgery, and I didn’t know how we were going to be able to afford school. I now appreciate everything that AAA has given us, and hope someday I can help people just like they helped me.”

Fighting back her emotions, Belinda cannot express enough how grateful she is for the AAA Scholarship Foundation, and how life-changing it was for her family. “I don’t have the words,” she says. “Thank you for helping me put my children through school. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and you have to make the most of each day. I am very thankful for everyone that makes this organization possible.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this spotlight, click here.

Dereck Sandoval
Little Flower School
Reno, NV

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”
–Nathaniel Branden

This quote embodies Karla Martinez. Facing many challenges both emotionally and financially, she never gave up on her primary focus – ensuring her son Dereck receives a quality education. Not only has the AAA Scholarship Foundation made an impact on both of their lives, it was a true gift to their family in a time of need. “When times were hard, and it felt like every door was closed, the AAA Scholarship Foundation was there to remind me to remain hopeful, and to keep working hard as a single mother.”

15 years ago Karla Martinez made the bold decision to move from her home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, all the way to Reno, Nevada. She knew she’d be leaving behind everything she’d ever known, but she was ready to broaden her horizons and see what more the world had to offer. Upon moving, Karla was able to land a job as a medical biller and coder and start a family. When her son Dereck was born, she immediately knew that she wanted to give him the world, and she would do anything to make that happen. Unfortunately, Dereck’s father was not on the same page. When Dereck was only in Kindergarten, and Karla was working long hours just to make ends meet, they were heartbroken to find out that Dereck’s father had left without even a warning. While this undoubtedly brought upon questions and tears, Karla stayed strong for her son and continued to put him first. From that moment, she knew it would be a long road ahead, but the love she had for her son made anything seem possible.

Dereck had been attending Little Flower School – a private school in Reno, Nevada. With her son’s education being her first priority, she wasn’t sure how she was going to manage to continue to send him there. Luckily, she had some money saved to get him through the first two years, but as that slowly disappeared, Karla was beginning to run out of options. Their family was already experiencing a tremendous amount of change, and the last thing Karla wanted to do was take away the school that she and Dereck loved.

Just as Karla was beginning to lose that last bit of hope, she came across the AAA Scholarship Foundation, and learned that they worked with families in Nevada. After researching and finding out that her family did qualify for a scholarship, Karla was overcome with joy. She could see that things were starting to look up for her, even when she thought there was no possible way.

Dereck is now in the fourth grade at his school of choice, and Karla can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only does Little Flower School have an excellent academic curriculum, but they also have capable and professional teachers who are constantly taking training courses to keep up with the new era of technology. Additionally, the school has a strict security system that gives parents a peace of mind regarding their children’s safety. The school is adamant about getting the parents involved in school activities and projects, and has become a safe haven for children like Dereck. Being at this school, Dereck has improved academically and socially. He is able to learn at a high speed, and can keep up with his fellow classmates. He has the confidence to ask questions, and be more involved in classroom conversation and activities. He enjoys science and basketball, and does not limit himself to trying something new. He’s even developed a love for acting and performing arts! Karla can see a great change in her son in comparison to how he was four years ago, and it all shows in just his smile.

“As a single mother, having the opportunity to be a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation has impacted my life in so many ways,” says Karla Martinez. “Because of them, I was able to build a solid academic base for my son’s future. I just want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your support, we are so happy to be one of the scholarship families in Reno, Nevada. Thank you!”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation

The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this student spotlight, click here.

Sofia Tabaniag
Calvary Chapel Christian School
Las Vegas, NV

The AAA Scholarship Foundation does so much more than provide economic assistance to low-income families. They give children, like Sofia Tabaniag, a chance. A chance to challenge themselves academically and a chance to flourish as both a student and as an individual. This scholarship gives children the chance to push themselves to do the best they possibly can, in all aspects of life. Now in the 3rd grade, and attending Calvary Chapel Christian School, Sofia has surpassed every expectation and hope her mother Iandell could have ever wished for – which was all made possible by the people and donors that work tirelessly to make this program possible.

Iandell Tabaniag grew up in Hawaii and attended a local public school alongside her siblings. While she received a proper education, she wished more scholarship opportunities were available to give her expanded educational options. When Iandell became a mother herself, one of her main priorities was to give her daughter, Sofia, the best education she could. Unfortunately, this meant Iandell would need to make some sacrifices. Hawaii would always be home to Iandell and her family, however there weren’t as many affordable school opportunities that she felt would be a good fit for her daughter. Iandell has family that lives in Nevada, and after many months of researching and seeking advice from her relatives, she made the bold decision to pack up and move across the country.

Iandell’s husband found work as a supply clerk for a medical facility, while she began serving as a teacher’s aide. However, they found out after moving that the Las Vegas public school Kindergarten programs offered were only part time and the quality of education their daughter would receive would not be the best. Iandell received a recommendation about a private Kindergarten program that they believed Sofia would thrive in at Calvary Chapel Christian School. When Iandell and Sofia visited the school, they were blown away by how welcoming the staff was to them.

Instructors were passionate about teaching and wanted their students to work together and rely on one another to make an impact on the world. The cost was much higher than Iandell and her husband had anticipated, but they worked tirelessly to make it work – making financial sacrifices and working with the private school to pay in installments to help keep up with the rest of their bills. The move alone was a challenge, but adding in other factors, such as Sofia’s education, was taking a toll on the Tabaniag family financially. Even with two incomes, their family was struggling to make ends meet.

As first grade was quickly approaching, Iandell needed options. She considered other options, including the local public school program, and while she was not opposed to it, she knew this would be one of the many hurdles her family would face. Even at a young age, Sofia demonstrated promising potential and Iandell felt that the only way this would continue would be to find a setting where she wouldn’t fall behind in a crowd of students. The Kindergarten program that Sofia was attending had informed Iandell about AAA Scholarship Foundation. Because her family met the household income requirements, she applied for a scholarship and was more than relieved to hear that they qualified. Iandell’s hopes and dreams for her daughter were slowly becoming a reality.

Fast-forward three years and Sofia is doing better than Iandell could have ever imagined. Not only has she found her “home away from home,” but she is being challenged academically in a healthy way. Now in the third grade, Sofia is learning and studying above grade level – while also maintaining A’s! She has improved in many subjects, including writing, reading comprehension and spelling. This year she has even learned cursive! The school pushes their students to step out of their comfort zones. For instance, the students are required to participate in a public speaking program called Speech Meet which helps teach them important skills that they will continue to use for the rest of their lives. Sofia has competed in her class, won first place, and will be competing in the District Speech Meet with other private school winners. The school also values the arts and participates in an art festival, in which Sofia’s artwork was recently chosen to compete among the other private school entrants. Because of the relationships Sofia has already built with her former teachers, she looks forward to moving up grade levels and meeting new teachers. Sofia has a true passion to learn, and Iandell knows this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without help from the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

“What word is there to even describe how grateful I am,” says Iandell Tabaniag. “This scholarship is the best thing to ever happen to our family. I remind Sofia every day to make the most of her work because her being able to attend this school is a blessing and not many children have this chance.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this spotlight.