Sophia and Isabella Linde
The King’s Academy
Reno, NV

Kristin Linde never wanted her own personal obstacles to affect her two daughters, Sophia and Isabella. Although she did not know at the time, when her ex-husband left her and their family behind – with no money and no idea of where to go next – it was a defining moment in all of their lives.

Instead of allowing this change to dictate their future, Kristin vowed that she would do whatever it took to give her children the best – starting with education. While it was traumatic for her family to leave everything behind in Mexico and move to Nevada, she was determined to find a school tailored to her children’s specific learning needs. Her eldest daughter, Sophia, was in second grade at the time of the move. Kristin had enrolled her into a public school because although she worked multiple jobs while attending college part-time, she was still struggling to make ends meet. Kristin, however, was optimistic that this would be an easy transition for Sophia since she had done so well the year prior; but to her dismay, it was the opposite.

Kristin immediately started to notice the decline in Sophia’s grades. Sophia hadn’t struggled in school before, so she was surprised to see how drastic of a change it had become, especially in math. The issue wasn’t that there was a language barrier or that she didn’t understand the schoolwork; it was that the teaching styles were polar opposite in Mexico and Nevada. Sophia learned best when she was in a smaller class setting and had the option of receiving one-on-one attention from her teacher or a tutor, which she was not receiving at her current school.

If Sophia was already falling behind in the 2nd grade, who knew what third, fourth, or even middle school would hold for her. As desperate as Kristin was to find a better-suited school for Sophia, it seemed nearly impossible given the fact that she was her family’s main source of income and they were in no place financially to make a change.

Kristin began exploring different schools to get an idea of what each offered and, most importantly, would any of them be the right fit for Sophia. To her surprise, she found a school that surpassed any expectations she had –The King’s Academy. Kristin had this overwhelming feeling of contentment when she walked around The King’s Academy. As she observed the interactions between teachers and students, she couldn’t help but smile at the genuine appreciation they had for each other. Kristin also had the chance to walk around with the principal of the school and ask her questions and was blown away when she would greet every student by their first and last name. Seeing first-hand the principal take the time to know every one of her students, Kristin did not doubt that the faculty would be just as loving and devoted. However, The King’s Academy is a private school, and with her income, there was no way she would be able to afford the tuition.

Kristin opened up to her mother hoping she’d have some ideas on what to do. Her mother graciously offered to help her with tuition as much as she could for the first few years. Kristin took advantage of this offer as well as requesting more hours at work. Even with the extra help, it still wasn’t enough. She wanted to keep Sophia enrolled in The King’s Academy and was desperate to find a way. Thankfully she learned about the AAA Scholarship Foundation (AAA) and quickly applied. Kristin anxiously waited to hear if their family had qualified for a scholarship, and the joy that she felt when they did was indescribable.

Today, Kristin can confidently say that The King’s Academy is the school that her daughter was meant to attend. Kristin’s other daughter, Isabella, is also enrolled at the school with her big sister. Sophia, who is now in the sixth grade, truly loves waking up every morning and going to school. The education level at The King’s Academy is a full school year ahead of other schools in their district. Kristin is amazed to see how quickly the students are advancing and how well they’re doing in terms of their grades. The school is big on extracurriculars and encourages students to step out of their comfort zones by trying a class in language, arts, choir or athletics.

The two siblings are doing incredible academically. Sophia loves spelling and learning about penmanship and calligraphy. She is extremely creative and looks forward to attending her art classes where she can bring her creativity to life. As for Isabella, she may only be in the second grade, but she truly loves every subject and is eager to learn and succeed in the classroom. Kristin never has to think twice about asking Isabella if she’s finished her homework because 9 out of 10 times it’s either already completed or being double-checked.

Being an AAA scholarship recipient has taken a huge weight off of Kristin’s shoulders. “I used to have to pick up extra shifts to afford the tuition, and it was just too much,” says Kristin. “With the scholarships from AAA, I can balance work, school, and still have the ability to spend quality time with my family.”

With heartfelt emotion, she reiterates how impactful this program has been to her family. “There are no words for how grateful I am,” says Kristin Linde. “I feel so safe and happy sending my children to The King’s Academy, and that’s all thanks to the AAA Scholarship Foundation.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and 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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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 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.

William and Alyne Johnson
Sugar Hill Christian Academy
Sugar Hill, GA

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family” – Kofi Annan

Migrating from France and Jamaica, Blandine and Herbert Johnson have always known how crucial education is in life, especially when packing up the life you once knew and moving to another country. Blandine works part-time in sales while she attends college studying medical coding, and her husband Herbert is self-employed. Together they have two children – William and Alyne. William is the oldest and when it came time for William to start school, the only option was to enroll him in a public school due to the family’s economic standing. The school year started fine, or at least that was the impression Blandine and Herbert were under.

Shocked was an understatement to describe how Blandine and Herbert felt when William’s teacher told them that she thought William had a learning disorder because he wasn’t socializing with the other children in his class. Of course, the two were concerned; were the teachers noticing something they hadn’t? The Johnsons took matters into their own hands. They sought out professional advice, only to find out that it wasn’t that William had a learning disorder, but rather that he wasn’t receiving the one-on-one attention he needed and he was too timid to tell his parents that he wasn’t grasping the concepts as quickly as the other students.

This news devasted Blandine and Herbert. William was being labeled by his teacher because he wasn’t as outspoken as the other children his age. What he needed was to be in a smaller class setting where he was offered a teacher’s undivided attention if he needed it. Even though William was in Kindergarten, the two knew that if they didn’t make a change now, this would continue to affect him throughout his academic career, as well as his life. However, the Johnson’s were faced with a problem. Blandine’s hours were cut back at the same time Herbert’s pay was decreased. Attending private school was simply out of the question.

As weeks went on, Blandine and Herbert grew more upset as they watched their son try to maintain a smile for them, when they knew deep down he was struggling. They couldn’t take it anymore and knew that there had to be another way. Thankfully, there was.

One afternoon, they were discussing the situation with Herbert’s sister. She informed them of the AAA Scholarship Foundation and walked them through the steps of the Georgia application process. Having applied for two years in a row and ending up on a waitlist for funding each time, Blandine and Herbert were ecstatic to receive an acceptance letter the following year. Now all they had to do was find a school that could provide an environment that was right for their son.

The second they stepped foot onto Sugar Hill Christian Academy’s campus, Blandine and Herbert had a gut feeling that this was the ideal school for their son. The school offers a curriculum that combines strong academics, as well as character virtues, to equip the next generation. There is also a great amount of respect between parents and faculty, and they always encourage communication. William needed to be in an environment where his teachers genuinely wanted to see him excel as a student, and would do anything possible to make that happen – even if it meant spending extra time with him before and after school. Thankfully that is exactly what Sugar Hill Christian Academy provided.

As you can imagine, adjusting to a new school and curriculum was challenging in the beginning for William. He went into Sugar Hill Christian Academy with his guard up from his previous experience with his teachers at his former school. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and before he knew it, William felt comfortable and acclimated to his school. Now in the 6th grade, he is thriving at his parent-selected school! Not only has he made a ton of new friends, but he’s finally found his love for learning. Blandine and Herbert can stop by the school and enjoy lunch with William, as well as their youngest Alyne, who now also attends Sugar Hill Christian Academy. William’s grades have vastly improved and he loves to get involved in the classroom asking as many questions as possible, especially in math and science. He aspires to be an architect one day. Even though Alyne is only in the 3rd grade, she is an incredible reader and loves to write stories in her journal.

The two siblings also participate in extracurricular activities at their school; William is in the school band and Alyne performed in the Christmas play that is held every year. Blandine and Herbert are truly the proudest parents, and without the AAA Scholarship Foundation, sending them to Sugar Hill Christian Academy truly wouldn’t have been possible.

“Knowing my children are at a great school receiving a great education has been the biggest blessing,” says Blandine Johnson. “My husband and I can’t thank the AAA Scholarship Foundation enough. This organization absolutely changes lives!”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and 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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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 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 Scholarship Spotlight.

Zachary Thompson
Bulloch Academy
Statesboro, GA

“Zach being able to attend Bulloch Academy has been one of the very few positive things that have happened for our family this year,” says Marne Thompson. After experiencing what felt like the hardest year of their lives, Marne is confident that being a recipient of an AAA Scholarship was the light at the end of their tunnel.

Marne and her husband Steve are the proud parents to their incredible son, Zach. In the Thompson household, Marne is the primary source of income. Steve has quite a few health issues preventing him from being able to maintain a regular work schedule, which has led to him having a difficult time maintaining a job. While it puts an emotional and financial strain on Steve and Marne to provide for their family, their primary motivation has always been that Zach has a fulfilling life, even if that means giving up a few things. When it was time for Zach to start Pre-K, the Thompson’s patiently waited to see if they had landed a spot at Bulloch Academy since there were limited openings available. Marne and Steve were both optimistic and nervous – the state of Georgia has a state-funded lottery program which allows children to attend Pre-K, but due to limited available spaces, there is no guarantee that a child will be able to attend. Luckily, a spot opened up two weeks before school began and Zach was chosen to attend.

The school was more than Steve and Marne could’ve ever wished for their son; the teachers were loving and attentive, and the students treated each other with respect, even at a young age. The high school level had a 100 percent graduation rate, with a track record of their graduates being accepted into one of their top three college choices. The Thompsons really wanted Zach to have the opportunity to attend Bulloch Academy through high school. However, Bulloch Academy is a private school, and the state only offered financial assistance to Pre-K students. With assistance from both sets of parents and another program, Marne and Steve were able to scrape together enough money for Zach to continue to attend Bulloch Academy after Pre-K was completed and the state-funded assistance was no longer available. Additional family support enabled him to continue his schooling at Bulloch Academy.

As he moved from Pre-K to Kindergarten and then first grade, Zach’s parents began to notice how he would process his emotions differently compared to other children his age as well as have difficulty controlling certain impulses such as speaking out of turn, touching items and humming or singing at inappropriate times. Thankfully they had a close relationship with Zach’s teacher, and they felt comfortable enough to ask her questions, such as how was he acting in class, was he behaving the same way the other students were, etc. After countless conversations, and seeking professional advice from his pediatrician, Zach was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Marne and Steve were insistent about being open and honest with their son regarding his diagnosis. They wanted him to know that this didn’t define who he was or give him any reason to behave a certain way. Having ADHD, it took Zach longer to process certain emotions, but with medication, and being able to be unapologetically open with his parents, Zach never felt as if he wasn’t “normal.” Some days were more difficult than others, and it was especially hard when Zach’s grandmother unexpectantly passed away. The two shared a special bond and Zach had a hard time processing the thought of his grandmother not being a phone call away anymore.

Several other situations happened around the same time – including changes in employment – so there was no longer additional financial assistance from their family to help cover the cost of tuition. “To remove Zach from the school he loves, and away from the friends that he has made, simply because of our family finances, would have been devastating for him,” says Marne. Marne spent weeks researching scholarship programs until she came across the AAA Scholarship Foundation. “Without the AAA Scholarship Foundation, his world would have been turned upside down.”

During 2017-18, Zach and the Thompson family experienced additional struggles. Multiple health issues for both Steve and Marne, two more grandparents passing away, a potentially stressful transition to middle school, and further financial struggles that were almost too much to bear. However, with the support and understanding of Zach’s teachers, his pediatrician, and the close relationship between Zach and his parents, he continues to thrive.

Now in the 6th grade at Bulloch Academy, Zach has truly transformed into the young man Marne and Steve always imagined he would be. While he has not always been a straight A student, this year he made honor roll and was selected to be a part of the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP), which helps gifted students assess the extent of their academic abilities with above-grade-level testing. Also, Zach was recognized on Honors Day with a citizenship award, a reading award, and Zach’s favorite, a music award! Aside from academics, Zach has an undeniable love for music that he inherited from his parents. Marne minored in music when she was in college, and Steve has always enjoyed listening to a variety of musical genres. She and Steve have taken Zach to multiple concerts to expose him to different artists and bands. Zach has tried just about every instrument and ultimately fell in love with the drums. Thankfully Bulloch Academy has an exceptional music program and Zach was able to learn the basics of multiple instruments. He is also taking drum lessons at a local music store. His teacher can’t help but gush over how wonderful of a student Zach is. He is enthusiastic to learn and every time he comes home after a lesson, his parents simultaneously tell him to “go make some noise!”

Being able to attend Bulloch Academy for his entire academic career thus far has alleviated so many potential problems. And since Zach has attended Bulloch Academy since Pre-K, he has made true, genuine friendships. He looks forward to seeing his friends every day and playing frisbee during P.E. He is confident in the classroom and pushes himself to be the best student he can be. Zach knows that while it may take him longer to understand certain tasks or emotions, he can do anything he puts his mind to.

“I have tearful moments every year when we receive the acceptance letter from AAA,” says Marne Thompson. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I encourage you to reach out to friends, family and business partners to educate them about this wonderful foundation. All children deserve the right to receive a quality education regardless of his or her parent(s)’ income. To all of the AAA Scholarship donors that make this possible for my son, I 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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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 spotlight.

Krystal, Paola, Genesis, and Juan Jr. Guerrero
Robert F. Munroe Day School
Quincy, FL
   
 

“I started working when I was 14 years old,” says Juan Guerrero. “I didn’t finish high school, so I work as hard as I can to give my children every opportunity possible. When we heard about the AAA Scholarship Foundation, we knew it would change our children’s lives as well as ours.  My wife and I knew it was going to give them the opportunity for a better life.”

 

Juan and Jelen Guerrero are the parents of four beautiful children – Krystal, Paola, Genesis, and Juan Jr. Juan works incessantly as a construction worker, while Jelen is a stay-at-home mom. The two are adamant about giving each of their children the opportunity to receive a quality education, especially since they were unable to finish high school themselves. “My parents needed help financially, so instead of finishing high school, I went straight to work,” Juan explained. Working in the scorching heat takes a toll on you, but as a father, Juan’s motivation is being able to give his children the chance to chase their dreams, regardless of how impossible they may seem. Unfortunately, as we all know, opportunities usually come with a price tag. While Juan and Jelen would love to send their children to a private school, they simply could not afford it. So, they made the most of the public school their children were zoned to attend.

 

Juan and Jelen’s children were grateful to be able to attend school in general, but it didn’t necessarily mean they were excelling the way they knew they could. Growing up with Spanish as their primary language, it was hard to adapt to a primarily English-speaking classroom, especially for Krystal. When Krystal was in the 3rd grade, she started to see first-hand how difficult the language barrier made learning. Juan and Jelen could see how this was impacting their daughter’s grades, as well as her overall attitude about school, so they decided to move her to another public school for the fourth grade. Krystal was optimistic that this would be the school she would be victorious at, but to her dismay, it was quite the opposite. When Krystal asked her teacher for help, instead of taking the time to show her step-by-step, they would tell her to “ask her classmates.” This only agitated Krystal. She knew how hard her parents worked to give her and her siblings a more promising life, and she didn’t want them to ever feel as if they had failed her. But asking her classmates for help only confused her, and she didn’t want to worry her parents since they had just transferred schools.

 

At such a young age, Krystal had the desire to learn and succeed but kept feeling held back. Being the eldest only added to the pressure; she felt responsible to make sure that her siblings were getting the help they needed with their homework. This put Krystal even further behind with her schoolwork. Her siblings looked up to her and mimicked her emotions, so when she was unhappy or not doing well in school, their experiences were the same. Juan and Jelen couldn’t stand to see their children so defeated and overwhelmed, so they decided to take matters into their own hands and search for scholarship opportunities that would allow all their children to attend a school that was ideal for them.

 

As Juan and Jelen began the search for a better-suited school for their children, they came across what seemed to be the perfect one – Robert F. Munroe Day School. This school had everything they were looking for: enthusiastic teachers, extracurricular activities, and above all, a love for learning. Another added benefit was that the faculty was extremely helpful with pointing families in the right direction to find and apply for scholarship programs. They never want a family’s financial situation to be the deciding factor in their choice for education. When the two were informed about the AAA Scholarship Foundation, Juan and Jelen immediately felt as if their luck was about change, and a few months later, when they received their packet from AAA congratulating them on qualifying for a scholarship, they knew it had.

 

Now with their children attending Robert F. Munroe Day School full time, it has been a true blessing for Juan and Jelen to see them longing to wake up in the morning and go to school. Juan can’t express enough how much this scholarship has helped his children academically. Prior to attending their parent-selected school, his children were doing their best just to get by. Now, they’re hungry to learn and not afraid to take on a challenge. “They have the opportunity to really be something at this school,” says Juan. “I can’t thank AAA enough for making this possible.”

 

“On my first day at my new school, I felt so welcomed because everyone was so friendly,” says Krystal. “In every class when I ask for help, my teachers explain it step-by-step until I get the hang of it, and they always go out of their way to ask if I need any help.” Not only is Krystal happy that she is receiving the attention that she needs in the classroom, but her younger siblings are entering an environment that will encourage them to learn and ask questions. “I am so happy that my baby brother will have a great education at a young age, and that my sisters will also get the extra help they need.” Krystal and her siblings have improved in numerous ways – they are no longer timid to ask questions in class and they encourage each other every day to be the best possible versions of themselves. All four of the Guerrero children are involved in extracurricular activities, such as volleyball, baseball, and theatre. Krystal is confident that this school is the stepping stone to her very bright future. She has high aspirations of attending the University of Florida and studying medicine in hopes of becoming a doctor one day. “With the help from the AAA Scholarship Foundation, I am positively sure I will reach my goals.”

 

“I just want to say that I am so grateful that my family has been chosen to get into a better school,” says Krystal. “This opportunity has impacted our lives now and forever. I will never forget what AAA and the people donating money have done for me and my family. I can never thank you enough and just know you’re changing lives.”

 

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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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.

 

Warren Brinson, Taylor Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy
Savannah Christian Preparatory School
Savannah, GA
  
Raised in a household with limited economic means, Monik Brinson experienced first-hand how an educational setting can profoundly impact a child. When the day came for her to be a parent, Monik vowed that she would do whatever it took, and work as hard as she possibly could, to send her children to a school that would have a positive impact on their academic careers. After six years of being a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation family, she has been able to do just that and more.

 
As a single mother, Monik Brinson works tirelessly to keep food on the table and to provide her children with the necessities – especially a good education. She never wanted the neighborhood they lived in to determine the type of education they should receive, particularly when it came to her son, Warren.

 
Even at a young age, she could tell that her son was gifted. Whether it was academics or athletics, he could do just about anything he set his mind to. As Warren was gearing up to attend middle school, Monik couldn’t help but be fearful of the crowd that he could unknowingly get caught up in. She knew she couldn’t protect her son from everything, but she could at least try. Monik didn’t know where to send her son, let alone how she was going to be able to afford it. Most of the schools that would help Warren acknowledge his academic and athletic gifts were private schools. As you can imagine, Monik was in a predicament.

 
One afternoon, Monik was chatting with a family member and they got onto the subject of Warren attending middle school. Monik was visibly concerned for her son – she knew how easy it was to be swayed by your peers. Given their current household income situation, it was simply not possible to send her son to a different school, regardless of how much she wanted to. That’s when she was informed about the AAA Scholarship Foundation. Monik had tons of questions, as any parent would, such as how does the program work, would their family qualify for a scholarship, and so on. Her relative encouraged her to stop focusing on the “what-ifs” and to just apply. So, she did exactly that. Weeks went by and then one day Monik received a sizable envelope in the mail, with the return address reading “AAA Scholarship Foundation.” As she ripped open the envelope, she couldn’t read past “Congra….” before she was jumping for joy.

 
When researching schools in their district, Monik came across one that seemed to stand out from the rest – Savannah Christian Prep. Monik planned a visit and was blown away by the school’s loving environment. Students were required to wear uniforms and Monik respected this policy believing that regardless of where or how your child was raised, everyone looked the same. It helped eliminate the idea that you should be treated a certain way based on your clothing. Another added benefit was that the school was made up of many nationalities and students treated each other with respect, regardless of the color of their skin. “These students and administrators don’t see color at this school, they just see love,” says Monik.

 
Adjusting to a new environment is inevitably difficult. While Warren was grateful to be attending a new school, he didn’t have the “easiest” transition period. Monik was giddy every time Warren would arrive home from school, however, Warren did not mimic her same excitement. Warren didn’t want to admit to it, but his fellow peers weren’t as welcoming as he’d hoped they’d be. He didn’t go into too much detail, but he did confide in his mother that he felt that he was being peer-pressured by his classmates. Monik had a zero tolerance for any form of bullying, so she immediately took matters into her own hands and went straight to the school to address the situation. Monik was pleasantly surprised by how apologetic they were. They assured her that it would never happen again. And thankfully, it didn’t! Warren was able to enjoy his parent-selected school and began to flourish both as a student and an athlete. Due to the countless hours of work he put into his academics and athletics, Warren was the only student selected out of Chatham County to attend the prestigious IMG Academy for football! Warren and Monik are both very aware that if it wasn’t for the AAA Scholarship Foundation, Warren never would’ve received a life-changing opportunity such as this one.

 
Because Monik saw such an incredible change in her son at Savannah Christian Prep, she wanted her two daughters, Caroline and Taylor, to share the same experience. The private school setting had a huge impact on Taylor specifically. Taylor had more of a challenging time in the classroom, but since the school offered both before- and after-school tutoring, she was able to receive one-on-one attention from her teachers which helped her make high honor roll! She enjoys art and science and even joined the basketball team where she was nominated for most valuable player in her first season. Monik’s youngest child, Caroline, also made high honor roll. Caroline loves to read, and Monik jokes that there must be “something in the water” because Caroline had never played soccer prior to joining the team but scored a total of four goals in her very first game! Monik is proud of everything that her children have accomplished, academically and athletically, but most importantly she just loves to see them happy.

 
“The AAA Scholarship Foundation has had a huge impact on my family,” says Monik Brinson. “I will do anything to help publicize this organization and help other families to receive scholarships. I really appreciate everything you’ve done and continue to do.”

 
 
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 90.6 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 200 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.

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.

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