Palo Alto Family YMCA Cooper Scholarship Program To Award 40 Students $100,000 in Scholarships

Online, July 29, 2011 (Newswire.com) - PALO ALTO, CA - Palo Alto Family YMCA announced today that 40 local students each will be awarded $2,500 in scholarships at the 5th annual YMCA Cooper Scholarship Dinner Awards on Saturday, Aug. 6. Each recipient is an outstanding student who comes from a diverse background and has made great educational accomplishments. Ten of the students are first-year recipients, and the other 30 will have their scholarships renewed at the dinner.

Palo Alto Family YMCA partners with Dreamcatchers, a Stanford University program with undergraduates helping teens succeed in school. Together, the Y and Dreamcatchers operate the Ventura Teen Center to develop educational and leadership opportunities for teens and to prepare them for college. At the Ventura Teen Center, students receive homework help, get academic tutoring, research potential careers, and go on college tours. Motivated students from the Palo Alto community receive YMCA Cooper Scholarships for demonstrating integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, strength of character, financial need and the commitment to pursue a college education. The scholarships can be used as financial assistance and post-high school education at any college.

"We are thrilled that this unique scholarship opportunity is making such a positive impact on so many local teens," said Scott Glissmeyer, executive director of Palo Alto Family YMCA. "We owe so much gratitude to the program's founders, Wilson and Sue Cooper, and the support of our community members. Without them, we would not be able to provide critical financial assistance to these extraordinary students, as they pursue higher education."

The 10 students who will be recognized during the dinner as new Cooper Scholarship award recipients are: Angela Li, Sweta Bhattacharya and Rachelle Goodrich-Gere of Gunn High School; Helen Butler of Palo Alto High School; Nathanael Denys and Andrew Oseguera of Carlmont High School; Kyrillos Shakid of Woodside High School; and Jorge Gonzalez, Francisco Lopez and Irvin Romero of Sequoia High School.

Scholarship founders Sue and Wilson Cooper reside in Palo Alto and both are passionate for working with underserved youth. Devoted to education, the couple believes helping these hardworking students is one of the greatest gifts they can give.

For more details on the Cooper Scholarship, contact Scott Glissmeyer, at [email protected].

About the YMCA
The YMCA of Silicon Valley is committed to strengthening and enriching the development of kids, families, and the community. Through health and fitness, youth programs, family activities, and other resources for people of all ages and abilities, we help build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Our core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring are at the heart of everything we do.

Media Contact:
Tina Casalino
PR Consultant
Palo Alto Family YMCA
[email protected]