From our earliest beginnings, the Ed Fund has managed a college scholarship program benefiting low-income graduating seniors of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Since 2005, over $1.6 million in scholarships have been awarded to over 550 students. This year, the Scholarship Program was supported by the Freggarrio Family Foundation, Contra Costa Chorale and the Norma and Arthur Schroeder Family Foundation.

We believe everyone deserves the chance to go to college. Research shows that a college education significantly changes the trajectory of a student’s life. A college education is a difference-maker for many students. Students who attend college are more likely to enjoy greater career opportunities. From increasing annual earnings to creating our next leaders, a college education makes an impact on students, their families, and our community. College scholarships are an investment in the future of West Contra Costa County.

Over 550 graduates of the West Contra Costa Unified School District have received scholarships. All of the scholarship winners are low-income, and many of them are the first in their families to attain a higher education.

2021 Scholarship Closed

Our 2021 Winners

This year, we are proud to have offered 10 students in the district with scholarships to further their higher education dreams. These students showed us that despite the difficulties of distance learning and the covid-19 pandemic, they were able to continue to engage with their communities and work towards achieving their goals:

El Cerrito High School

  • Catherine Rojo, Attending Contra Costa College, Ed Fund West Award
  • Suchita Khanal, Attending UC Berkeley, Schroeder Family Foundation Award
  • Laiba Noor, Attending Contra Costa College, Schroeder Family Foundation Award
  • Mara Bravo-Santos, Attending Stanford University, ECHS Higher Education Award

Richmond High

  • Stephanie Garcia-Avila, Attending Gonzaga University, Freggarrio Family Foundation Award
  • Lizbeth Zaragoza Ponce, Attending UC Berkeley, Freggarrio Family Foundation Award
  • Luis Carrillo, Attending SF State, STEM Award

Kennedy High

  • Valeria Ambriz Castro, Attending SF State, STEM Award

Middle College High

  • Naja Ji Jaga, Attending Boston University, Contra Costa Chorale Music Studies Award

De Anza High

  • Madison Weller, Attending Contra Costa College, Contra Costa Chorale Music Studies Award

2021 Scholarship Closed

Highlights of 2021 Winners

STEM Scholarship / Kennedy High School
Valeria Ambriz Castro
Hi my name is Valeria Ambriz. I’m currently a Senior at Kennedy high school and I plan on attending SF State following graduation to pursue a bachelors in Biomedical Engineering. I want to thank my scholarship donor for giving me the opportunity to continue my journey towards higher education, especially being a Latina woman in STEM.
Contra Costa Chorale Vocal Music Studies Scholarship / Middle College High School
Naja Ji Jaga
Hi, my name is Naja, and I'm a senior at Middle College High School. For over four years, I have been a Diploma Student at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, where I've studied upright bass and singing. This Fall, I will be attending Boston University on a scholarship through the Posse Foundation. Though I will major in Health Science, music will continue to be an important aspect of my college experience.
Freggarrio Family Scholarship / Richmond High School
Stephanie Garcia-Avila
My name is Stephanie Garcia-Avila, and I am proud to say I will be attending Gonzaga University in the fall. At Gonzaga, I plan to major in Political Science and Education with a minor in Leadership. After I finish college, I want to come back to the Richmond community and teach social studies at Richmond High School. I cannot wait to accomplish my life-long goal of becoming a teacher.
Freggarrio Family Scholarship / Richmond High School
Lizbeth Zaragoza Ponce
My name is Lizbeth Zaragoza and I am a current senior in the Law Academy at Richmond High School. Something I’m extremely passionate about is making positive change in my community through opportunities that involve youth. As a first generation college student, I am eager to pursue higher education in the fall of 2021.
Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship / El Cerrito High School
Laiba Noor
Hello! My name is Laiba, I am a senior at El Cerrito High, planning to go to Contra Costa Community College as a biology major, and then transferring in the next two years. I am so grateful for the Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship in supporting me through my initial college journey.
STEM Scholarship / Richmond High School
Luis Carrillo
Richmond High School Student in EPA Academy. Planning to attend SF State and major in Computer Science. This Scholarship means less stress for me because it will reduce the cost of attending college.
El Cerrito High School Higher Education Scholarship / El Cerrito High School
Mara Bravo-Santos
My name is Mara Bravo-Santos. I will be graduating from El Cerrito High School in June of 2021 and attending Stanford University in the fall as a Management Science and Engineering major. I am very honored to receive this award; it's community based organizations such as the Ed Fund that make it so that I can tell my sisters and my friends and my neighbors that there is an opportunity for them, from their city, that make higher education more accessible.
Contra Costa Chorale Vocal Music Studies Scholarship / DeAnza High School
Madison Weller
I am a first generation college student attending community college with hopes to transfer to San Jose State University and graduate with a degree in Psychology. I am so grateful to have been selected for this scholarship because it is helping me to continue my education and exemplify all of my hard work.
Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship / El Cerrito High School
Suchita Khanal
My name is Suchita Khanal and I will be attending UC Berkeley to major in Public Health in the fall. I am honored and very thankful to have been selected as a recipient of the Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship. I will put this aid towards furthering my interests in health equity and using my education to foster well-being among our communities.
Ed Fund West Scholarship / El Cerrito High School
Catherine Rojo
As a first generation Latina, support means the world to me. I'm very fortunate to receive this financial support from the Ed Fund West Family. This scholarship is getting me a step closer to higher education. I will help find the light at the end of the tunnel for the people in my community and help stop health inequalities as a future Pediatrician.

2021 Scholarship Eligibility

Contra Costa Chorale Vocal Music Studies Scholarship

  • Must have participated in a high school choir program or other musical performances (instrumentalists may also apply if they accompany choirs)
  • Minimum 3.2 GPA
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Complete the FAFSA/Dream Act application by March 2, 2021
  • Graduate from a public WCCUSD high school in 2021
  • Plan to attend a 2-year or 4-year institution immediately after graduating from high school

Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship

  • Must be an El Cerrito High School senior identifying as a student of color
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Complete the FAFSA/Dream Act application by March 2, 2021
  • Plan to attend a 2-year or 4-year institution immediately after graduating from high school

STEM Scholarship

  • Must be a Richmond High School and John. F. Kennedy High School senior pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Economics) career
  • Minimum 3.5 GPA
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Complete the FAFSA/Dream Act application by March 2, 2021
  • Plan to attend a 4-year institution immediately after graduating from high school

Freggarrio Family Scholarships

  • Must be a Richmond High School senior.
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Complete the FAFSA/ Dream Act application by March 2, 2021
  • Plan to attend a 4-year institution immediately after graduating from high school

2020 Scholarship Winners

In 2020, we partnered with the Office of African American Student Achievement to offer scholarships to graduating seniors. 2020 winners include:

El Cerrito High

  • Ceray Seaton, Attending Contra Costa College, Schroeer Scholarship Recipient
  • Destiny Obazee,Attending CSU East Bay, Gooden Award Recipient
  • Jolay Futch, Attending Sacramento State, Gooden Award Recipient
  • Jaszwan Veal, Attending Howard University, Schroeder Scholarship Recipient

Richmond High

  • Zalea Monroe, Attending Sacramento State, Gooden Award Recipient
  • Lisbeth Ledezma, Attending Sonoma State, Gooden Award Recipient

Kennedy High

  • Bezawit Wassyhun, Kennedy High, Attending Cal State LA, Gooden Award Recipient
  • Noelle Jones, Kennedy High, Attending Tuskegee University, Gooden Award Recipient

Middle College High

  • Mya Lucas, Attending Cal State LA, Gooden Award Recipient

De Anza High

  • Nyla Williams, Attending UC Berkeley, African American Student Scholarship Recipient