{"id":10592,"date":"2024-05-12T13:22:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T18:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/?p=10592"},"modified":"2024-05-12T13:22:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-12T18:22:23","slug":"high-school-seniors-awarded-scholarships-at-ciscos-annual-luncheon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/2024\/05\/12\/high-school-seniors-awarded-scholarships-at-ciscos-annual-luncheon\/","title":{"rendered":"High School Seniors Awarded Scholarships at CISCO&#8217;s Annual Luncheon"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;\"><strong>High School Seniors Awarded Scholarships at CISCO&#8217;s Annual Luncheon<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">May 8, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">LOMBARD \u2013 Five high school seniors were honored with scholarship for their academic and civic involvement during the April 24, 2024, Annual Luncheon. CISCO awarded five annual scholarships. All were presented to high school seniors \u2013 three (3) scholarships going to students attending a 4-year university, and two (2) scholarships going to students attending community college.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Since 1995, CISCO has helped its members and their families pursue their dreams of a college education. CISCO started by awarding two (2) scholarships to children of CISCO members. Those scholarships were named after one of its founding fathers \u2013 John E. Kenny Jr. of Kenny Construction, and in memory of former Board Member Joe Sullivan of the Roofers Union. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">Isabella Connelly<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10597\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10597\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Isabella.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-10597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Isabella-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"2024 CISCO Annual Luncheon\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10597\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Isabella Connelly received a 4-year scholarship. Her father is a member of the Chicago-based IBEW Local 134.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Isabella is set to graduate from Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana, where she is a member of the swimming and diving team, and Tennis captain. She plans to attend Northern Illinois University to major in Biomedical Science.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Isabella\u2019s impressive credentials include: Future Medical Professionals Club; Latino Club; Asian American Club; Leo\u2019s Club and Hispanic Heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">A Biomedical Science degree can open doors to many careers, but Isabella wants to focus on surgically correcting cleft palates on children living in underprivileged countries. The goal is to help these children be adopted and given the chance for a better life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">A non-profit organization called the Smile Train uses doctors to repair cleft palates on children. Isabella wants to be one of these doctors that travels and helps children.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">She vividly remembers meeting a school aide and sharing her desire to one day work with the Smile Train. The school aide became emotional and shared <em>SHE<\/em> had her cleft palate fixed through the Smile Train. She ended up being adopted from China into a loving family in the United States. Of this experience, Isabella said, \u201cI know this is how I want to give back and be my absolute best.\u201d A long-term goal would be to open her own business and perform cosmetic surgeries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">It\u2019s clear Isabella has a giving heart. Since a child, she\u2019s given her time to Migrant Mass by distributing food and clothing and continues to serve at soup kitchens. In her application, she said, \u201cI know I will make my dreams a reality, and I will continue to do the best I am able.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Teresa Salazar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10602\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10602\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Teresa.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-10602\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Teresa-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"2024 CISCO Annual Luncheon\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10602\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Teresa Salazar received a 4-year scholarship. Her father is a member of Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council from Local 250.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Teresa is set to graduate from Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, and plans to attend American University in Washington DC to major in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Teresa\u2019s impressive credentials include: Summer Legal Institute Program; Youth Advisory Council for Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of the 84th District; and shadowing for both the Kane County, and DuPage County State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Teresa\u2019s desire to study Criminal Justice has been a life-long passion. She saved her money to buy used college textbooks and wrote research papers about forensic pathology, anthropology, DNA and criminology.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">She\u2019s taken this passion and used it in the real world by joining her city\u2019s law-enforcement Youth Academy, and shadowed at both the Kane County, and DuPage County State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office &#8211; which further motivated her to pursue a career in law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Teresa is laser-focused on becoming a prosecutor, then running for the office of State\u2019s Attorney. Regardless of her future position, she said her main objective will <em>ALWAYS<\/em> be to, \u201cpositively impact my community by being an example for young minority students wanting to pursue a career in the legal field.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Of her many accomplishments, one that stands out to Teresa is volunteering as the only Spanish-speaking judge at her voting location during the 2022 General Election. She assisted a Spanish speaking voter, helping her register to vote and explaining the voting ballot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Of this experience, Teresa said, \u201cUplifting minority voices is a goal I will relentlessly work towards during my time in college and in my career.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Diana Barrientos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10608\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10608\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Diana.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-10608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Diana-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"2024 CISCO Annual Luncheon\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10608\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Diana Barrientos received a 4-year scholarship. Her father is a member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 21.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Diana will graduate from Lake View High School and will attend University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study Business. During high school, she was Captain of the Debate and Speech teams; member of the Debate Leadership Council; and a National Honor Society member.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">She was also on both the Varsity Swim team and Varsity Soccer Team \u2013 where she was the MVP for 3 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Growing up in a first-generation immigration household, Diana sees a degree in Business opening multiple doors, multiple job opportunities and multiple choices. The dream job is to invest in herself by owning and operating a caf\u00e9 shop in the heart of Chicago!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Growing up, Diana was full of questions, which led to her success in High School on the Debate Team. After winning top honors in <em>MANY<\/em> debate tournaments, Diana said that by the end of every season, she always achieved a new way of thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;My experiences as a captain and as a student has taught me qualities like confidence and drive. My overall skills will really give me leverage when I start studying business in college. I\u2019m really optimistic about my future,&#8221; Diana said in her application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Diana\u2019s Debate Team coach called her, \u201cThe greatest leader I\u2019ve ever coached.\u201d Adding, \u201cShe lifts up those around her. As a result, she\u2019ll excel in college and career.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Ava Brassard<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10610\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10610\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ava.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-10610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ava-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"2024 CISCO Annual Luncheon\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10610\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Ava Brassard received a 2-year scholarship. Her father is a member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 21.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Ava will graduate from Gardner South Wilmington South High School, and she plans to attend Joliet Junior College where she will pursue an Associates in Nursing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Like CISCO&#8217;s other superstar students, Ava is a member of the National Honor Society; Student Council and Pantherette Spirit-Line. She also enjoys participating in Band and Trap Shooting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Ava has had a life-long passion for Nursing because she enjoys helping others. For the past 2 years, she has attended the Grundy Area Vocational Center, which offers an array of Career and Technical Education programs. It has allowed her to work one-on-one with patients. It\u2019s also given her an early start on her future career. Listen to this!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">She\u2019s already earned her Certified Nursing Assistant certificate; her EKG License and CMA certificate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Ava\u2019s goal is to continue her education to become a Registered Nurse, and later, become a Nurse practitioner. Currently, her CNA License is pending through Grundy Area Vocational Center!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Amanda Manriquez<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10611\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10611\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Amanda.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-10611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Amanda-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"2024 CISCO Annual Luncheon\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10611\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Amanda Manriquez received a 2-year scholarship. Her father is a member of Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Amanda will graduate from Oak Lawn Community High School. She plans to attend Moraine Valley Community College to pursue psychology. Then later, she plans to attend UIC for her Bachelor\u2019s, then eventually her Masters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Amanda is on the High Honor Roll; member of both the soccer and tennis teams; participates in Art Club; Photography Club; and is the Wrestling Manager.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Amanda has a deep passion for helping and caring for those most in need \u2013 which is a direct link to being the oldest child in her family. As a clinical psychologist, she sees herself counseling families and couples as they face difficult issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">She even uses psychology when she plays goalie for her High School soccer team! With the ability to observe the entire field, Amanda is able to read the other player\u2019s faces and body language, then make adjustments when she has to play defense and defend the goal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">As an artist, Amanda excels at photograph and drawing, which requires patience and observation \u2013 another trait of a clinical psychologist! Her artistic side will allow her to consider art therapy as a means of communication with her clients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Amanda\u2019s school counselor calls her an \u201cimpressive young woman who is very focused on being successful in the future.\u201d He added that he is \u201cproud of Amanda\u2019s development as a student and as a person over her time at the High School.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>High School Seniors Awarded Scholarships at CISCO&#8217;s Annual Luncheon May 8, 2024 LOMBARD \u2013 Five high school seniors were honored with scholarship for their academic and civic involvement during the April 24, 2024, Annual Luncheon. CISCO awarded five annual scholarships. All were presented to high school seniors \u2013 three (3) scholarships going to students attending [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[92,94,97],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jennifer","author_link":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/author\/jennifer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"High School Seniors Awarded Scholarships at CISCO&#8217;s Annual Luncheon May 8, 2024 LOMBARD \u2013 Five high school seniors were honored with scholarship for their academic and civic involvement during the April 24, 2024, Annual Luncheon. CISCO awarded five annual scholarships. All were presented to high school seniors \u2013 three (3) scholarships going to students attending&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10592"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10592\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cisco.org\/wp-content\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}