San Diego Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation
Keeping the dream alive through scholarships to deserving youth since 1990
Scholarship Recipients 2011 - 2013
Bria Chappel
Lincoln High School
Tom Carter Scholarship Recipient 2012
The $7,500 Tom Carter Scholarship recipient, Ms. Bria Chappel will attend the University of California Los Angeles upon graduation majoring in political science. Ranked #1 in the Lincoln Class of 2012 and a member of the National Society of Scholars, Bria has an overall 4.29 GPA. She served as the President of the Law Club, Secretary of the Bible Club, Copy Editor of the Voices of Lincoln, Varsity Track and Field, Secretary of the Lincoln High School Science Bowl and the Academic League. She also serves on the San Diego County District Attorney's Youth Advisory Board. Bria received a perfect score on the Mathematics and English California High School Exit Exam in 2010. Bria was a honor roll student for eight consecutive years and a National Achievers Society and Golden Puramid Scholar during her entire high school years. Bria plans to become a lawyer.
Bri-Jae Scarbrough
Morse High School
Reverend George Walked Smith Scholarship Recipient 2012
The $7,500 Reverend George Walked Smith Scholarship recipient, Ms. Bri-Jae Scarbrough will continue her educational endeavors at the University of California San Diego in La Jolla majoring in biology. As a member of the National Society of Scholars, Bri has an overall 4.5 GPA and was extremely active in student government and participated in track and field for three of her high school years. She was President of the Ladies of Quality, AP Government and Secretary of the Black Student Union. She was also a member of the California Scholarship Federation. She was a Susan G. Kolman Race Volunteer and a Meal 4 Hunger Volunteer. She recieved many awards over the years including the Principal's Award for a 4.5 GPA and a Scholar Athlete for a GPA over 4.0. Bri plans to become an occupational therapist.
Korral Taylor
Lincoln High School
Debra Ann Stephens Scholarship Recipient 2012
The $5,000 Debra Stephens Scholarship recipient, Ms. Korral Taylor will be attending Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina and majoring in English. As a member of the Lincoln Varsity Track and Field and Volleyball teams, Korral has an overall 3.6 GPA. She has served as the President of the Science Bowl, the Academic team, the Bible Club, and the Youth Health Council at Lincoln High School. She is also a member of the San Diego Mayor's Youth Commission and the San Diego Youth Action Board. Korral was an honor roll student during her entire high school years and received the Presidential Volunteer Services Award in 2009 and 2010. Korral plans to become a Supreme Court Justice.
Louise Jordan
Lincoln High School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient 2012
The $2,500 San Diego Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation Scholarship recipient, Ms. Louise Jordan will continue her education at Georgetown University, majoring in government. Louise has a 4.0 GPA. Over her entire life, she has been extremely active in extra-curricular activities in her school and community. She served as Junior Class Secretary and Freshman Class Vice President. She was involved in the Boston Church League, Peer-to-Peer Tutoring, Circle of Friends (focussed on socially interacting with special needs children), Earth Club and Student Council. Louise was an honor roll student in 2009, 2010, 2011 and participated in the Academic and Science and Math Decathlons. Louise plans to become a lawyer and community activist.
Erica Mai Le
Crawford High School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient 2012
The $2,500 San Diego Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation Scholarship recipient, Ms. Erica Mai Le will attend the United States Naval Academy at nnapolis, Maryland majoring in chemistry. As the Associated Student Body President and a celebrated athlete, Erica maintained a 4.39 GPA. She is a Lifetime Member of the California Scholarship Federation and President of the Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honros Society. She participated on the Varsity Golf, Soccer, and Cross Country teams. She was the Varsity Soccer Captain and achieved the rank of Captain in JROTC in 2008. Erica plans to become a physician.
Cindy Lea Sphabmixay
Hoover High School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient 2012
The $2,500 San Diego Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation Scholarship recipient, Ms. Cindy Lea Sphabmixay plans on pursuing her post-secondary education at the University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, and will major in sociology. As a member of the National Honors Society attending the Academy of Information Technology at Hoover, City has a 3.95 GPA. She is active in many community and campus organizations including TedXYouth, Link Crew, Gay Straight Alliance Club, Kirjasto Library Club, Balboa Park AIDS Walk/Run, Cancer Walk and Cardinals Interact. She has received numerous awards including the Outstanding Achievement in Geometry, English, American Literature and U.S. Government as well as the Spirit Leadership Award. Cindy also received a medal for participating in Tennis. She plans on becoming a psychiatrist.
Ania Boyd
Lincoln High School
Debra Ann Stephens Scholarship Recipient 2011
The $5,000 Debra Ann Stephens Scholarship Awardee, Ms. Ania Boyd will continue her educational career at Clark Atlanta, majoring in Business. Remaining committed toward her community, Ania's ambitions are to start a Community Program and utilize her business skills to have a successful career in the fashion industry.
Tantalera Conley
Crawford High School
Reverend George Walked Smith Scholarship Recipient 2011
The $7,500 Reverend George Walker Smith Scholarship Recipient, Ms. Tantalera Conley will attend San Diego State University majoring in Liberal Studies. As Tantalera continues her academic success, her professional goal is to be an elementary school teacher and help to successfully guide our youth toward the success she knows is attainable.
Vance Dokes
Samuel B. Morse High School
Tom Carter Scholarship Recipient 2011
The $7,500 Tom Carter Scholarship Recipient, Mr. Vance Dokes will continue his interest in the medical field at the University of California, Davis. Vance, a pre-med student, will fulfill his life dream of a career in the medical profession.
Cleve Jacobs, Jr.
San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient 2011
A $5,000 scholarship recipient, Mr. Cleve Jacobs, Jr. will attend the University of California, Merced and plans to transfer to the University of Southern California. Cleve will major in Cinematorgraphy then pursue a successful career in film.
Jonathan Tabor
Lincoln High School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient 2011
A $5,000 scholarship recipient, Mr. Jonathan Tabor will attend the California State University at Northridge. Jonathan will major in Civil Engineering and is destined to become one of San Diego's best Civic Engineers.
2011
2012
2013
Stephanie Hernandez
Point Loma High School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Recipient 2013
This year’s $5,000 San Diego Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation Scholarship recipient, Stephanie Hernandez, plans to continue her education at San Diego State University and major in Political Science. Her goal is to pursue a career in government and become a policy-maker. With an overall 3.45 GPA, she says her participation in the Barrio Logan College Institute, AVID, Reality Changers, the Aaron Price Fellows Program, and many outreach activities exposed her to needs and opportunities in the community and inspired her to pursue her education and a career in government. Through the UNOW (University Now) Program, she has already taken her college level Introduction to Biology and Writing courses at Pt. Loma Nazarene University. Stephanie’s volunteer activities include the Student 2 Student Program where she mentored incoming students and assisted them in their transition to the school, served as Vice President of the Rotary Club’s Interact Program, was Captain of the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Team and Treasurer of the “We Stop Hate” Anti-Bullying Club. She participated in the Saint Mary’s College 5K Run to raise food for a homeless shelter.She is described as resourceful, strategic, determined, and a role model with a sense of purpose and “heart of gold.” Stephanie compares the difference she sees in her neighborhood and the neighborhood surrounding the school she attends and expresses determination to make an impact on her community, which she wants to see “blossom into a paradise where everyone sees education as the key to success.”
Sheree Collins
Lincoln High School
Debra Stephens Scholarship Recipient 2013
Sheree CollinsLincoln High School This year’s $5,000 Debra Stephens Scholarship recipient, Sheree Collins, plans to continue her education at UCLA and major in biology. Her career goal is to become an obstetrician/gynecologist. With an overall 4.15 GPA, she has always challenged herself, and ranks in the top 10 of her graduating class. In her sophomore year she took one of the most challenging Advanced Placement classes, AP Biology. In her junior year, she took two AP classes, and in her senior year, she took three AP classes. Sheree’s skills do not end with academics, she excels in extracurricular activities, including track and field, volleyball, and was Captain of her cheerleading squad. As a sophomore, she won second place in the Triple Jump at the CIF Championship. She holds the school’s record for the Triple Jump. One of her teachers describes her as “very intelligent, respectful, responsible, always prepared to learn, and an ideal student who never missed an assignment.” However, her teacher added that it is Sheree’s leadership quality that sets her apart. She served as her junior and senior class president, represented her school in the Aaron Price Fellows Program and the Southeast Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference, participated in the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Pageant, and was invited to be a panelist at the annual Association of African American Educator’s Conference. She also sings in her church choir.
Lydiette De Jesus
Gompers Preparatory Academy
Tom Carter Scholarship Recipient 2013
Lydiette De Jesus Gompers Preparatory Academy This year’s $7,500 Tom Carter Scholarship recipient, Lydiette De Jesus, plans to continue her education at UCLA and major in English. Her career goal is to become an anesthesiologist. Named an AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar by the College Board, she has been on the Honor Roll throughout high school where she was a member of the ASB and Key Club, worked on the Yearbook, served as a student ambassador, and played varsity soccer and volleyball. She participated in Reality Changers, was a Quest Bridge Scholar and received the Golden Pyramid Award, while maintaining an overall 4.33 GPA, leading her to become the number one academically ranked student in her class. Described by teachers as “well-rounded” and “determined,” Lydiette says she combined her school’s dream of making college a reality for all students with her parents’ dream for her, and made going to college her dream. She decided early on to take all the Advanced Placement classes her school offered, telling her teachers “I would rather work hard now. . . and play later.” She took senior AP classes in her junior year, enrolled in community college courses in her senior year, and developed her own internship opportunities where none existed. Her volunteer activities include church, the Arts and Culture Festival, and the Social Justice Book Club. During her spare time she worked with a physician’s assistant making home visits in an effort to learn what a career in medicine is like. One of her teachers added, “when other students are relaxing, Lydiette is working hard to prepare herself for her future.”
Khafre Mayasa-Hailey
San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
Reverend George Walker Smith Scholarship Recipient 2013
This year’s $7,500 Reverend George Walker Smith Scholarship recipient, Khafre Mayasa-Hailey, plans to continue his education at California State University at Long Beach and major in physiology. His career goal is to become a physician. An Honor Roll student throughout high school with an overall 3.95 GPA, Khafre was Treasurer of the ASB and a member of the school’s Chamber Orchestra and the Environmental Activist Club. He received the Golden Pyramid Award, was a USD Black History Scholar Bowl Winner, a member of Phi Delta Kappa Kudos, Junior Ambassadors, and a San Diego Links Achiever. He describes himself as a “humble, hardworking, and diligent scholar, who understands that giving back to his community is a requirement for all that has been done to cultivate me,” and says his perspectives on life have been shaped by such luminaries as Booker T. Washington, Barbara Jordan, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “who not only committed to breaking down boundaries but who did what many considered impossible by working to improve the quality of life for all people.” Khafre’s community service includes working with the San Diego Coalition for the Homeless, Water for Children Africa, the Thanksgiving Day Race for Hunger, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. He has spent many hours as a reading and homework tutor, preparing Christmas care packages and holiday gifts for children, and participating in community cleanup activities and events to promote healthy eating and living. He says that one of his most enlightening experiences was at St. Vincent DePaul Village Interim Housing where he had the opportunity to work in the kitchen and learn from the Head Chef, an Elder who studied at the world renowned Diop University in Dakar.
