Published On: August 6th, 2015By Leticia Fehling

3 AISD Class of 2015 Graduates Receive Children’s Defense Fund Scholarships

They beat the odds to attain academic excellence and fulfill their dreams to attend college.

Childrens-Defense-Fund-2015-Beat-the-Odds-Scholarship-Recipients-1

Laurie Nowlin, Dayana Soss and Ruth Rodríguez (left to right) pose with Alisa Hamilton and Nelly Mendoza. The five are recipients of the 2015 Children’s Defense Fund Scholarships.

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]he Children’s Defense Fund awards scholarships to deserving area students each year. The awards honor students who overcome personal challenges. Three of the five 2015 recipients are from Aldine ISD and are among the top students in their graduating classes.

The AISD recipients are Dayana Sosa from Aldine High School, Laurie Nowlin from Carver High School and Ruth Rodríguez from Nimitz High School. All three formed part of the Class of 2015.

The Children’s Defense Fund is a nonprofit child advocacy organization. The CDF works to ensure a level playing field for all children. The Fund champions many policies and programs that lift children out of poverty and neglect. In Texas, the CDF’s priorities include child health and child poverty. The Texas organization also looks to improve educational opportunities for children.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]CDF Beat the Odds award program helps to raise awareness about the challenges facing children. It also affirms the need for continued advocacy and investment in today’s youth.

Annually, the CDF selects deserving high school students for the Beat the Odds Scholarship. Applicants undergo a meticulous review process. Each winner receives a $5,000 scholarship toward college, a laptop or tablet, and leadership development.

During the luncheon held in May at the Hilton Americas, attendees viewed a video. In it the recipients shared a part of their stories of what they have overcome. Their personal stories were heartfelt and powerful. Each one described how they beat the odds by believing in themselves.

The AISD recipients have overcome immense hardship and have inspiring stories to tell.

Dayana Sosa — Aldine HS
Esther Friedman Blonstein Beat the Odds Scholar

Dayana is in command. On the field she led her high school band as drum major. In class she was a stand out student. In life she has taken control of her future. She has had to. Her parents were never available, in fact they were largely absent from Dayana’s childhood. Neither parent showed much interest in her academics or appreciated her accomplishments. At a young age, Dayana learned to be self-reliant. She cleaned and cared for herself, her younger brother, and her ill mother. Dayana’s mother ultimately succumbed to liver disease. This left her devastated. And her strength was again tested when she became a teenage mom her sophomore year. But, nothing could divert her focus. Dayana maintained a rigorous advanced academics and extracurricular schedule. Dayana ranked fourth in her class and graduated with a 3.9 GPA from Aldine High School. Her love of science and math as tools for understanding the world are what motivate her to pursue a degree in physics at the University of Texas in Austin.

Laurie Nowlin — Carver HS
Pearl Friedman Cohn Beat the Odds Scholar

Laurie believes in positivity. She loves to laugh and has an infectious smile. But it is her passion for dance and her faith that have carried her through life’s toughest challenges. Laurie’s mother suffers from severe bipolar disorder. As a young child Laurie often saw her dad and brother beat her mother. But her mother’s abuse was not the only violence Laurie endured. Laurie also suffered abuse at the hands of her father. The nightmare ended when her father went to prison. In spite of all the darkness Laurie endured, she has found a release through dance. She has learned to hold her head up high with grace and poise. She has learned to transform negative experiences into positive expression and motivation. She uses her story as a testimony to inspire others. Laurie graduated with a 3.35 GPA from Carver High School. She intends to to study nursing at Prairie View A&M University.

Ruth Rodríguez — Nimitz HS
Bobby Sue Cohn Beat the Odds Scholar

Ruth is a determined young woman. Behind her gentle smile is a strong determination to succeed. Growing up Ruth’s life may have looked normal from the outside, but behind closed doors there was a different story. She grew up in an environment of abuse by her father. Her drive to protect her mother, her younger sisters and herself led her to finally seek help. Ruth’s father was later jailed and she found herself having to grow up fast to help her mother. Through a session of group therapy, Ruth realized that she was not alone. She discovered that other teens had successfully confronted similar challenges. She drew strength from that newfound awareness. As she gained more confidence in herself and in her abilities, she committed herself to her studies and to her goals. She is deeply motivated to be a role model for her younger sisters. Ruth graduated from Nimitz High School with a 3.50 GPA. She will attend Texas A&M University to become a registered nurse. Ruth is also considering to maybe someday be an OBGYN.

Individuals that attended the luncheon also got to hear from 2008 Beat the Odds scholar Sheehan Whelan. Sheehan is now a security analyst with the U.S. Department of State. Attendees also heard from Marian Wright Edelman. She is the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund. She encouraged folks to help the organization raise funds to help students attain higher education.