Global Courant 2023-04-27 23:56:34
In the past 48 hours, Jonathan Cornejo has accomplished what seemed impossible.
He committed to UC San Diego.
The 17-year-old senior student at West Adams Preparatory High School had dreamed of going to the University of California campus since high school, when he first saw brochures of the beautiful grounds and then learned about the strong science programs.
He knew little about college preparation. His mother, a single parent from El Salvador, didn’t know how to help him; she dropped out of high school after ninth grade. But she always encouraged him to work hard in school and chase his dreams. So he did.
As a freshman, he bombed his first Advanced Placement class – Spanish – even though he speaks the language. But he steadily improved his grades, earning A’s and B’s in English, Algebra, and Chemistry honors as a sophomore. Then earn A’s in more AP courses – Spanish Literature, Biology, American History, Government and Politics. His 4.0 GPA, earned as student body president and yearbook editor-in-chief, helped gain him admission to top-rated UC San Diego.
But as the May 1 commitment day approached, Jonathan was on the verge of turning down the offer. He had decided to attend a community college instead. Although his financial aid package offered $29,265 in scholarships — a federal Pell Grant, a Cal Grant, and a $10,368 institutional scholarship from UC San Diego — he faced a $4,000 shortfall to cover mandatory tuition, room and board.
His mother, who works most days from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. in two jobs as a cook in a low-wage restaurant, couldn’t help him. His own income as a part-time Starbucks barista wouldn’t be enough. They did not want to take out loans that would put them under even more financial pressure. He was disappointed – even admitted to crying – at his inability to afford his dream school, but told himself he would make the best of it.
Then everything changed. The Times wrote about his plight, which reflects the struggles of thousands of the state’s poorest students who are admitted to UC but choose instead community colleges of California State University, in part due to financial shortfalls. The other public higher education systems are more cost-effective alternatives, with many top-notch instructors and rich education programs, but have significantly lower completion rates than UC.
Offers for help poured in. The high school was flooded with phone calls. Times readers asked how they could help.
“There’s something about that persistence and tenacity that’s inspiring,” one reader wrote. “As for Jonathan, he worked extremely hard in school, works at Starbucks, has no father in his life and his mother works two jobs. Despite the setbacks, he perseveres and perseveres. He is the type of person you want to root for in life. That’s why I (and I’m sure many others) have donated to him, even though I’ve never met him.”
Emily Gramajo, a student at West Adams Preparatory High School.
(Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
With so many offers of help, Jonathan’s school counselor, Jacqueline Villatoro, helped set it up GoFundMe pages for him and his classmate Emily Gramajo. Emily had also decided to go to community college because she couldn’t afford to accept the admission offer from her dream school, Cal State Northridge, but she committed to college this week after donors applied.
“Jonathan is someone who always wanted to do his best to benefit from the sacrifices his mother made for him,” Villatoro said. But his story is not alone. Many of our students at West Adams are in his situation. There are so many others who could use extra help.”
So far, donors have raised thousands of dollars for the two students. A non-profit organization founded by the late Bishop Jon Bruno, Hands in Healing, awarded Jonathan a $10,000 grant. In his interview this week with the scholarship committee, he described his passion for science and his desire to help people as a doctor after a close relative passed away from cancer several years ago. When committee chair Mary Bruno announced that they would award the scholarship – and would consider extending it if he continued his academic progress – a huge grin appeared on Jonathan’s face.
“I’m so thankful!” he said.
UC President Michael V. Drake, who was asked at a Senate Judiciary hearing Thursday about Jonathan and needy students like him, said UC ramped up financial aid and could usually find a way to close the affordability gaps.
Sometimes, he said, it was a matter of college officials not initially making the right contacts with students to let them know how they could afford to go to UC. He told committee members that UC San Diego officials contacted Jonathan and he was able to commit to the campus.
“Overwhelmingly, we can find an answer,” Drake said.
Jonathan said he was amazed that so many people he had never met were willing to help fund his college education. He made his decision late on Tuesday. He went to his UC San Diego applicant portal – and accepted the offer of admission.
“I felt like all these people supported me to chase my dream,” said Jonathan. “I didn’t want to let them down.”
