62 KIPP Public School Students Selected As 2023 Rales Scholars
Each student will be awarded $60,000 to assist with the expenses of college, in addition to mentorship, a summer internship, and leadership development and networking opportunities.
For Immediate Release May 8, 2023
New York, NY – May 8, 2023 – Today KIPP Public Schools and the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation announced that 62 students have been selected for the 2023 KIPP Ruth and Norman Rales Scholars Program cohort. These scholars were selected from hundreds of applications across the country for their academic achievements and perseverance, as well as their leadership potential and commitment to service. This video shows the moment the students received the news of their scholarship award.
KIPP Rales Scholars will receive up to $60,000 in direct financial support over four years to defray the costs of college, as well as special programming to help them persist in college, develop their leadership skills, and explore professional pathways.
The KIPP Rales Scholars Program honors the legacy of Ruth and Norman Rales, who believed deeply in the limitless potential of all young people, and who exemplified the spirit of giving back during their lifetimes.
“We are inspired by our second cohort of Rales Scholars,” said Josh Rales, President and Trustee of the Rales Foundation. “Each student has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and has worked hard to achieve their educational goals. These students are an inspiration to their peers and have set an example for future generations. We are confident that these scholars will use their talents to make a positive impact on the world.”
The 2023 KIPP Rales Scholars are:
- Aaron Cordoba, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Abraham Gonzalez-Ponce, KIPP Texas Public School – Austin
- Adedamola Adejumobi, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Adjoa Bediako, KIPP North Carolina Public Schools
- Alejandro Pliego, KIPP SoCal Public Schools
- Ana Sanchez, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Austin
- Angela Nguyen, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Aniyah Johnson, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools
- Annika Therese Braceros, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Ashley Brownlee, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools
- Ashley Vazquez, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Ayoub Sougrati, KIPP Massachusetts Public Charter Schools
- Beatriz Tinoco Torales, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Austin
- Brisa Rodriguez-Alvarado, KIPP Texas Public Schools- Austin
- Carolina Banda, KIPP Texas Public Schools- San Antonio
- Chidinma Esielem, KIPP New Jersey
- Cory Pham, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Daniel Medina, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- David Boham, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Dymond Wilcox, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools
- Eman Ishola, KIPP New Jersey
- Eric Morales, KIPP Massachusetts Public Charter Schools
- Fernanda Herrera, KIPP SoCal Public Schools
- Gavraela Prado-Bonner, KIPP Nashville
- Gurnoor Bola, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Jesse Rojas, KIPP Texas Public Schools-Houston
- Jezmin Chavarria, KIPP Texas Public Schools – San Antonio
- Jose Martinez, KIPP Massachusetts Public Charter Schools
- Joshua Paulino Ozuna, KIPP Massachusetts Public Charter Schools
- Julianna Torres, KIPP Massachusetts Public Charter Schools
- Junee Mae Omana, KIPP Colorado
- Kaitlyn Tan, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Karen Herrera, KIPP Texas Public Schools- Austin
- Kaylee Maldonado – Ramirez, KIPP Texas Public Schools- Austin
- Kellissa Gray, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Kennila Colbert, KIPP DC Public Schools
- Kevin Reed, KIPP DC Public Schools
- Khoa Le, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Kwesi Nkromo, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools
- Layla Amador, KIPP Texas Public Schools – San Antonio
- Lizeth Moctezuma, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Austin
- Mahado Jama, KIPP Columbus
- Marquis Tabron, KIPP New Jersey
- Maximus Montano, KIPP Colorado
- Melanie Mosqueda, KIPP SoCal Public Schools
- Miguel Valle, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Montrell Mabry Jr., KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools
- Nathan Ngo, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Olivia Zepeda, KIPP SoCal Public Schools
- Omarion Phillips, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Dallas
- Rachel Reid, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Ramon Suzuki Lopez, KIPP SoCal Public Schools
- Renoia Watson, KIPP New Orleans Schools
- Samara Fraser-Wellington, KIPP NYC Public Schools
- Sameer Mittal, KIPP Delta Public Schools
- Soraya Mejia Rosales, KIPP Nashville
- Steven Fernandez, KIPP NYC Public Schools
- Toritseju Ofoeyeno, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Vivian Truong, KIPP Northern California Public Schools
- Yesenia Miller, KIPP Texas Public Schools – Houston
- Yumna Ali, KIPP Colorado
- Zaya Gates, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools
In addition to direct financial support, Rales Scholars also receive the following services:
- Internship Placement: Working with the Rales Scholars program team, Scholars will identify opportunities and be placed annually in meaningful internships. The program coordinators will engage members of the KIPP local boards and alumni to support students in their internship pursuits.
- Alumni Mentorship and Connection: Scholars will engage in the broader KIPP alumni network (over 55,000 and growing) and be mentored by and connected to older alumni.
- Leadership Weekend: Scholars will attend an annual leadership summit in the summer, which will foster connections across the Rales Scholars Community and support Scholars in becoming agents of change.
- Financial Literacy: Scholars will receive training in personal finance planning and budgeting.
- Resource Library: Scholars will have access to resume and cover letter templates as well as mock interview resources.
“Rales Scholars receive not only critical financial resources, but also important developmental supports to launch scholars into a post-graduation life of transformational impact. I am deeply thankful for the Rales Foundation’s life-changing investment in our brilliant young people,” said Shavar Jeffries, KIPP Foundation’s CEO.
About the Norman R. And Ruth Rales Foundation
The Norman R. Rales and Ruth Rales Foundation is dedicated to supporting children and families facing hardship by creating opportunities for them to realize life’s potential. Norman and Ruth Rales began their lives under humble circumstances. Norman was raised in the Hebrew Orphan Asylum in Harlem during the Great Depression. The lessons he learned there nurtured a lifelong desire to assist others in need, while brightening the days of the many he touched. Ruth was raised in Pittsburgh by parents who had fled persecution in Eastern Europe. From an early age she was taught the value of hard work, generosity and creativity. Ruth and Norman married in 1948 and together they built a brilliant life filled with family, friends, community, work and giving to others. Unable to attend college themselves, Ruth and Norman believed deeply in the importance of an excellent education for all children, regardless of circumstance. Throughout their lives, they dedicated themselves to helping others in need. Their spirit of giving and values live on through the work of the Rales Foundation.
About KIPP
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of 280 public charter schools dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll over 120,000 students in all grades from PreK through high school. Nationwide, KIPP students complete their bachelor’s degree at three to four times higher rates than the average for students from families facing economic hardship.
Press Contact: Choyce Miller
E-mail: Cmiller@kipp.org