Ruth and Norman Rales Scholars Program

About the Scholars Program

The Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation and KIPP Foundation have partnered to create the Rales Scholars Program. Every year up to 50 students will be selected for this new Rales Scholars Program. It will provide financial support to defray the costs of college, 1:1 mentorship, annual summer internship placement support, financial literacy education and budget planning, an annual leadership weekend and more. The first cohort of scholars joined the program in May 2022.

The Rales Scholars Program is one of several KIPP scholarship programs established in alignment with KIPP Foundation’s goal to see 1,000 alumni in positions of true power and influence by 2040.

The 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.

Meet the 2023 Class of Rales Scholars

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

Hire a Rales Scholar

If you would like more information on how to partner with us or hire an amazing Rales Scholars, please contact our Manager, Rales Scholars Internship Program, Marcela Rojas at mrojas@kipp.org or complete the interest form.

I'm Interested

Mentor a Rales Scholar

Hey KIPP alumni! Interested in mentoring a fellow alum in the Rales Scholars Program? Mentors support scholars in their personal, academic, and professional throughout the year. Apply to be a mentor through the form below.

Apply Now

About Norman and Ruth

The Rales Foundation is dedicated to supporting children and families facing hardship by creating opportunities for them to realize life’s potential, in the spirit of Norman and Ruth Rales. 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 the pogroms of 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.