Latisha Chatman

Award: CAASSIE - Lurie Center Memorial Scholarship
Major: Nursing
GPA: 3.0

Through nursing I have learned how to cope with death and learned how to appropriately grieve. I have been working in Hospice now for two years.

I am passionate about nursing and because of nursing I was able to help my family through the grieving process when my pregnant cousin was killed at the hands of her boyfriend. She was in a domestic violence relationship for several years. This gave me the strength to leave my own domestic violence relationship that I was in for 4 years.

After the birth of my daughter and shortly after the death of my cousin I found the courage to leave. I knew there was a better life for me. With the help of family and close friends I was able to move forward and start focusing on my future. I decided after spending 8 years caring for my daughter and working that I needed to go back to school and pursue the dream that I live for "nursing".

I currently am a proud foster mom who cares for two foster children. This daily task is similar to nursing. I believe that through the love, patience and support that is provided it gives them a sense of comfort.

This scholarship means I can focus more on education and less on working providing more time to study and better success in classes. I hope to someday inspire women in domestic violence relationships and help children in the foster system through all their challenges.

At age 31, the first step for me is completing my BSN in nursing and teaching my children that it is never too late to follow your dreams.

McKenzie Dawkins

Award: CAASSIE - Close the Gap Scholarship
Major: Biology
GPA: 3.92

My goal is to complete my studies in biology at Southwestern College and transfer to UCSD, a four-year college to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in biology and apply to medical school. I want to become a plastic surgeon.

A potentially big set back in me achieving my dreams is finances. I will soon be living in a house of 8 once my mother gives birth in February.

In my short time at Southwestern, I have become the president of Umoja and have been awarded the Pell Grant, Cal Grant, Promise Grant, and the Student Success Completion Grant. The only way to reach my very carefully planned out goals is to succeed at the foundation, which is Southwestern College.

Kehinde Adebisi

Award: CAASSIE - SWC Black Alliance Student Excellence Scholarship
Major: Family Studies
GPA: 3.37

My major at Southwestern College is Child Development now known as Family Studies. My educational objectives are to learn more about the development of children, to graduate with at least 3.7 gpa, and to transfer to a four-year college with a major in child psychology. I plan on transferring to San Diego States University.

I am an immigrant from the shores of Africa and I need this scholarship to be able to support myself with my educational needs and also to support my family. I am committed to my Umoja club in school and to my family and the church I attend. I am in the children and welfare department.

Back in Africa, I got an award as the Best teacher of the Year” in 2012 in the school I worked at. Since 2014, I have been trying to get into college but situations at home, for example; not finding a school for my kids and even when I found one, the price was so high for me but this year, I decided to get into college no matter what, to be able to accomplish something now and in the future.