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How Does Your Gift Make A Difference?

Success stories: Who are Santa Barbara City College students? What are they capable of achieving, given our help?

• James Stang, this year's commencement speaker, endured many trying experiences in his young life. As a youth in the inner-city of Minneapolis, James became involved in gangs. In an attempt to change his troubled life, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18. James was deployed to Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 th attacks. When he returned to the U.S., he sought to continue his education. He enrolled at Santa Barbara City College where he focused on his studies, studied abroad for a semester, and completed his A.A. degree in Liberal Studies. James received the Santa Barbara City College President's Scholarship, a $10,000 award, in recognition of his personal and academic achievements. This support will help James with his college expenses at UC Berkeley in the fall.
  
  
• Novia Yuanita, a native of Indonesia, came to Santa Barbara City College in the Spring of 2005. She and her sister dreamed of pursuing "an American education," and sought out distant relatives in Santa Barbara. Novia's parents ran a small business in Indonesia. She saw how hard they worked, and was inspired to become trained in accounting and business administration. Novia earned a 4.0 GPA this year and was awarded the Haigis Jermagian Memorial Scholarship in Accounting. She plans to transfer to a university and become an accountant or a financial analyst. In doing so, Novia will be the first in her family to graduate from college.
  
  
• Jennifer Petersen is a single parent with a 15-month old daughter. When she gave birth to her daughter in the spring of 2006, she was not in school. Although she had a high school diploma, she had no plans to continue her education. Having a child changed that; her daughter Isabella inspired her to take stock of her life and to become a role model and provider. She enrolled in Santa Barbara City College's SPARC (Single Parents Arriving Ready for College) program, where she met other single parents hoping to start college after being out of school for some time. Over the course of the 6-week summer program, in which child care is provided, Jennifer learned study skills, time management and how to sign up for classes and apply for financial aid. Less than one year later, she has earned a 3.9 grade point average and is interested in studying psychology and field biology.
  

James, Novia and Jennifer come from diverse backgrounds, but share similar goals which have brought them to Santa Barbara City College. They have found encouragement, support and an excellent faculty, all of which has put them onto a path they never expected.