BRIDGE Awards $132,588 in Scholarships to 25 Residents of Affordable Housing

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, December 21, 2017—BRIDGE Housing, a leading nonprofit developer and manager of affordable homes, today announced the winners of 25 scholarships under the Alan and Ruth Stein Educational Assistance Program.

The recipients, all residents of BRIDGE properties, received awards of up to $6,000 to help pay for tuition and other critical expenses not covered by traditional scholarships, such as child care, transportation, books and supplies.   
“We have found that our residents, far from feeling trapped in their circumstances, are tremendously motivated and see education as a key to a better quality of life,” said BRIDGE President and CEO Cynthia Parker. 
 
Applicants ranged from college-bound high-school seniors to adults who are returning to school or making career transitions. The scholarships support attendance at vocational schools, community and four-year colleges, and participation in certification and job skills programs. 
 
“Through education, I will change my family's current situation and my own future,” said awardee Briana Guerrero-Vega, who is pursuing a degree in Social Work. "I want to show others who come from where I come from to persevere and never give up on their dreams."
 
Below is the full list of 2017 Stein Educational Assistance Program awardees, with their area of study and city of residence:

Dosbal Aibyek, Political Economy and Statistics, Colma, CA
Zita Arinze, Nursing, Gardena, CA
Shirin Asgari, Optometry, San Diego, CA
William Atkinson, Computer Information Systems, Oakland, CA
TreSean Bishop, Physical Therapy, East Palo Alto, CA
Melissa Diaz-Uribe, Human Services, Colma, CA
Alexandra Ferrey, Kinesiology, San Francisco, CA
Sabrina Fields, Psychology, West Sacramento, CA
Rizza Gordon, Business Management, San Francisco, CA
Briana Guerrero-Vega, Social Work, San Francisco, CA
Ryan Hansen, Film/TV and Business, Oakland, CA
Kaylah Hernandez, Nursing, Chino, CA
Jiawei Huang, Math and Economics, San Diego, CA
Arya Kashani, Computer Science, Irvine, CA
Angela Li, Cognitive Science, San Francisco, CA
Tevin Mwaura, Civil Engineering, Irvine, CA
Farhat Noori, Special Ed Teaching, San Diego, CA
Maua Nyamekye, Jazz Studies, Oakland, CA
David Parsons, Computer Science, San Francisco, CA
Jessica Reyes, Microbiology, St. Helena, CA
Kevin Safaie, Psychology, Irvine, CA
Maxim Smirnov, Cinema and Media Studies, San Diego, CA
Allison Wine, Nursing, Colma, CA
Melanie Wine, Nursing, Colma, CA
Ehsan Yousefi, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Irvine, CA

The Stein program was founded in 2001 by Alan and Ruth Stein of San Francisco. Mr. Stein is Chairman Emeritus of BRIDGE Housing’s Board of Directors. Applicants, all residents of BRIDGE properties, provided letters of recommendation, financial plans and essays describing their career goals and personal life stories.  
 
“The value of education is immeasurable when you see how it can change people’s lives for the better,” said Mr. Stein. “My wife Ruth and I are honored to be a part of this impactful program, and we commend the recipients who are working so hard to achieve their goals.”
 
Since the Steins’ initial contribution of $100,000, the scholarship fund has grown to over $2 million through the generous support of donors.   
 
For more information about BRIDGE Housing, visit bridgehousing.com.

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BRIDGE Housing