Newsletter 5.27.26 | Look What Your Money is Doing!
Dear friends and supporters,
Alyssa Kimbro-Sambrano
We’re delighted to introduce you to our newest scholarship winner with a fun story.
One day this spring, Alyssa Kimbro-Sambrano was hanging out with a friend when her phone rang. Alyssa didn’t want to answer because she didn’t recognize the number. Her friend persuaded her to answer anyway. “Who knows?” the friend said. “It could be good news.”
Alyssa tapped the screen: “Hello?”
“Congratulations! This is Nancy with the Dr. Horace Jackson Legacy Scholarship. You are the 2026 winner!”
That surprise call led to Alyssa being honored at the recent John W. North High Senior Awards Night. Thanks to you – the donors who believe in the power of education – Alyssa will receive $6,000 over two years to attend Riverside City College. She also becomes eligible to apply for aid in the future as she pursues her goal of becoming a radiologist.
In Alyssa’s application, she described extraordinary challenges she has faced on her way to 18. That experience made her resilient, and it also sparked her passion for social justice. She believes everyone has a responsibility to serve their community. One way Alyssa plans to give back is by mentoring other students like her: First in their family to go to college.
Education is Alyssa’s guiding light. “Stability isn’t handed to you,” she explained. “You have to create it, and education is the most reliable way to do that.”
Because donors like you have invested in North High students, and because so many applications were outstanding this year, the Dr. Horace Jackson Legacy Scholarship made two more awards for 2026. Saray Romero will receive $1,000 as she studies early childhood education. Abrar Imad will receive $500 to begin coursework that leads to nursing school. Both are enrolled at Riverside City College.
Saray Romero
Abrar Imad
Nancy Biddle Sutterley, North High Class of ‘75 and a scholarship founder, presented the awards with Kevin Cuaron. Kevin, who earned the Horace Jackson scholarship two years ago, graduates from RCC In June. He said he plans to work and continue saving for "aviation training and my future educational goals”
In her speech, Nancy told the audience that Horace Jackson’s influence, and the way he showed up for students every day, inspired the formation of this scholarship.
She encouraged the students with these words: “As you leave North, your importance does not diminish. It only expands … Continue to believe that each of your stories will affect the people you encounter in ways you may never know.” You can watch Nancy’s presentation here:
Since 2022, the Dr. Horace Jackson Legacy Scholarship has recognized 14 John W. North High seniors with awards for their continued education. Two students also received our first scholarships to help them after graduating from RCC as they pursue their degrees. Several winners have now graduated from Riverside City College with plans to go on. Each and every donor has helped make this possible. Thank you!
Every applicant for the 2026 Scholarship is worthy of our respect and support, and we wish we could give full awards to them all. Through our fundraising, one full scholarship is endowed and we’re working on a second. We need $250,000 to do that and we’re getting closer to that goal!
The future is defined by what we invest in today. Will you donate to support our future community leaders, teachers and healthcare workers? Every dollar gets us closer to our goal.
Thank you for your generosity and continued support!