Ricky Herrera is a senior at Estancia High School. He has been a member of SOY for over five years! Currently he is involved in our academic program, is taking piano lessons and is also a volunteer peer tutor. He will be the first in his family to graduate high school and attend college where he plans to study Biology, specifically Genetics & Development. So far he has been accepted to NYU, with a full tuition scholarship, UCI, UCSD, UCSB, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and University of San Francisco among others.
In the words of Ricky, “SOY has paved the road for my education. Whether it is university visits, workshops, music classes, or community service, SOY provides the drive to keep me going. I am fortunate to be involved with this community.”
Yaritza Sandoval has been involved with SOY since 7th grade. She has been an active member of both our Academic program and our SOY Girls club. As a junior in high school, her focus now is getting good grades and completing over 200 community service hours. Yaritza is a natural born leader and will be starting the first SOY club at Estancia High School! She plans on being the first in her family to obtain a college degree. Her dream is to study Political Science and one day become the Mayor of Costa Mesa.
Yaritza says: “I have been attending SOY for 5 years. It is my second home and I love it! I have found a great family that believes in me and encourages me to be the best I can.”
