Save Our Youth provided me with such a nice scholarship that I was able to live in the dorms like a regular college student rather than live at home.
Because of SOY’s scholarship I am able to go to the college of my dreams, which I otherwise didn’t think was possible.
In addition to the SOY scholarships, each college-bound graduating senior is invited to apply for the following:
Every year since 1997, SOY has provided thousands of dollars of scholarship money to each college bound senior. This scholarship program exists with the generous donations from donors like you. The first 10 years of the program was fully funded by one major philanthropist, David Gelbam; since 2008, private donors and private foundations have funded the scholarships.
100% of all donations given to the scholarship fund goes directly to scholarships for the students with none being spent on administrative costs.
In 2015, the SOY Board of Trustees set up a special scholarship in honor of retiring Board member Jean Forbath. Jean truly changed the community for the better. She founded Share Our Selves and was its Volunteer Executive Director for 22 years, helping thousands of people throughout Orange County. She was also a founder of SOY, a founding Board member, and its volunteer treasurer for 22 years.
With the support of generous donors, this $5,000 scholarship is awarded each year to two SOY graduating seniors who exemplify Jean’s strong focus on community service and compassion for others. The students chosen by the scholarship committee are those who will follow in Jean’s footsteps by changing the lives of others. Applicants must write an essay highlighting what they would do to try to change the world for the better.
“It has been a labor of love to be associated with SOY these past 22 years and a tremendous honor to have this scholarship named after me—a legacy I will humbly treasure.”
2016— Rebecca H., Valedictorian of Early College High School, UCI
Cynthia H., Estancia High School; Cal Poly Pomona.
2017— Anthony A., Newport Harbor High School; UCSB
Diana G., Newport Harbor High School; Cal State University, Fullerton
2018— Alexandra L., Early College High School; Chapman University
Adrian L., Estancia High School; Bryant University, New York
2019— Angela C., Estancia, High School; Vanguard University
Mariana L., Estancia, High School; Cal State University, Fullerton
2020— With the help of generous donors, the scholarship committee decided to award
four students during the pandemic due to the increase in both the number of
applicants and the increased need.
Vanessa G., Estancia, High School; UC Merced
Aldrish J.. Newport Harbor High School; UC Santa Cruz
Jocelyn R., Early College High School; UC Riverside
Gabriel V., Early College High School; UC Davis
2021— Mayra M., Estancia High School; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Bridget P., Early College High School; CSU Chico
2022— Natalie A., Estancia High School; CSU San Bernardino
Yamil R., Newport Harbor High School; CSU Long Beach
2023— Melany C., Newport Harbor High School; UC Santa Cruz
Yennifer L., Estancia High School; UC Santa Cruz
2024— The Scholarship Committee decided to award 3 students with this award because of the competitive applicants and their financial need, and thanks to the support of our donors.
Leslie J., Early College High School; UCLA
Heidi N., Estancia High School; CSU San Bernadino
Dalena T., Early College High School; UC Irvine
To apply, students must submit an essay
answering the question:
Dave and Pat Lamb are longtime SOY supporters who wanted to increase their impact on the lives of our students. In 2019 they created the Lamb Family Foundation Scholarship for one deserving SOY student who will attend a four-year university. This $40,000 scholarship is given to a student who exemplifies the characteristics of a caring individual who will contribute to the betterment of society. The recipient will receive $10,000 per year for four years.
2019 —Jessica L., Estancia High School; UC Irvine
2019—Mike J., Early College High School; Cal State Univ. Long Beach
2020—Zaira A., Estancia High School; UC Berkeley
2021—Rogelio C., Newport Harbor High School; UC Irvine
2022—Kristina H., Estancia High School; Cal Poly Pomona
2023—Aleyda C., Estancia High School; UC San Diego
2024-Lesley G., Early College High School; UCLA
Four of the Lamb scholars with the Lambs and the Cappellinis. June 2022
Kristina is the Lamb Scholarship Winner! Congratulations!
Three Lamb and Myers scholarship recipients coming to pick up their third and fourth year award checks. All three of these students, Rogelio, Ashley and Jessica attended UCI.
SOY has been administering the prestigious Isidore and Penny Myers Memorial Scholarship since 2007. The $50,000 scholarship (originally $40,000) is intended to change the life of a Newport-Mesa Unified School District student who is either an immigrant or the child of an immigrant and will be attending a 4-year college or university. The award is granted to a male in even number years and a female in odd number years. Although the scholarship is not exclusive to SOY students, many SOY students have been selected. SOY distributes the funds in $12,500 annual increments directly to the recipient while he or she is in college and maintaining a high GPA.
Selection for this scholarship is based upon scholastic accomplishment, a history of service and positively participating in school and community life, a love of learning, an ability to go forward regardless of obstacles and a vision of what the student wants to achieve in the future. SOY Board members serve on the scholarship committee along with members of the Myers Family Foundation.
Isidore and Penny Myers, now deceased, established their Scholarship Fund in 2006 to enable young people to acquire a college education.
“Dreams can become a reality for those who are willing to give their all. In America you can be anything you want to be, but a good education is imperative.”
All recipients listed below who have finished college are attending graduate school or working as lawyers, teachers, social workers, computer designers in the film industry, engineers, nurses, and more.
2007—Marisa M., Newport Harbor HS; UC Berkeley
2008—Oscar L., Estancia High School; UC Irvine (SOY)
2009—Blanca M., Estancia HS; Cal State Univ. Fullerton (SOY)
2010—Hector P., Estancia High School; UCLA (SOY)
2011—Jasmin C., Newport Harbor HS; UC Irvine
2012—Jorge H., Newport Harbor HS; UC Riverside
2013—Guadalupe P., Estancia High School; UC Santa Barbara (SOY)
2014—Ricardo H., Estancia High School; UC Berkeley (SOY)
2015—Arelly O., Estancia High School; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SOY)
2016—Andy C., Estancia High School; Cal State Univ., Long Beach
2017—Xally V., Costa Mesa High School; Cal State Univ., Chico
2018—Kevin C., Newport Harbor HS; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SOY)
2019—Jennifer N., Estancia High School; UC Berkeley (SOY)
2020—Alex M., Newport Harbor HS; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2021—Ashley M., Newport Harbor HS; UC Irvine
2022—Armando Z., Newport Harbor HS; UC Riverside (SOY)
2023—Wendy O., Estancia High School; UC Merced (SOY)
2024-Leonardo L., Early College High School; UC Santa Cruz (SOY)
Jay Myers with 2023 Myers scholar Wendy O. and her family.
They get together each year with the scholarship committee to catch up and welcome the new scholarship recipient to the group of Myers scholars. Scholarship committee & recipients 2022.
Congratulations! Armando Z.
Myers scholars 2023
For more information, email: mary@save-our-youth.org
Education is precious because once you have it, you cannot lose it. Education is the seed your children will sow. Wisdom is the crop your children's education will reap. Wealth is not what we've earned. Wealth is what we have saved. What we have saved makes it possible to fulfill this and other dreams.
If you would like to provide a scholarship like the Myers or the Lambs, please reach out to Mary Cappellini to discuss: mary@save-our-youth.org
