California Charter Schools Association Announces 2024 Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarship Recipients

The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarship, honoring ten outstanding charter high school students statewide. Among the exceptional recipients is Carolina Ayala, a graduate of Making Waves Academy in Richmond.

Carolina’s passion for the performing arts led her to advocate for diversity in school productions, ultimately forming the school’s Performing & Visual Arts Club. She will be attending the University of Southern California in the fall to pursue her dreams in acting, theater, and cinema.

Other recipients include Janet Huang, who aims to break cultural stigmas around mental health in immigrant communities by studying psychology at UC Berkeley, and Audrey Wilson, who plans to integrate her love for the arts and business at Brigham Young University.

Flor Cruz, the first in her family to attend college, aspires to improve oral health in low-income families through dentistry at UC Santa Barbara. Dominic Kalpakgian, a volunteer for human trafficking victims, will explore criminal justice, business, and medicine at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Aisha Sufi, inspired by her mother’s resilience as a refugee, will pursue nursing at Southwestern College to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. Rosemarie Umipig, with a passion for forensic accounting, will attend UC Santa Barbara to fight crime through financial analysis.

In Los Angeles, Ellis Cho plans to become a child psychologist at Pepperdine University to support low-income children with autism. Hayoung Park, reconnecting with her Korean roots, will explore communication at UCLA. Michael Suarez-Russell, passionate about computer science, will attend Pierce College to continue his journey in programming.

Each recipient received a $2,000 scholarship to support their first year of college. The Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarship program honors the legacy of a charter school pioneer, recognizing students who have overcome adversity and are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities.