LA Success Stories

Six extraordinary Southern California area high school and college students have beaten the odds, soared to the top and have become role models of success. These individuals excel in school and make a difference in their communities. After undergoing a rigorous application process, they were honored at RFB&D-LA's Annual Recognition Event on June 8, 2008.

Applications for the 2009 awards will be available in January. Contact your local Member Services Coordinator to learn more about the awards and to request an application:

• Los Angeles County - Michael Granger, 323-664-5525 x2 or mgranger@rfbd.org
• Inland Empire & Orange County - Alice Way, 909-949-4316 x 107 or away@rfbd.org
  

We would like you to meet the winners of the 2008 Winslow Coyne Reitnouer Scholastic Achievement Awards.

In alphabetical order, our two exceptional first place winners were each awarded $2,000:

Mayra Ramos
"RFB&D is here to provide you with materials so you can be at your best. With the right tools, you can climb to unimagined heights."

Henry Vaszuez
"The Los Angeles Unit of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic's audio books have given me a second chance at life."

Our four outstanding second-place winners were each awarded $500:

Brittnee Bailey
"RFB&D has influenced my academic performance because it helps me to hear what I read so I can absorb and understand."

Lesley Fisher
["RFB&D audio textbooks] have given me confidence and the feeling of independence."

Chryseis Herrera
"If I stared at the same sentence and tried to make sense of it, the words in the sentence detached and lifted themselves and moved across the page…"

Lauren Jacobs
"I went on the computer and Googled dyslexia, I was hoping to find an answer. What I found was RFB&D, and they have become my answer."

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Our two exceptional first-place winners were each awarded $2,000:

Mayra Ramos is the daughter of hard-working immigrant parents from Guatemala. Mayra was born blind and developed scoliosis and osteoporosis. But where her physical limitations may first appear to be a hindrance, Mayra's intellect and imagination have no bounds. The bubbly and chatty Mayra is on the Dean's honor list at Glendale Community College where she maintains an average GPA of 3.63. She is an avid reader and writer who loves anime, and has had her stories published on fanfiction.net.

Her college counselor admires Mayra for her unique skills and giving spirit, saying "She has excellent insights and plans to use her gift to improve the lives of others." Mayra plans to attend Cal State Northridge to become a psychologist.

Henry Vasquez's life is one of true inspiration. At the young age of 21, Henry was involved in a tragic accident that took away his sight. And then one day back in 2006, his rehabilitation counselor introduced him to RFB&D.

Now, Henry is enrolled at East Los Angeles College pursuing a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling. He excels with an average GPA of 3.6 and was recently placed on the Dean's Honor List.

Today, at the age of 34, Henry is the proud father of a young son who is also excelling in school. One of Henry's professor's states, "He has inspired all of us with the positive outlook on life that he maintains. His resiliency is beyond measure."

Our four outstanding second-place winners were each awarded $500:

Brittnee Bailey is in her second year at Moorpark College where she keeps a 3.4 GPA. In spite of her learning disability, Brittnee has excelled in her academics. She was introduced to RFB&D by her counselors in the Access Department at Moorpark. Brittnee's counselor says she has "persevered despite her learning disability which continues to make her an excellent role model for other students."

We found Brittnee to be a young woman with self-awareness, patience and the wisdom to take the slow and steady route toward her goals. Today, while also performing numerous hours of community service, Brittnee plans to complete her Associate's Degree at Moorpark College and then transfer to CSUN, where she will continue to utilize RFB&D's audio textbooks. She says, "RFB&D has influenced my academic performance because it helps me to hear what I read so I can absorb and understand."

Lesley Fisher was diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age. She was first introduced to RFB&D in the 8th grade while a student at Frostig Center School. We learned that Lesley is transferring the skills she learned at Frostig, and is steadily watching her grades rise. She is now in her first year at the University of La Verne and maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.56!

Through hard work and persistence, Lesley has ascended from special education classes to "mainstream" classes, outperforming most of her classmates. Lesley's professor sees her as a "true role model of what one can achieve despite extra challenges" while exhibiting "qualities of a dedicated, responsible, and intelligent student." Her career goal is to help others by becoming a Psychologist.

For Chryseis Herrera, who has dyslexia and epilepsy, school work has been a life-long challenge. She told us that she used to spend 8 hours a night doing homework, while her brother read aloud to her. Fortunately, Chryseis' counselor at Sacred Heart introduced her to RFB&D last year. Now she said her brother came home from college saying, "What do you mean you don't need me for your homework any more?!" Chryseis is now a Senior at Sacred Heart High School in Los Angeles and maintains a 3.4 GPA!

The Math Department Chair tells us, "Her determination to succeed in her academic achievement has allowed her to acquire a place on the honor roll every semester." This coming fall Chryseis will attend Mount Saint Mary's College where she will pursue a career as a Special Education Teacher as well as explore her love of Acting and Theater.

Lauren Jacobs is a Junior at Louisville High School in Woodland Hills and maintains a 3.3 GPA. She was diagnosed in the 3rd Grade with dyslexia while enrolled in a school with no structured help in place for children with learning disabilities.

But we found Lauren to be an excellent problem-solver. During grade school, she went on the internet and googled "Dyslexia" hoping to find a solution. In her own words, "What I found was RFB&D, and they have become my answer."

Today, Lauren has, in the words of her guidance counselor, "…emerged with a keen sensitivity to others who struggle." Lauren plans to seek a profession in speech pathology, inspired, in part, she tells us, by the wonderful volunteers at RFB&D!

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