In this photo: Gina Cha, Mai See Yang, and Raquel Longroia. These three students are semi-finalists for the Dell Scholarship.

Granite Hills students are semi-finalists for Dell Scholarship
Ebony Bailey | 2/26/08 | News

Three Granite Hills High School students might have the chance to have their financial struggles for college relieved. Gina Cha, Mai See Yang, and Raquel Longoria are qualified as semi finalists for the Dell Scholars Program.

“You know what an honor it is to be a semi-finalist?” Advancement Via Individual Determination adviser Christine Amann asked.

Last year no students from Granite were semi-finalists for this scholarship. In fact, this is the first year that Granite Hills has had students be semi-finalists for this award since Chua Cha, of the Class of 2005.

“It’s very prestigious to be a semi-finalist for the Dell Scholarship,” Amann said.

The Dell Scholarship is a program that helps students with a financial need for college.  The award is given annually to 250 students. 

"I was so happy [when I found out]," Cha said.

Cha said that when she was trying to access her account to see if she was a semifinalist, the Web site kept on saying that her password was incorrect. She thought that maybe this opportunity wasn't "meant to be" since it kept on getting the wrong password. When she finally got to access her account, she was very happy to see that she was a semi-finalist.
"I was excited when I said it," she said.

Cha was happy, but said that she wouldn't get too overconfident because it is only semi-finalists. She, along with the other two semi-finalists, hopes to become a finalist. "I'm so nervous," Cha said.

Finalists will be announced during the month of May. Along with winning money for college, students who receive the scholarship also receive a Dell laptop computer and a Dell digital camera.

The scholarship basically pays for a full ride of college, according to Cha.

One of the reasons that these students were chosen to be semi-finalists was because these students are in AVID The scholarship requires a student must be in a MSDF college readiness program for the scholarship, AVID being one of those organizations.

The students who have already applied for this scholarship suggest to future students to keep track of how many hours they do community service. They say it will be very helpful.

Students who are eligible to apply for the Dell Scholarship, must meet the following criteria: graduating from an accredited high school, maintaining at least a 2.4 Grade Point Average, have demonstrated a need for financial assistance, participating in a MSDF college readiness program for at least two days, planning to enter a bachelor's degree program at an accredited higher education institution, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

En esta foto: Gina Cha, Mai See Yang, y Raquel Longoria. Estas tres estudiantes son semi-finalistas para la Dell Scholarship.

Estudiantes de Granite Hills son semi-finalistas para la Dell Scholarship
Traducido por Caryn Hernandez | 02/26/08 | Noticias

Tres estudiantes de Granite Hills High School pueden tener la oportunidad de tener su carrera colegial completamente pagada.  Gina Cha, Mai See Yang, y Raquel Longoria son calificadas como semi-finalistas para el Dell Scholars Program.

"Sabes el honor que es ser semi-finalista?" la consejera de Advancement Via Individual Determination, Christine Amann, pregunto.

El año pasado ningún estudiante de Granite fueron semi-finalistas para esta beca.  Por cierto, este es el primer año que Granite Hills ha tenido estudiantes ser semi-finalistas para este premio desde Chua Cha, de la clase del 2005.

"Es muy prestigioso ser semi-finalista para el la Dell Scholarship," dijo Amann.

La Dell Scholarship es un programa que ayuda a estudiantes con necesidad financiera para el colegio.  El premio es dado anualmente a 250 estudiantes.

“Estuve tan contenta [cuando me di cuenta],” dijo Cha.

Cha dijo que cuando trato de conseguir acceso su cuenta para ver si era una simi-finalista, el sitio de red decía que su clave era incorrecta.  Pensó que quizás la oportunidad no fue “significado ser” porque continuaba entrando la clave incorrecta.  Cuando finalmente obtuvo acceso a su cuenta, estuvo muy contenta de ver que era una semifinalista.

“Estuve entusiasmado cuando lo dije,” dijo ella.

Cha estaba contenta, pero dijo que no se pondría sobre confidente porque era solo semifinalista.  Ella, en conjunto con las otras dos semifinalistas, espera ser finalista.  “Estoy tan nerviosa,” dijo Cha.

Finalistas serán anunciados durante el mes de mayo.  En conjunto con ganando dinero para el colegio, estudiantes quienes reciben la beca también reciben una computadora portátil de Dell y una cámara digital de Dell.

Una de las razones por las cuales estos estudiantes fueron escogidos como semi-finalistas fue porque estos estudiantes están en AVID. La beca requiere que el estudiante este en un programa de MSDF para preparación para el colegio, AVID siendo una de esas organizaciones.

Los estudiantes quienes ya han aplicado para esta beca sugieren a estudiantes futuros tomar nota de las horas de servicio comunitario que completan.  Dicen que será una gran ayuda.

Los estudiantes quienes son elegibles para aplicar para la Dell Scholarship, deben tener el siguiente criterio: graduar de una preparatoria acreditada, mantener un Grade Point Average de por lo menos 2.4,  demostrar una necesidad por asistencia financiera, participar en un programa de MSDF par preparación para el colegio por un mínimo de dos días, planear en entrar en un programa de licenciatura en una institución de educación mas elevada acreditada, y ser ciudadano de los Estados Unidos o ser residente permanente.