State of Education Luncheon Supports Scholarships

Fresno Unified will host its annual State of Education luncheon Sept. 26, the district's largest single event to raise money for the Fresno Unified Scholarship Fund.

Members of the community are invited to attend the event, which will highlight the district's progress and showcase student talent. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tornino's. For ticket information or to inquire about being a community sponsor, call (559) 457-3733. Ticket information is also available at http://2016stateofed.eventbrite.com

In addition to the State of Education fundraising effort, the scholarship fund is supported through the generous donations of Fresno Unified employees.

Last spring, the district awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 45 students, all of whom overcame significant obstacles on their journey to academic success. Many of the 2016 winners' stories will be shared at the luncheon, giving guests an opportunity to learn first-hand how important their support is to Fresno Unified students.

Many of these students struggled with poverty, having only one parent in the home, mastering English, and countless other obstacles -- but managed to excel academically and become leaders of their high schools.

Scholarship winners last year went on to attend a variety of colleges, including University of California at Davis, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California at Irvine, Fresno State University and Fresno Pacific University.

The district's scholarship fund, established in 2009, has made a difference in the lives of Fresno Unified students by not only helping to defray college costs, but by shining a spotlight on their success and singling them out as worthy of distinction.