College Bound Celebrated Accomplishments at Warner Grand Theatre

SAN PEDRO — On May 29, San Pedro and Wilmington graduating high school seniors from the Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor College Bound Program celebrated their accomplishments with friends and families at the Warner Grand Theatre.

In the 2012-2013 school year, College Bound served 319 high school seniors at the San Pedro, Wilmington and Port of LA Boys & Girls Clubs. Of those seniors, 98 percent graduated and 97 percent of those graduates entered a two-year college or four-year university in the fall. The College Bound program focusses on individual counseling for students to assist them in getting the grades necessary for college and in completing the most effective college, financial aid and scholarship applications.

Elizabeth Machado is one of the graduating seniors who was honored at the celebration after accomplishing her Ivy League dreams.

Elizabeth is a San Pedro High School senior and will attend UCLA. She is a first generation American of Mexican descent. Her family has experienced much success thanks to College Bound. Her cousin and brother both completed the program and returned to San Pedro from their 4-year universities to celebrate with Elizabeth. Her younger brother is working hard with College Bound case managers to match his sister’s accomplishments in a couple of years.

Francisco Hinojosa is a graduate from the Wilmington Boys & Girls Club who has overcome social and financial struggles to accomplish his dreams. He will attend UC Santa Barbara in the fall as the first in his family to go to college. He was raised in a low-income household by parents who each work two jobs to support their family which required Francisco to take on a part-time job to help. Despite these hardships, Francisco was able to balance school, extra-curricular activities, community service and his job to get good grades. Thanks to the support of the College Bound program in helping him keep up his grades and complete his applications, Francisco earned the financial aid and scholarships to make his dreams a reality.

Details: www.bgclaharbor.org.