The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is pleased to announce that two former SCOE students have received the 2011-12 Sacramento County Juvenile Justice Scholarship for post-secondary studies. Alisia and Alina Placencia, graduates of Elinor Lincoln Hickey Jr./Sr. High School, each received a $1,000 scholarship at the February 28 Sacramento County Board of Supervisor's meeting.
The scholarship was created by the Juvenile Justice Commission to help at-risk youth who have been in the juvenile justice system at some point in their lives. This scholarship recognizes at-risk students and provides financial support to help them attain their higher education goals.
Members of the commission generously donate their stipends to fund the scholarship program each year. The program is designed to recognize students who have overcome tremendous adversity and assist them in their post-secondary educational plans.
Alisia and Alina were former foster youth students who were involved in gangs prior to attending E. L. Hickey. Both were exemplary students who utilized the support offered to them through SCOE's LINKS career technical education model in which services are tailored to individual students based on their specific needs instead of through traditional, scripted education.
Through the efforts of the school staff and the students' commitment to their goals, the girls graduated on time and set impressive goals for their futures. Alina is now attending American River College full-time. Alina attends Sacramento City College and is preparing to enter Army Boot Camp in March. The students and their family commended Sacramento County Board of Education Trustee Dr. Eleanor Brown, who informed SCOE administration this scholarship was available for students.