March 29, 2024

Community News

MAYOR LONDON BREED CELEBRATES 2023 BRIDGE TO EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
June 5, 2023

Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco~Dallas~~~

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Monday, June 5, 2023 
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, 
mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org 
 
  

*** PRESS RELEASE *** 
MAYOR LONDON BREED CELEBRATES 2023 BRIDGE

TO EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS  

Now in its fifth year, the Bridge to Excellence Scholarship Program provides scholarship awards to 15 graduating high school seniors from low-income backgrounds  

  

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today joined City leaders to celebrate this year’s Bridge to Excellence Scholarship Program recipients. The Mayor’s scholarship provides financial resources to graduating high school seniors to help them overcome the expenses they face when attending college.  

 

Since launching the Bridge to Excellence Scholarship in 2019, Mayor Breed has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarship funding to 76 students.  This year saw a record number of 168 applications, and 15 students from across eight high schools were selected to receive $5,000 each over two years in scholarship awards.    

 

This fall, all recipients will attend four-year colleges, including University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, San Francisco State University, and University of Southern California, among several others.   

 

"I congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients and commend them for their determination to pursue higher education despite their financial challenges,” said Mayor Breed. “Education is a stepping stone to success and it shouldn’t be a privilege for those who can afford it. I look forward to seeing what our next generation of leaders will accomplish.”  

According to data from the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) for academic calendar year 2021-2022, 52% of the approximately 16,000 high school students who attend SFUSD schools are socio-economically disadvantaged. This is not inclusive of Charter schools.   

 

This year, 60% of the scholarship recipients identify as female, and 100% identify as students of color.  

 

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants were required to be a SFUSD or San Francisco Charter high school student graduating in spring 2023 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20. Additionally, applicants must have demonstrated a significant financial need and be the first in their families to attend a four-year college.   

“I am so proud to be a part of Mayor Breed’s unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of our public-school students,” said Dr. Maria Su, Executive Director of the City’s Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF). "DCYF is committed to equity and access and aims to empower these amazing young people with the resources they need to pursue their dreams and breakdown the barriers to success.”  

 

Testimonials from some of this year’s scholarship recipients  

 

“Being a first-generation student and coming from a low-income household, I will be the one responsible for my finances; the support I would be receiving would take a weight off my back.” - Audrey Bryant, Graduate of Thurgood Marshall High School  

  

“The Bridge to Excellence Scholarship will help me further my educational goal of pursuing an Environmental Science degree at UC Berkeley, and my ultimate career goal of making a dent in the fight for environmental justice worldwide.”   

-Raphael Alcantara, Graduate of Lowell High School  

  

Funding for the scholarship comes from the City’s Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families. Furthermore, the Mayor’s Office partners with the San Francisco Education Fund to provide administrative support, manage the online application process, and distribute scholarship awards to the recipients.   

  

###  


Related Articles · More Articles
Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco ~Dallas Mayor London N. Breed today joined the Department on the Status of Women (DOSW), Elected and City leaders, and community advocates to celebrate Women’s History Month at City Hall. At the celebration, the Mayor honored five local women for their contributions to San Francisco. This year’s event is themed ‘Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.’
Key Scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight ~San Francisco ~ Dallas ~~~ The San Francisco Police Department's Missing Person Unit is seeking assistance in finding a teen girl who was reported missing on Wednesday, February 14. Mizan Dadres-Oman , 16, was last seen around 4:30 p.m. on the 800 block of Foerster Street, located towards the southern part of San Francisco. She is described as a Black teen, 5-foot-3 and 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Back To Archives