DeBolt Scholarship Winner – Angelica

Runner-Up – Kimberly

At age eight, Kimberly was left in the mountains for two weeks by her biological mother, with nothing for her and her four siblings to eat but crackers and peanut butter.  By the time their mother lost her parental rights, due to neglect and drug and alcohol abuse, Kimberly had lived in seventeen different foster homes.  Finally, at age 16, she was adopted into a loving family.  While attending the University of California, Irvine, Kimberly published two books, Things Happen For a Reason, Even Foster Care and Adoption and, for children, I Am a Foster Child, and That's Okay with Me.  Now a graduate student at Harvard University in the Risk and Prevention Program, Kimberly wants to "create a greater chance for success in future foster children."

Honorable Mention – Jerson

Jerson never knew his biological mother, who abandoned him.  After his biological father remarried, Jerson's stepmother brought him to the United States from Guatemala.  Marital problems eventually drove her to a suicide attempt, witnessed by Jerson.  He ran for help and, when the police arrived, his stepmother was taken to the emergency room and Jerson to a foster home.  At the age of nine, he was placed with a permanent family.  Jerson now  "aspire{s} to be an inspiration to others and to demonstrate that despite any adversity or challenge one may face, one shall always keep one's head up straight and continue toward a promising future."  Jerson currently attends the University of California, Riverside, working toward his goal of becoming a mechanical engineer.

Imani spent her first two years in foster care. Her biological mother, who struggled with substance abuse, had relinquished her parental rights, wanting to give her daughter a chance at a decent life. Fortunately Imani, was adopted into a loving family; she now attends the Honors College of Hampton University, majoring in biology with a pre-med focus. Her goal is to become a surgeon so she can "make a difference and help other people."

Faith grew up in homeless shelters. When she was in second grade, Child Protective Services removed her from her heroin-addicted biological parents. After two years of living in one foster home after another, Faith and her twin brother were adopted together. Faith has helped her older adoptive sister raise four other adopted children with special needs. Now a student at San Joaquin Delta College, Faith aspires to become a teacher, so her children "know at least one person will want to be their leader and protector to make a difference in their lives - me!"

Chelsea suffered both abuse and neglect when she lived with her biological mother. Finally, when she was 12, the police placed Chelsea and her twin brother in foster care. Fortunately, they were adopted together into a permanent family. Now a student at Fullerton College, Chelsea says, "I would not be the person I am today without the support and encouragement of my parents." Her goal is to get an Master’s in Social Work, so she can help children and their families and do her part to improve the foster care system.

When she was six years old, Sharray and her younger sister were permanently removed from their birth parents’ home in separate foster homes. For three years, they each shuffled through multiple placements before finally being adopted together when Sharray was nine. Through volunteering at a convalescent home, she realized her dream was to become a nurse at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Sharray will be the first person in her biological family to finish high school and attend college.

Born prematurely, Kyle was abandoned by his birth mother while he was still in a hospital incubator. Shortly after his first birthday, he was placed with foster parents who adopted him three years later. His family includes five siblings, two of whom are also adopted. Despite multiple health challenges, including stunted growth and a bone tumor, Kyle has striven to excel at physical activities, and is an enthusiastic athlete and musician. Kyle attends Azusa Pacific University, where he plans to get his degrees in counseling and psychology.

Until she was eight years old, Sarah shared a home with an abusive father and a substance-dependent mother. After her dad abandoned the family, she spent the next eight years between her grandmother’s place, multiple foster homes and living on the streets. At age 16, Sarah decided, “If I’m going to get anywhere in life, I need a family.” Knowing it would be difficult to find an adoptive home in a small town as a teenager, Sarah contacted local newspapers and radio stations and persuaded them to tell her story. Twenty-seven families responded, including the couple that soon after adopted her. Sarah is now an ambitious student and artist attending College of the Redwoods.

Danae, who was exposed to drugs in utero, had two leaky heart valves when she was born weighing only two and a half pounds. After spending her first three months in an incubator, she was placed in foster care. When she was two, her foster parents adopted her. Danae attends California State University, Northridge, where she is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, Chief of Staff of CSUN’s student government, and a member of the school’s 1st Place-winning Model United Nations team. After graduation this Spring, Danae hopes to pursue a career path with the FBI or CIA, specializing in counterterrorism.