San Antonio, Texas – May 4, 2020 – The KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Foundation and the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation (SGFF) announced Kaylin Hernandez and Ximena Tobon are the 2020 recipients of the Dave Goldberg Scholarship. These two KIPP Texas-San Antonio alumni are among 15 recipients, selected from hundreds of applicants nationwide, who will receive $15,000 a year in financial assistance and mentorship throughout college.
“Dave was a huge believer in education, a generous mentor, and the center of a big-hearted community. We created this program to extend his legacy and nothing would have made him prouder,” said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org. “These students share Dave’s best qualities – and we know they’ll go on to do great things for their communities and the world. We’re honored to partner with KIPP for a third year to ensure these talented students can make the most of every opportunity that comes their way.”
All 15 students in the 2020 cohort of Goldberg Scholars will receive a unique combination of financial support and mentorship during their four-year college experience. Highlights include:
- A “Goldberg Mentor” to provide advice and support on a regular basis throughout college
- Financial support totaling approximately $15,000 a year to cover a range of non-tuition needs not traditionally covered by college-based financial aid
- Support from “Goldberg Connectors” – a network of professionals who will help scholars secure summer internships and job opportunities
Kaylin Hernandez, an incoming student at Duke University and senior at KIPP University Prep in San Antonio, is passionate about helping others and U.S. involvement abroad so she plans to major in political science while on the pre-med track at Duke University. She aspires to one day become a dermatologist as part of the Doctors Without Borders organization, changing lives through medicine.
“The Dave Goldberg Scholarship will help me in my journey into the medical field by connecting me with the doctors and organizations, as well as by financially supporting me as I navigate this next chapter in my life,” said Kaylin. “Because I come from an underprivileged community, I don’t personally know any doctors, and I’m not sure how to get to and through medical school. However, with the Goldberg Scholarship, I know that I will have all the assistance I need to succeed in these next four years!”
Ximena Tobon, attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall and also a KIPP San Antonio senior, wants to pursue a career in nursing to help those around her. As a first-generation student, Ximena hopes to use her college education to give back to her community of Southeast San Antonio by helping to provide access to resources like affordable tutoring as well. During her time in high school, she served as an officer of the Student Government Association and devoted her weekends to community service with organizations like the San Antonio Food Bank.
“The Dave Goldberg Scholarship is going to give me the opportunity of a lifetime to help me achieve all of my goals. Starting by eliminating my parent’s and my concern with finances to pay for school and allowing me the opportunity to attend the University of Texas without concerns. By receiving it, I am one step closer to my professional goal of becoming a nurse, where I can help people of low income like myself and where I can give back to those who helped me,” said Ximena.
The 15 recipients of the Goldberg Scholarship have attended KIPP schools in eight communities: Baltimore, San Francisco Bay Area, Arkansas, Massachusetts, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Los Angeles/San Diego and Texas. Many will be the first in their families to attend college. Any student who attended a KIPP school for middle school or high school and earned above a 3.0 GPA was eligible to apply.
“The Goldberg Scholarship program has already proven to be a game changer. Today, in a world in which our students and families face even greater uncertainty and financial hardship, the Goldberg scholarship provides the financial supports and mentoring from successful professionals that will prove to be a life changer,” said Richard Barth, CEO of the KIPP Foundation.
The Goldberg Scholarship Program was established by SGFF in October 2017 to support graduating high school seniors from KIPP schools across the country who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and achievement. The scholarship honors the legacy of Dave Goldberg by supporting a new generation of leaders who have demonstrated Dave’s qualities of leadership, resilience, achievement, generosity, kindness, independent thinking and entrepreneurial spirit.
SGFF partnered with the KIPP network of public charter schools because KIPP has a proven track record of helping students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, and character strengths necessary to succeed in college and life. KIPP currently operates 242 public charter schools educating over 100,000 students across 20 states and the District of Columbia. KIPP students graduate from four-year colleges at a rate that is above the national average for all students and approximately four times the average for students from similar economic backgrounds nationwide.
“Dave believed that people have the power to change their lives not only to better themselves but to help those around them,” said Rob Goldberg, Dave’s brother and Founder and CEO of Fresno. “He believed that if everyone was given an opportunity to do so, it could make the world a better place. It means so much to our family that Dave’s legacy is helping to improve the lives of these students. It’s an honor to be part of their journeys and to help empower them to become the next generation of leaders who will impact those around them.”
About the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Foundation
The Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation works to build a more equal and resilient world. SGFF brings people together to support each other through three key initiatives: LeanIn.Org, OptionB.Org, and the Dave Goldberg Scholarship Program.
About KIPP
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of 242 public charter schools that are dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll students in all grades from pre-K through high school. Nationwide, KIPP students complete their bachelor’s degree at a rate comparable to the national average for all students and approximately three times higher than the average for students from low-income families.
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