Creating Scholarship Opportunities at Green Dot’s First 5K
At Green Dot Public Schools, we know students win when adults collaborate. That’s why this year, the teachers union representing our teachers in California, Asociación de Maestros Unidos (AMU), and Green Dot worked together to host the First Annual Race to College 5K Fun(d) Run. The purpose of the run was to bring the Green Dot family together for a day of fun and exercise, while helping establish a scholarship opportunity for our college-bound seniors.
“We wanted to organize something that was with, and for, everyone,” said Danielle Parker, AMU Treasurer and Ánimo Jackie Robinson English teacher. “Our goal was to create an event that was fun, celebratory and could help recognize our students’ successes.”
Running for a Cause
- “By participating in things like the Race to College, educators set an example for their students and show them that opportunities like this exist and are available to them.” — Luis Gomez, Ánimo Phillis Wheatley U.S. History and English teacher
- “I wanted to support the scholarship for the same reason that I work at Green Dot: I want to be a part of something that has a positive impact on the lives of students.” — Keith Yanov, General Counsel, Green Dot Public Schools
Participants paid a small fee to complete the 5k run at Southwest College in Los Angeles, which is going to seed a scholarship fund. Here’s what some of our participants had to say about the event:
- “This was my first 5K, I participated because this event could give our students a better opportunity to pursue their dreams and give back to our communities and our families.” — Elizabeth Gourlis, Ánimo Phillis Wheatley science teacher
“This scholarship means that our students can have access to resources that they might not have obtained, helping even the playing field,” said Gourlis.
The scholarship was awarded to Ánimo Inglewood Charter High School senior Edgar Haro at Green Dot’s senior transition event, Launch to College, on May 12 at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel.
“I was so surprised when I heard my name” said Haro. “In that moment a feeling of excitement surged through my body.”
Haro is attending the University of California at Davis in the fall and will be pursuing a degree in chemical engineering.