North San Diego Soroptimists award over $23K in scholarships, grants

When Keelin Washington received her Continue the Dream scholarship from the North San Diego Soroptimists, she not only thanked them for the money going toward her education, but praised them for going above and beyond.

“Sometimes what happens with scholarships is you get the scholarship and it ends there,” Washington said during the March 18 awards luncheon. She has received scholarships from the Soroptimists twice before.

“That was my expectation when (first) applying, that I was to get (a certain) amount and that was it,” she said. “And I am so glad that I was wrong. Because through that I found a sisterhood. I found a community. I found mentors. I took that scholarship and put it towards my educational goals, but I did it alongside each and every one of you.”

Washington’s scholarship was among the $23,500 in scholarships and grants the North San Diego Soroptimists awarded to fulfill their mission of helping women and girls at its annual awards luncheon at The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. The Soroptimists were joined by six of their 13 scholarship recipients along with several representatives from nonprofit organizations whose work the Soroptimists support.

Washington said she is grateful for the opportunities that came with the scholarship. These included volunteering at the Soroptimists’ Dream It Be It program for at-risk teenage girls, being a mentor to young women, sharing her story of being a human trafficking survivor and speaking at the Soroptimists’ Hats and Heels fundraiser.

The North San Diego Soroptimists at their chapter’s annual awards luncheon on March 18 at The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. (Elizabeth Marie Himchak)

Washington praised the Soroptimists for their efforts on bringing awareness and prevention to issues such as trafficking and domestic violence, while helping and mentoring those who escaped those situations.

“It wasn’t just about giving a financial grant. It was about doing right by the survivors,” said Washington, a frequent speaker about her experiences as a survivor of human trafficking. She is on track to graduate this year with a degree in organizational leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University and works full-time.

“We often share that it takes a village to raise a kid. But it takes a village to support a survivor from human trafficking … who is recovering from the trauma and is trying to face her dreams, go to school and work at the same time.”

The four Live Your Dream recipients shared a combined $6,000 in scholarships. These are scholarships given to women who are the primary source of financial support for their families to help with the education-related expenses. Soroptimist Shelley Dugan shared short biographies of each recipient. They are:

• Alma Alcantar, a first-generation college student and single mother of a young child who is also raising her teenage sister. She has earned her associates degree and is working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology at California State University San Diego. She aspires to earn a master’s degree in social work.

Alcantar is the chapter’s first-place awardee and is advancing to the Soroptimists’ regional Live Your Dream competition.

“I am honored to be recognized by these powerful women,” Alcantar said after the event. “This is a life-changing opportunity.”

Alcantar also praised the Soroptimists for helping those who are vulnerable.

Soroptimist Jen Bergo, Live Your Dream award recipients Ferazhin Lazaro and Alma Alcantar, and Soroptimist Jaime Bratis. (Elizabeth Marie Himchak)

• Nora Cancino, a single mother of two who earned her dental assistant credential from Mesa College and is pursuing her associate’s degree. Her stated goal is to become a radiology technician.

• Ferazhin Lazaro, who earned her GED and is currently pursuing an associate’s degree while supporting her child. She is studying physics at Miramar College and wants to transfer to a state university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Lazaro was accepted into the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars Program.

• Leoliza Servito Cruz, a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines who is married and has a young daughter. She is pursuing professional certification training at Vista Adult School to become a medical technician and her stated long-term goal is to become a registered nurse.

Corinne Campbell, Linda England, Holly McGoldrick and Betsy Kostas. (Elizabeth Marie Himchak)

Dugan also spoke about the three Begin Your Dream award recipients, who shared a combined $5,000 in scholarships. It is a local program to help women and girls facing obstacles in obtaining their education, usually from underserved communities and challenging backgrounds as youths. All of the 2026 recipients were awarded the Begin Your Dream award in prior years. They are:

• Vanessa Brunetta, who graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in December 2024 and last year was accepted into the UCLA School of Law graduate program. Brunetta’s goal is to be a role model for young girls who have faced similar adversity as she did growing up in the foster care system, Dugan said.

• Jasmine Green, who earned her associate’s degree in social work, a certificate of achievement in mental health work at San Diego City College and plans to transfer to San Diego State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work, Dugan said. Green’s goal is to work with youth in overcoming challenges as their mentor or advocate.

• Brandy Harvey, who is a senior in college and overcoming her challenging situation that included obtaining housing, Dugan said. Harvey’s goal is to become a forensic artist to help survivors of violent crimes.

Theresa Martin, Debbie Schneider and Bridget Denihan at the registration table. (Elizabeth Marie Himchak)

The six Continue the Dream award recipients shared a combined $9,000. They were chosen by the Soroptimists to provide additional assistance to women who were previous Live Your Dream awardees or to women who did not receive that award before, but would have been good candidates for it. Soroptimist Theresa Martin spoke about each of them. In addition to Washington, they are:

• Jessica Kidd, a prior Live Your Dream and Continue the Dream recipient, who is working on her certificate in professional fundraising while working full-time. Her recent honors included being recognized by the Vista Chamber of Commerce on its “40 Under 40 Nonprofit Professionals” list.

• Ashley Linn, a 2025 Continue the Dream recipient, who is studying child development at Miramar College and on track to graduate this summer.

• Yolanda Maldonado, a 2025 Live Your Dream recipient, who is studying at Mira Costa College while maintaining a full-time job. Her goal is to be a registered nurse.

• Kim Vale, who is attending Bellus Academy in Poway to earn a certificate in esthetics this fall. She is in the Soroptimists’ Transitional Housing program.

• Nikki White, a previous Live Your Dream and Continue the Dream recipient, graduated from Southwestern College last year with her associate’s degree and is now working on a bachelor’s degree in humanities at San Diego State University.

The Soroptimists also awarded a combined $3,500 to nonprofit organizations whose mission the chapter supports. The recipients were Crisis House, Generate Hope, Alabaster Jar Project and STAT! (Soroptimists Together Against Trafficking).

Soroptimist Corinne Campbell spoke a little about the San Pasqual Academy and its residential program for teens in the foster care system. She said the chapter will soon be giving scholarships to young women graduating from the academy to help them on their future endeavors. The amount has not been announced.

North San Diego Soroptimist International President Debby Hopp and Soroptimist of the Year Jen Bergo. (Elizabeth Marie Himchak)

The chapter members also honored one of their own as “Soroptimist of the Year.” This year’s award went to Jen Bergo for her constant willingness to help with the chapter’s various projects, said chapter President Debby Hopp.

For details about the chapter and its philanthropic projects, visit soroptimistnsd.org.

See more photos at PomeradoNews.com.

Kathy Bastas, Soroptimists District 2 Director Demetra Bastas-Bratkic and Debby...