{"id":195837,"date":"2026-02-27T02:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T02:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/195837\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T02:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T02:43:15","slug":"how-a-10-scholarship-is-shaping-lives-at-a-fresno-elementary-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/195837\/","title":{"rendered":"How a $10 scholarship is shaping lives at a Fresno elementary school"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Success From Within, a local nonprofit, is seeing the fruits of its labor being rewarded after a significant increase in student efficiency at Fresno’s Del Mar Elementary School thanks to a $10 bill and some recognition. Photo by Ryan Quintal on unsplash under creative commons license<\/p>\n

Success From Within, a local nonprofit, is seeing the fruits of its labor being rewarded after a significant increase in student efficiency at Fresno\u2019s Del Mar Elementary School.<\/p>\n

The nonprofit, which was founded in 2022 by community business advocate AJ Rassamni, launched its Wind & Wave Scholarship Program during the 2024-25 school year. The program awards $10 monthly scholarships to students who showcase academic achievement or personal growth, combining recognition with motivational assemblies designed to build confidence and engagement. In its latest round, the program distributed 138 scholarships to students at Del Mar.<\/p>\n

Participating students saw up to a 300% increase in iReady online reading improvement and a 500% growth in iReady math during the school year. Rassamni said the program\u2019s main philosophy is based on mindset and self-belief and explained the meaning behind the name \u201cWind & Wave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you see a big wave, you say, \u2018wow, look at that big wave,\u2019 but you don\u2019t realize it\u2019s the wind that caused that wave,\u201d Rassamni said. \u201cWe make them believe in themselves. We basically instill in them that your success doesn\u2019t come from your environment. It comes from within you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program runs from January to June each year, allowing schools to compare student performance before and after participation. Each month, six students per classroom receive scholarships recognizing top performance or significant improvement in reading, math, behavior and attendance. Teachers nominate recipients based on growth and effort. Across the latest cohort, that monthly recognition added up to 138 scholarships awarded \u2014 a milestone Rassamni sees as proof the model can scale.<\/p>\n

\"fistAJ Rassamni high-fives a scholarship recipient during a Wind & Wave awards ceremony at Del Mar Elementary School.<\/p>\n

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Rassamni said the approach purposefully rewards progress as much as achievement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to reward the people on the bottom, not only the people on top, because we encourage them to do better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Before awards are handed out, community speakers share personal stories about the importance of education and perseverance. Rassamni said the goal is to help students see new possibilities for their future that they didn\u2019t think was possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour success doesn\u2019t come from the teacher, it doesn\u2019t come from the parents,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re the only person, you have to compete with yourself to do better every month.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rassamni said that school leaders have credited the program with increasing student confidence, motivation and stronger relationships with students.<\/p>\n

Even though it is $10, the money shows students that a brighter future than they envisioned is possible. For many students, it is the first time they have been formally recognized for academic progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time in their life they see money or they hear the word scholarship,\u201d Rassamni said.<\/p>\n

Rassamni, who migrated to the United States in the 1980s, has spent decades working with youth-focused nonprofits. He said that his own personal experience has helped shape the program\u2019s goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you know that you cannot fail, what would you do in life?\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to instill in people that your dreams come from within.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond scholarships, Success From Within also promotes mentorship, financial literacy and entrepreneurship education as part of its broader mission to improve outcomes for Fresno youth. The nonprofit\u2019s long-term goal is to expand the Wind & Wave model citywide to all elementary schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur kids are 17% of our population but 100% of our future,\u201d Rassamni said. \u201cEducation is the only hope out of poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n

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