SPARKY News: 2024 Scholarship Recipients!

07 Jul SPARKY News: 2024 Scholarship Recipients!

To celebrate its 10th anniversary back in 2016, Jennie Franks of SPARKy Productions created an original play titled “The Hispanic Women’s Project” based on true stories of local Latinas. The production played to sold-out audiences for five nights and opened eyes and hearts to the harsh reality of Hispanic women in the Telluride region. As an adjunct to “The Hispanic Women’s Project,” SPARKy initiated a scholarship fund to help local graduating Latinas go on to a higher education, now a wild success in changing young lives for the good. 

The following note is an update from Jennie & Co. Get out your pompoms; be prepared to cheer for these five outstanding 2024 scholarships recipients. And donate (full disclosure as I have): SPARKy is grateful to everyone who supports its mission. If you would like to become part of the SPARKy family, please visit raisedonors.com/telluridefoundation/sparky 

Go here for more information about the scholarship fund.

Go here for more on the history of SPARKy.

Angelica Saldin
California State University

“My name is Angelica Saldin and I’ll be attending California State University, Long Beach, where I’ll be studying nursing and possibly minoring in graphic design. I’m excited to see what the future holds for me in California. I’m especially grateful for all the support the Telluride community has given me.”

Bianca Schillaci
University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business

“My name is Bianca Schillaci. This fall, I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. I am thrilled to move to Philadelphia and immerse myself in the vibrant community at Wharton. SPARKy has played a crucial role in making this dream a reality. Your generous support has opened doors to invaluable opportunities, and I am deeply grateful for your investment in my future. Thank you for helping me take this significant step toward achieving my goals.”

Danna Hernandez
Mesa State University

“College has always been an unclear path for me due to financial constraints.That changed when I joined the SPARKy Club at THS. SPARKy made me feel more secure when thinking about the idea of attending college.Thanks to SPARKy and the generous donors, this fall I will be attending Mesa State University where I’ll be studying political science. It is my aspiration to be an immigration lawyer and help people achieve the American dream, just like I’m doing now.”

Aizy Luna Alvarez Lezcano
Colorado Mesa University

“My plans to go to college are finally coming true, and I can’t wait to take my first class at Colorado Mesa University. The excitement of knowing that my dreams are becoming a reality after all the challenges is indescribable. Things were not easy, however, I managed to overcome the obstacles life presented with the support of this beautiful community, my fascinating teachers, counselors, and of course, the incredible amount of support from all the donors.

Thank you to every single person who believed, trusted and supported me on this journey.”

Jai Sanchez
Santa Barbara City College

“I grew up in Norwood and attended Norwood High School. I’m glad to have the opportunity to study at Santa Barbara City College this fall. I’m looking forward to spending time on the beach, making new friends and maybe picking up some new hobbies, like surfing. I will be studying one of my favorite subjects, biology. I want to thank SPARKy and everyone who made this possible.”