In the classroom, hard work can take a student just about anywhere.
This is definitely true of Plant City High School junior Silvia Hernandez, whose work has just paid off. She’s been selected to receive a two-year college scholarship from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay and will be enrolled in their mentorship program.
The two-year, pre-paid scholarship is a big deal for Hernandez, who will be the first person in her family to go to college.
Hernandez is very active in and out of the classroom, as a member of the National Honor Society, World Language Club, AVID Club and the Civinettes. Although she hasn’t settled on a school yet, she already has plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering.
“I’m thinking of staying near Plant City,” Hernandez said. “I’m thinking of USF, but maybe Florida International University. I might start at HCC and go from there.”
Earning the scholarship was a nice surprise for Hernandez — literally. She had originally applied for it in January 2013, and that process included two essays on her part. One was for the Hillsborough Education Foundation, which was followed by an in-person interview. The other was for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Beyond one of the subject prompts — something that changed her life — Hernandez doesn’t remember exactly what she wrote that impressed enough people to earn her that award.
She received the letter in the mail announcing her win at the beginning of the school year, but it was only recently made even more real for her. All of this year’s scholarship winners were invited to the Grand Hyatt of Tampa Bay for a banquet, where they were honored and introduced to another part of the program.
With that scholarship comes entry into the “Take Stock in Children” program, which pairs each student with a mentor to help guide them through the rest of high school and also to help prepare them for higher education. Hernandez was paired with Linda Walker, based on mutual interests between the two, just as all students in the program are paired with their mentors.
With an award in check and a mentor to help make things even easier, Hernandez can’t wait to become better acquainted with Walker and, later, take the next step.
“I want to figure out her interests, and mine,” Hernandez says. “I want her to guide me. She’s already been to college, and none of my parents have been. With someone who’s actually experienced it, she can tell me about college life and how to succeed.”