Scholarships Give Wings to Student with Learning Difficulties

Student Receives Kurzweil and High Tech Center Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2008

Media Contact:Aya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451 ext. 2287

NORWALK, Calif. - May 1, 2008 - The Cerritos College Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) Department’s Instructional Support Center awarded Kurzweil LearnStation and High Tech Center Scholarships to a Cerritos College Student, Analie Cardoso, during the Cerritos College Foundation board meeting on Thursday, March 20, 2008. Mary Hunt, central intake and services specialist, along with Dr. Lucinda Aborn, dean of DSPS, presented Analie with the scholarships.

Established in 2007, the Kurzweil Scholarship awards the Kurzweil LearnStation software to students who have demonstrated proficiency on the scan and read software.  The Kurzweil assistive technology program promotes the concept of universal design for learning by allowing students to interact with text by hearing, seeing, and creating personal study guides. In addition, it supports academic success for students with learning difficulties and a variety of learning preferences.

The DSPS High Tech Center Scholarship awards the assistive technology software toward the purchase of an assistive technology program to students who have completed training and need financial assistance in obtaining the supportive technology. To apply for these scholarships, students must be able to express how the scholarship will assist them in their learning process toward their academic and career goals.

"It's an honor to present you with this scholarship, Analie," said Hunt. "We are very proud of your hard work and dedication, and we want to support your future."

Cardoso, of Artesia, graduated from Cerritos High School in 2005 with honors and a 4.0 GPA. She is the first person in her family to attend college. Majoring in psychology, she plans to transfer to a four-year university. With a keen interest in helping mentally-ill patients, she hopes to pursue her doctoral degree in that field.

“I can scan textbooks and transfer them to audio files, and I can even listen to them on my iPod,” says Cardoso. “Receiving this scholarship means so much to me. I have been using the program in the High Tech Center of the Disabled Students’ Instructional Support Center, and I’ve seen my grades improving.”

“Having this program at home in my own PC will make a significant difference in my study.”

Cardoso also said that these scholarship opportunities are not well-known to students. She hopes that she can help spread the word so more deserving students become aware of these technology scholarships that promote universal learning strategies.

For the Kurzweil LearnStation and High Tech Center Scholarship information, please contact Mary Hunt at (562) 860-2451 ext. 2409 (Monday-Thursday) or at mhunt@cerritos.edu.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 200 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently nears 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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