On August 7, 2019, Colton Police Explorer Ana Guzman received the 2019 Jack Morenberg Foundation Scholarship award in front of her fellow explorers during training at the Colton Police Department.
Explorer Guzman, a student at Grand Terrace High School, has been involved in community service since a young age helping her church feed families in need. Currently, she participates in the Colton Police Dept. Explorer Program to follow her ambition of one day being a police officer. Ana also volunteers at the Gonzales Community Center, spending time talking and visiting the elderly and listening to their stories.
“When I do community service I feel really proud of myself and my mother because she encourages me to do my best and give back when I can,” said explorer Guzman.
Ana Guzman’s mother has been her inspiration to never give up, even more now that her youngest sister has been diagnosed with autism. She says it’s been hard on her family and hard to continue community service, but she always tries to turn a negative into a positive.
“I may not be doing big movements or foundations but I am helping in small simple ways that will hopefully expand further than just my community."
14-year-old Ana is the first female to receive the Jack Morenberg Foundation Scholarship. She was awarded $500 for her generous efforts in helping her community and her family. The essay Ana wrote for the scholarship, describing her community service and her motivations behind her efforts, is what really made her stand out.
"One of Jack Morenberg's values was to 'never give up,'" said foundation CEO, Jackie Rodriguez. "She [Ana] exemplifies that value by facing the challenges she has in her life and remaining resilient in her community service."
In the future, Ana aspires to establish a free program to help inform and educate parents of children with autism.
The Jack Morenberg Foundation, Colton Police Dept. and the community are all very proud of this inspirational young woman.
Congratulations Ana on being the recipient of the 2019 Jack Morenberg Foundation Scholarship Award.
Jack Morenberg spent over two decades serving his country, over three decades serving Colton police department, and a lifetime of mentorship and leadership within his community. True to our foundations namesake, Jack Morenberg, our mission is to encourage, mentor and promote positive activism for youth in local communities. The Jack Morenberg Foundation will grant scholarships to deserving youth who are actively volunteering and/or involved in law enforcement programs, military/ rotc programs, or city and local government.
The Jack Morenberg Foundation, Colton Police Dept. and the community are all very proud of this inspirational young woman.
Congratulations Ana on being the recipient of the 2019 Jack Morenberg Foundation Scholarship Award.