Boys & Girls Club Twins Get Ross Scholarships by Joy Juedes - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events

Boys & Girls Club Twins Get Ross Scholarships

By Joy Juedes, Community Writer
July 16, 2015 at 05:00pm. Views: 105

A twin brother and sister from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside are each getting a $2,000 scholarship from Ross. Kevin and Kimberly Ponce were notified in July that they will receive Ross Stores Foundation scholarships for post-secondary education in fall. Kevin and Kim, 18, are junior staff members at the Club, and graduated in June from Orangewood High School in Redlands. They came to the Club to build up volunteer hours for school, and got involved in programs like College Bound and Keystone leadership club. Kevin was named a Youth of the Year Ambassador for 2015. The twins graduated early with 3.5-plus GPAs, and Kim spoke at commencement. Out of 100 applicants, 50 were awarded scholarships, according to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “(W)e believe that you possess the skills and attributes to excel in every field of human endeavor,” the twins’ award letter read. Kevin said he plans to use the scholarship money to buy books when he starts attending San Bernardino Valley College for electrical engineering in August. “That scholarship is big for me,” he said. “I’m excited for this one.” Kevin’s academic case manager, Eddie Hernandez, said it has been rewarding to be part of Kevin’s academic journey over last few years. Each high school-age Club member in the College Bound program is assigned a staff member to work with them on academic planning. “Kevin originally came to the Club unsure of what his future held for him and if education would play role in that future,” Hernandez said. “That has all changed now -- he believes in the importance of education, he believes in having a plan for the future, and he believes in himself. Being awarded the Ross scholarship is an indication of the dedication Kevin has placed in his self-growth.” Kim said she’ll buy books with the award, or save it for her long-term goal of attending medical school. She is attending Crafton Hills College in fall, and wants to transfer to Arizona State for pre-med studies. “My heart stopped, I was so excited,” she said of finding out she got the scholarship. She credited Club staff, especially her academic case manager Kelsie McGee, for encouraging and helping her to apply. “It doesn’t surprise me that she got it, she worked hard to get it,” McGee said. “I’m extremely proud of her and I know she’ll put that scholarship to good use to make sure she reaches her goals because that’s what she’s focused on. She’s definitely thinking ahead of the game and I’m glad she picked up everything we put out there in College Bound and taking advantage of it.” The scholarship application included questions and an essay about educational goals. Besides college scholarships, Ross supports Power Hour, the Club’s academic assistance program, and provides volunteers for Club events.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 692

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1065

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2618

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 752

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1442

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 676

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 737

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1657

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 788

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 611

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 897

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 812

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->