This is what we work toward all year long.
This is our WHY.
This is the fuel to our fire.
Supporting young women with a dream is what started this company and is what keeps it going.
Scholarship2017Video1 from Compliment on Vimeo.
Meet our 2017 Compliment Scholarship Winners
Erykah Bazile from Inderkum High School
and
Wissam El Qut of Del Campo High School
To say these young women are amazing is an understatement.
Here are excerpts from their applications:
From Erykah:
"I grew up with two older sisters in a single parent household. I learned to be very independent, diligent, and would consider myself a big nerd. My career goal is to become a Biomedical Engineer. From a young age, my mom as well as my sisters have been so supportive of my dreams and aspirations. With so much hate floating about in the world towards women, especially African American women, I believe that it is my duty to take advantage of being able to get a higher education and excel in a field that many men dominate.Being an African American woman with great knowledge scares many people...This has not in any way hindered me from reaching for the stars. My intended major is bio-engineering. Bio-engineering involves using the principles of engineering to expand solutions for health products and technologies that will increase the quality of life. I chose this major because I have a love for science and after seeing many relatives struggle with health problems, I want to save other lives by creating artificial organs and limbs...the only way we can all excel and live in a beautiful world is if people remain humble and not only try to make sure that they are successful, but ensure that everyone else is as well and no one is left behind. I will be attending the University of California, Santa Cruz in the fall."
From Wissam:
"Six years ago, my father past away from a sudden heart attack. My family was living in Germany at the time. My mom, my two sisters and I were not financially and emotionally capable of living on our own after the tragic incident. My mom’s family lived in the United States, and so we decided to leave everything behind, in order to get back on our feet with the family support that we so needed. I was especially terrified of having to learn a new language and adjust to a new community, that I never envisioned I'd encounter in my life. When my freshman year came around, it had been only my third year in the United States. My understanding of the new language was still pretty rough and my confidence/ self-esteem was below average. But then I joined AVID. I didn’t only gain academic knowledge, but I gained a family that grew with me for the next four years. My AVID family is the reason I survived High School. I hope that by continuing my education, I'll have more access to resources to impact the world. I want to help out those individuals who don't have a person fighting for them and their rights as human beings that they deserve. I want to guide them towards success, in hopes for them to share that support with others. I want for the world to be a better place, where an act of kindness is a regular daily thing and be able to open up doors for certain people. All these horrible things of countries going to war, people discriminating each others and lives being taken away I can't prevent. However, I can impose love all around the world, to impact people's lives, who will impact others and those others will pass it on as well. I know that my hopes are big and my dreams seem impossible, but I will work hard to do anything in my control towards impacting our society for the better."
During our scholarship award ceremony, I had the pleasure of meeting the girls' moms, as well. It was evident where Erykah and Wissam get their strength, perseverance, and determination.
These awards could not be made possible without you--the people who purchase gifts from us all year through. Five percent of the proceeds from every single purchase made through our site or at the retail shops that carry our products is set aside for these awards.
Cheers to educating our youth and making an impact together.
Melissa,
Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful. You did it again!
Look at their fresh sweet faces.
May joy continue to flow in your hearts.
Well done!
Linda C. Thomas
xoxo