Scholarships > Teresa Navarrete Scholarship > 2011 Recipient

We are pleased to announce Gabby Falzone as the 2011 Teresa Navarrete Scholarship recipient.

I am honored to be the 2011 recipient of the TRENZA scholarship. I am excited to be starting the MA/PhD program in Socio–Cultural Studies in the School of Education. It was a long journey in getting here, but I believe my life experience combined with my education can and will benefit others.

I ran away from home as a teen to escape a life of abuse. I was homeless for 1/3 of high school, yet still graduated with my class and with honors. I learned during my teen years that most people did not have my best interests in mind, and that to survive I could only rely on myself.

I wanted to go to college after high school, but was ineligible for financial aid. Though I had no parental support, I was told that I was too far below the poverty line to possibly be taking care of myself. (I had survived on $4000 that year). Determined to go to school, I found ways to take classes at the community college until I was finally able to receive aid and go to college full time.

After my experiences trying to navigate the education system as a homeless teen and a young adult living in poverty, I decided that I would devote myself to helping other homeless and underserved youth overcome similar obstacles. During and after college, I worked with homeless and at-risk youth.

Soon after graduating with my BA, I found myself a single parent of three teenagers, whose mother could no longer care for them due to terminal illness. During this time, obtained my teaching credential and worked as a middle school teacher. It was a great experience, but I didn’t feel I was helping underserved youth as much as I knew I could.

Now that my kids are grown, I am back in school to explore how disadvantaged and marginalized youth can receive a relevant education. I believe an alternative will emphasize social skills, coping skills, and critical thinking, because at-risk youth need more than just academics to help them survive and thrive.

—Gabby Falzone