Natomas Unified trustee Lisa Kaplan awards Nicole Stephanie Osorio a new Chromebook. / Photo: J.Sanders
BY ROBYN EIFERTSEN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Two high school seniors graduating later this month were awarded their very own Chromebooks during ceremonies held Friday, May 1.
Natomas Unified School District trustee Lisa Kaplan awarded the computers to Jaskaran Singh, from Natomas High School, and Nicole Stephanie Osorio, from Inderkum High School.
The Chromebooks are part of the “Closing the Digital Divide Scholarship” Kaplan created last year.
“These are kids who can say, ‘I’ve overcome something. I deserve to go to college and I know a computer is going to make college that much easier,'” Kaplan said.
The scholarships are meant for students who face financial and personal hardships. To apply, students explain how they have overcome a specific adversity and how they plan to use the new technology if they are selected.
Kaplan described Singh as being a giver with a plan. Singh is known for volunteering and helping his fellow students, she said. After graduation, he plans to attend American River College and later transfer to Sacramento State University to pursue a business degree.
About Osorio, Kaplan said she has a strong work ethic and belief in education. Osorio has plans to study environmental engineering at the University of California, Davis, Kaplan said.
Kaplan contributes a minimum of $750 annually to help support the scholarship through the Natomas School Board Foundation. The non-profit then sets that money aside to pay for the computers students receive, said Jim Sanders, a Natomas Unified spokesperson.
Giving away two Chromebooks each year to deserving students has been rewarding, Kaplan said. She said she would like to increase the number of digital scholarships in the future if others help match her own financial contribution.
“The door is always open to help us close the digital divide,” she said.
Natomas Unified trustee Lisa Kaplan awards Jaskaran Singh with a new Chromebook. / Photo: J. Sanders
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