The New Haven Schools Foundation (NHSF) awarded 238 students $255,105 overall through the “Pathways to Success” scholarship program in 2025—a record-breaking amount. Founded in 1981, NHSF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the students and schools of the New Haven Unified School District.
Through the community-based scholarship program, which helps provide financial aid to graduating seniors, individuals have received scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 to put toward college. “The essence of this story is how our community comes together every year to provide this financial support to help local students afford the cost of a college education,” said NHSF executive director Helen Kennedy.
Students accepted their awards at a luncheon and ceremony held on May 6 at James Logan High School in Union City.
Senior at James Logan High School, Paulina Castro, received a total of $9,200 from NHSF and its donors this year as the winner of the Lawson/Curry 1983 Scholarship, Masonic Homes of California Scholarship, Phong La – Suzanne Shenfil Scholarship, and Puente Project Scholarship. “It’s a great honor…I just felt this extra overwhelming sense of gratitude,” Castro said, reflecting on her upbringing as a child of first-generation immigrants and the first in her immediate family to go to a four-year university, with a retired dad and a non-working mom.
Continuing her academic journey to higher education, Castro is set to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the fall for the psychological and brain sciences program. She plans to work as a therapist or a social worker in education, driven by a desire to make a lasting impact, just as the current therapist at Logan has done for herself and other students. “I find it so rewarding and fulfilling to come back [to my school] and do the same for other students, especially since high school is such a difficult and stressful time,” Castro said.
With the funds received through the scholarship program, Castro feels more confident in leaving her family to go to college and support herself financially. She advises students similarly navigating these formative times to take every opportunity and never limit themselves. “Just starting something can [open you to] so many different paths,” Castro said. “But if you never start, it won’t ever happen.”
A full circle moment came for James Logan High School class of 2023 alumn Kalani Claderon, who transitioned from being a scholarship recipient in 2023 to becoming a scholarship donor and now serving on the board of the foundation. “It’s just one of those things where now I’m finally able to give back,” Calderon said. “It’s amazing because there are so many students out there who deserve this and so much more, and [I’m grateful] to be a little part of their story.”
In 2023, Calderon received a total of $4,000 through the program upon winning the Canlas LaFlam Leadership Scholarship, Dorothy Lenz Memorial Scholarship, JLHS Class of 1979 Steve Postle Memorial Scholarship, PASE Itliong Vera Cruz Scholarship, and Community Service All Star Award.
The money he was awarded helped him to pursue his dreams of moving to Southern California to attend California State University, Fullerton, where he is heading into his third year, majoring in English and minoring in entertainment and hospitality management. “It ultimately turned into one of the greatest opportunities ever,” Calderon said.
He now sponsors the Calderon Family Leadership Scholarship and Sole2Soul Giving Scholarship (which will be changing to a different scholarship next year). Inspired by the foundation’s mission to support students and “light the way for the leaders of tomorrow,” Calderon joined the board, where he helps with the behind-the-scenes process of reading student applications and essays.
“There are so many students with so much potential out there in this world, and they just need somebody to take a chance on them and to take a chance on themselves,” Calderon said. “I want to remind the future generations of students that there genuinely is somebody out there who cares about you and wants to see you succeed.”
