The Bob Lenz PDO Award of $1000 cash is given each year to a graduating senior from each Envision school who exemplifies the phrase from Calvin Coolidge “Persistence and Determination alone are Omnipotent.” Erin Brockovich later made these words her motto in her successful campaign to expose toxic water tables in the Central Valley. Bob and his Envision co-founders adopted the motto as well, applying it to the work of Envision schools, to help students develop the persistence and determination to succeed in college. Each of our award-winning students:

• Has gone through significant hardship and persisted through adversity
• Has been accepted t0 and plans to attend a 4-year university or college

OUR 2016 WINNERS

Mahdari Rhodes, Impact Academy: Mahdari has been an outspoken leader of Impact’s community both in and out of the classroom. He is a role model for students and adults of what it means to be compassionate, reflective, and courageous. In his graduation Portfolio Defense, Mahdari exhibited his ability to communicate powerfully to a room full of strangers. He demonstrated a strong understanding of content and skills, as well as his own strengths and areas for growth in acquiring both. UC Merced is lucky to have him!

Bladimiro Martin, Envision Academy: When Bladimiro came to the United States four years ago, he could not read, write, or speak English. After two short years, Bladimiro’s English was proficient enough to enroll at Envision Academy, where he began his junior year, and by the end of that year, he gave a presentation on scientific research he had done through a competitive internship program at UC Berkeley. Bladimiro also presented and passed his College Success Portfolio this spring with Distinction. These unbelievable levels of linguistic improvement are some of the many examples of growth that Bladimiro’s unwavering work habits have allowed him to achieve. Bladimiro proves that consistent hard work, unmatched perseverance, and critical questioning can take a student from unthinkably challenging circumstances to a world-class college education at Denison University in Ohio, where he will be attending this fall.

Carlean Savea, City Arts & Tech: Carlean is an all-around incredible young woman: resilient, caring, and motivated. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood of San Francisco greatly impacted her desire to pursue higher education. She has witnessed her family struggle and takes it upon herself to help her mom, serving as an additional pillar of support for her seven-year-old sister. Her commitment as a caretaker of her family is evidence of her gracious spirit and willingness to make the best of tough situations. Carlean not only pulls strength from her experiences, but also applies the lessons learned to her daily activities. She communicates powerfully with teachers and peers, thinks critically, and is an integral part of the leadership class on campus. This year, she worked with two of her classmates to bring health education to CAT. This fall Carlean will be attending Virginia State University, where she will be majoring in Computer Engineering, motivated in part by the lack of women present in the tech industry and her determination to succeed and defy social stereotypes.

Read about our 2016 Jackie Robinson Scholarship Award winners here!