When she finished today, Trustee Lisa Kaplan was a little teary-eyed and emotional – she saw a lot of herself in these kids.
Every year, Kaplan buys Chromebooks for a handful of high school students who persevere despite adversity. She met this year’s winners face-to-face today and delivered a powerful message: You’re special. I believe in you. Never give up.
Recipients of Kaplan4Kids scholarships are Paris Ramson, of Discovery High; Aman Rahod and Adrian Zamora, Natomas High; and Kristina Alonso, Ashley Brewer, and Renie Overbey, Inderkum.
Besides a Chromebook and carrying case, each of the teens received a certificate citing their “strength, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities. With hard work, you will succeed.”
In one-on-one conversations with the winners, Kaplan also presented them with her business card, containing her email address and cellphone number. She urged them to call if they ever needed help, advice, a letter of reference, or simply want to talk.
This year’s winners have overcome adversities ranging from homelessness to poverty, family dysfunction, or living in foster care.
“Here’s what I learned,” Kaplan told them. “When somebody tells you no – find another way.”
Kaplan4Kids is a way of paying it forward, in a sense. Kaplan grew up in a household of modest means, with parents who were not college-educated but always told her she could succeed if she worked hard enough – and she did.
Kaplan now owns her law firm and has been an NUSD Trustee for 17 years. The shoe’s on the other foot now, and she hopes to inspire teens to dream big, be confident, and fight through obstacles, much like she did decades ago.
“I believe internally, morally, ethically, my job is to make life better and to influence a life in a positive way,” she said. “That’s something my husband and I deeply believe in. And I just want these kids to know they can do it.”
Kaplan’s husband, B.G., was unable to attend today’s presentations but partners with her each year in the scholarship program.
Why Chromebooks as prizes? Kaplan said that access to a digital device is essential to academic success these days, and many kids don’t have the money to buy one. If she can help in this small way, she said, she’s happy to do it.
Teen winners of the Chromebooks were touched by today’s presentation.
“It’s a pretty amazing feeling,” said Kristina, 18.
Added Adrian, 18, “I feel really honored that I have someone who’s supporting me and actually believes in me. It just feels good to be believed-in.”
“She actually cared about what hardships I had to go through,” Renie, 16, said of the longtime NUSD trustee. “And she’s willing to be there if I need any support … We need more people like that.”
