Finishing school, working, and supporting her family - Ava Albano's SOS story

• October 18, 2011 5:50am

Thanks to all the generous donors who made contributions to "Save Our Students," Cal State East Bay has been able to help keep students enrolled even with the challenges of last minute tuition fee increases. Students like Ava Albano, a senior in the Health Sciences program, preparing to graduate at the end of the fall quarter. She started classes at CSUEB as a freshman in 2007, when tuition fees were about half of what they are today. She’s received financial aid and worked on campus to help pay for her education, but it’s not always enough.

“With Fall 2011 being my last quarter, I was only offered loans, no grants or scholarships. I’ve been very fortunate and received aid to cover most of my quarters at CSUEB, but I have taken loans for the past few years to cover the higher tuition. I accepted the loans for the last quarter, but after the increases were announced in the summer, the loan amount was now only enough to cover the tuition fees — nothing else. None of the other university fees or books or anything to support my family.”

“My mother stopped working after my brother was born to take care of me and my siblings and work around the house. We rely solely on my father's income. I help out with my job but I only get paid once a month. So it’s hard to get by at the end of the month.

“With this scholarship I can pay the balance of my fees that weren’t covered by the loan, buy my books, and keep supporting myself and my family. My brother is in high school, and I want to help him financially when he goes to college too.”

With help from everyone who supported the "SOS" Scholarship fund, even more hard-working students like Ava will receive awards this quarter. The final installment payment for fall quarter fees is due Nov. 14 — and more than 100 other students still need help to continue working toward their dream of a college degree. Any contributions to "Save Our Students" in October can still be distributed to students this fall. Gifts of all sizes make a difference — so make yours today.