Pictured: The Bright Futures Scholars class of 2010.
The Quality of Life Center, Inc., and 1,000 plus guests honored local students from the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) during the 5th Annual Bright Futures Scholars Graduation and Awards Luncheon at the Pasadena Convention Center on June 6.
The Bright Futures Scholars Support Program, now in its seventh year, provides leadership development, as well as personal mentoring to local middle school and high school accelerating achievers, including many with economic challenges. Carefully selected mentors encourage and provide avenues for these scholars to climb above the challenges and focus on improving their quality of life.
Volunteer mentors include US Congressman Adam Schiff, California Senator Carol Liu, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich (Honorary Dean of Scholars), Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, and many other dedicated leaders and volunteers such as physicians, clergy, corporate CEOs, attorneys, scientists, engineers, artists, educators, law enforcement officials, managers and administrators. To date, the program has assisted more than 1500 area students.
To participate in the Bright Futures Scholars Support Program, all students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and above. Program participants represent eleven local schools and are required to attend monthly leadership development meetings, participate in television tapings that air four times weekly on Public Access television. In addition, scholars maintain a website and a newsletter that is circulated throughout San Gabriel Valley in public and private schools. They are also involved in many community activities and play a vital role by sharing views as young leaders.
Qualifying Bright Futures Scholars attend a seven day Washington D.C. Leadership Spring Retreat where they gain knowledge in exercising their constitutional rights and actually discuss issues and pending legislation with members of congress, senators and others on Capitol Hill.
This is possibly one of the many things that make programs created by Dr. Sandra Thomas, Dean of Scholars and CEO of the Quality of Life Center, Inc., so promising. She has assembled groups of students, from as diverse an ethnic and economic base as you are ever likely to find, but who share one commonality—these students are academic achievers with a dream. They are encouraged to reach for the stars, believe in themselves and work hard to accomplish great things.
Dr. Thomas stated, “The program is designed to fill a particular gap in the educational system. In our effort to leave no student behind, we have somehow, at times, neglected many of our brightest. Through the scholars program, academically gifted students are given the extra attention and developmental opportunities needed to excel and become tomorrow’s leaders. They exemplify what can be accomplished when positive exposure is offered to young scholars truly focused on making a difference for themselves.”
For further information on the Quality of Life Center and the graduation and awards luncheon, contact La Wanda Burnes (626)798-5433, email:qualityoflifecenterinc@
Pictured: The Bright Futures Scholars class of 2010.
The Quality of Life Center, Inc., and 1,000 plus guests honored local students from the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) during the 5th Annual Bright Futures Scholars Graduation and Awards Luncheon at the Pasadena Convention Center on June 6.
The Bright Futures Scholars Support Program, now in its seventh year, provides leadership development, as well as personal mentoring to local middle school and high school accelerating achievers, including many with economic challenges. Carefully selected mentors encourage and provide avenues for these scholars to climb above the challenges and focus on improving their quality of life.
Volunteer mentors include US Congressman Adam Schiff, California Senator Carol Liu, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich (Honorary Dean of Scholars), Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, and many other dedicated leaders and volunteers such as physicians, clergy, corporate CEOs, attorneys, scientists, engineers, artists, educators, law enforcement officials, managers and administrators. To date, the program has assisted more than 1500 area students.
To participate in the Bright Futures Scholars Support Program, all students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and above. Program participants represent eleven local schools and are required to attend monthly leadership development meetings, participate in television tapings that air four times weekly on Public Access television. In addition, scholars maintain a website and a newsletter that is circulated throughout San Gabriel Valley in public and private schools. They are also involved in many community activities and play a vital role by sharing views as young leaders.
Qualifying Bright Futures Scholars attend a seven day Washington D.C. Leadership Spring Retreat where they gain knowledge in exercising their constitutional rights and actually discuss issues and pending legislation with members of congress, senators and others on Capitol Hill.
This is possibly one of the many things that make programs created by Dr. Sandra Thomas, Dean of Scholars and CEO of the Quality of Life Center, Inc., so promising. She has assembled groups of students, from as diverse an ethnic and economic base as you are ever likely to find, but who share one commonality—these students are academic achievers with a dream. They are encouraged to reach for the stars, believe in themselves and work hard to accomplish great things.
Dr. Thomas stated, “The program is designed to fill a particular gap in the educational system. In our effort to leave no student behind, we have somehow, at times, neglected many of our brightest. Through the scholars program, academically gifted students are given the extra attention and developmental opportunities needed to excel and become tomorrow’s leaders. They exemplify what can be accomplished when positive exposure is offered to young scholars truly focused on making a difference for themselves.”
For further information on the Quality of Life Center and the graduation and awards luncheon, contact La Wanda Burnes (626)798-5433, email:qualityoflifecenterinc@