True Potential, a scholarship program for young immigrants who have been awarded DACA or TPS and will attend a community college in Nebraska or Iowa has been a brilliant example of the power of our platform. It is led by one of our Board Members, Ross Pesek and his (much smarter) wife Karen. Ross and Karen have a passion for helping those left behind. They knows the community college system well, being a product of it themselves and wanted to bring communities together to help.
In 2014 he brought the scholarship idea up to our Board and within an hour we had the organization up and running (economies of scale – being efficient at being effective). Ross gained partnerships from community colleges throughout Nebraska and Iowa, then gained the support individuals from all walks of life.
In 2014 we awarded 5 scholarships, in 2015 we awarded 7 scholarships and in 2016 we awarded a mind blowing 17 scholarships! This pays for an entire year of someone’s school. We can hardly believe are working each day to provide the platform for individuals like Ross, Karen and True Potential to do such good works.
2015 Scholarship Recipients:
From left to right:
Luis Olivas – Central Community College
Ross Pesek, Director of True Potential
Liliana Martinez – Southeast Community College
Jackeline Lopez – Central Community College
Martin Hernandez – Metropolitan Community College
Karen Pesek, Director of Finance at Pesek Law
Not pictured:
Priscilla Hernandez – Western Nebraska CC
Salvador Morales – Iowa Western CC
Jose de Jesus Flores Lopez – Central CC