Celebrating Our 2026 College Scholarship Recipients
Twenty-four students. Twenty-four futures filled with possibility.
On May 26, Share Ourselves proudly celebrated the recipients of the 2026 First In Family College Scholarship Program, honoring 24 graduating seniors from Back Bay, Costa Mesa, Estancia, and Newport Harbor High Schools who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
Surrounded by family members, educators, donors, and community supporters, the students gathered to celebrate a milestone that represents more than graduation from high school. For many first-generation college students, pursuing higher education means navigating unfamiliar territory, overcoming obstacles, and creating opportunities that can change the trajectory of an entire family.
The First In Family Scholarship Program is an opportunity in which students are identified through school-based recommendations from district liaisons who recognize students that demonstrate interest and potential for higher education, along with a need for encouragement, mentorship, and financial support. The program is designed to ensure that students who are not recognized for academic scholarships are still given meaningful access to a college opportunity.
The scholarship reception featured a series of personal reflections from community leaders whose own journeys mirrored many of the challenges and triumphs these students may encounter.
Kimm Sharp, Share Ourselves’ Chief Workforce Officer and a first-generation college graduate herself, welcomed students and families while reflecting on the power of community support. She shared how programs like First In Family embody the organization’s commitment to expanding opportunity and ensuring students have the resources they need to pursue their goals.
Rudy Ramos, Share Ourselves Chief Operations Officer, shared a deeply personal story about being accepted to his dream school, UCLA, but chose not to attend because he questioned whether he belonged there. Looking back, he realized that self-doubt—not ability—was what stood in his way. After attending community college and later transferring to Cal Poly Pomona, he built a successful career and encouraged students not to let fear define their future.
“I want you to show up, even when doubt shows up,” Ramos told the students. “Because you will hit a wall. And when you hit that wall, the answer is not to disappear. The answer is to keep showing up.”
Manuel Chavez, Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Costa Mesa and Chief of Staff for Irvine City Council District 4, spoke candidly about failing a major college course and the choice he faced afterward. Rather than allowing a setback to define him, he persevered, graduated, and built a career serving the community he loves.
“That could have ended if I’d said I’m going to college getting an F,” Chavez said. “But instead I ended up graduating from college, getting a job in my career of choice, working in City Council in Costa Mesa, and now I’m doing a big part in serving my community and serving you guys.”
Sean Wallengard of the Orange Coast College Foundation encouraged students to embrace exploration and growth throughout their college experience. Sharing his own story of changing majors and discovering new interests, he reminded students that success is not always a straight line and that colleges offer resources, mentors, and support systems to help them find their path.
Share Ourselves Board Chairman Will Klatte closed with a reflection on legacy and the lasting impact of being the first.
“You are embarking on a journey,” Klatte said. “And who knows, maybe 20 years from now, maybe 100 years from now, someone will start to tell a story, saying my grandpa, my grandma, or uncle, or aunt.”
His remarks captured that every student who takes this step to advance their education helps create new possibilities for those who follow.
Each scholarship recipient received a $1,000 scholarship, a laptop, gift cards for school supplies, and a college sweatshirt to support them as they begin this next chapter. More importantly, they left with the encouragement of a community that believes in their potential and is invested in their success.
Congratulations to our 2026 First In Family recipients. We are proud to celebrate your achievements to date and look forward to all that you will accomplish in the years ahead.