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Love of Learning Brought Teen Through Hard Times, Student overcame family strife, time on streets
By Marjorie Hernandez
Ventura County Star, April 28, 2010

For Cheyenne Summers, graduating and moving on to college means more than just improving her education. It’s a means of survival.

Her mother was addicted to cocaine, crystal meth and other drugs, and Summers was born addicted, too, she said. Her mother periodically disappeared from their home even when Summers was just a young child, and she basically raised herself. Her father was an abusive drug addict and alcoholic who was sent to jail when Summers was 2, she said.

Now, the 17-year-old teen expects to graduate in June from Community High School in Moorpark with a 3.8 grade-point average and has already completed courses at Moorpark College. She wants to study multimedia art design. But without financial assistance, she cannot afford to continue college, even though she has a job, she said.

Summers was among 89 high school seniors recognized Tuesday night at the 27th annual Star Scholar Awards Banquet at the Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. She was selected to receive the program’s annual $5,000 Julius Gius Star Scholarship.

As she moved from home to home, Summers said, reading became her escape and her salvation.
“My mom would leave without warning ... so I left and didn’t feel the need to come back,” said Summers, who recalls first running away from home at the age of 6 or 7. “I slept in cars and warehouses with other kids who would also come and go.

“The older kids would sometimes pick fights with us younger kids ... and I would just bury myself in reading. I got made fun of and they would say, ‘You don’t need your education out here. All you need is your reputation.’ But I just kept reading anything I could get my hands on. That’s why education is my focus.”

Participating high schools nominated students, who had to fill out applications and write personal essays. High schools with 10 to 100 graduating seniors were able to nominate one student, schools with 101 to 300 graduates nominated two, and those with 300 or more could nominate three.

The event was sponsored by The Star, the Ventura County Community Foundation and the county Office of Education. All students recognized at the banquet will receive scholarships from the foundation, which has raised $20,000 so far this year.

The goal is to raise at least $40,000 by the end of May, so each scholar can receive $500, said Hugh Ralston, foundation president and CEO.

Every year, a panel of judges from The Star reads the essays and picks one student to receive the $5,000 Julius Gius Star Scholarship. Gius was the editor of the Ventura Star-Free Press from 1960 to 1988.

This year, that scholarship went to Summers, who was at the banquet with foster parents Tim and Joanne Kubelka. The Kubelkas have been taking care of Summers and her younger sister, Kaila, for about nine years.

“She really worked hard, and she deserves it,” Tim Kubelka said.

Tuesday’s event also featured keynote speaker Shannon Miller, a seven-time Olympic medalist. Miller spoke about the triumphs and challenges she faced as an elite gymnast and provided the scholars with advice. While setting short- and long-term goals are important, recognizing and cherishing the support from family, counselors and teachers is just as important to reach success, Miller said.

“People will tell you reasons why you can’t succeed,” Miller said. “It is your job to show them you will. Actively pursue your passion by setting your goals, but most of all remember to enjoy your journey.”

At the end of the night, county Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth called each scholar to the front of the room, where he or she received a small trophy and a certificate.

Summers looked thrilled and shocked when Star Editor Joe Howry announced her name as the winner of this year’s Gius Star Scholarship. The packed room gave Summers a standing ovation after Howry finished reading her winning essay.

“This is going to help me a lot and it will cover at least the first two years at Moorpark College,” said Summers, who smiled shyly as other scholars greeted her with praise. “It feels great.”
At the end of the night, Summers received another surprise: Robert Emrick, County Schools Federal Credit Union CEO, said the organization would match the Gius Star Scholarship.

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