Exchange Club of Aurora nine scholarship recipients from Aurora schools pose at the annual Scholarship Award Luncheon, Tuesday, at Support Techs – Gallery 1904, 1 E. Benton Street, in Aurora. The A.C.E. Award (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) honors students from East Aurora and West Aurora High Schools who have overcome significant challenges to earn high school diplomas. Many of the challenges the students and families faced were shared at the event, including health, poverty, and obstacles at a level most families do not encounter. The students’ efforts to overcome setbacks were applauded by members of the Exchange Club of Aurora.
Recipients are, front row, left to right: Emerson Avila, West Aurora; Gabriela Rivera, East Aurora; Therese Solgos, West Aurora; Nina Zapeda, West Aurora; back row, left to right: Refugio Ocon, East Aurora; Gonzalo Magaña, East Aurora; Julian Torres, East Aurora; Jesus Gonzalez, West Aurora; Nya Nazario, West Aurora.
Nya Nazario was nominated to be considered for the Lincolnland District’s A.C.E. scholarship recipient for 2019. During her junior year, her mother was re-diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer and her father was not part of her life. She lives with either her track coach’s family or her grandmother, each in Chicago, and has an hour-and-half commute on public transportation each way. She excels both academically and on the track team.
Jason Crane/The Voice