Community Corner

Spotlight: Canyon Crest's Holly Ravazzolo Wins $20K Sunflower Scholarship

Canyon Crest Academy's Holly Ravazzolo has been awarded a $20,000 Sunflower Scholarship from the Chelsea's Light Foundation for her work in the community and academic success.

"Just as Chelsea was one of a kind and lived an extraordinary life, these teenagers are compassionate, visionary and will make positive change in their own unique way,” Kelly King said. "They value individuality and embrace diversity in activities, relationships and perspective.”

Kelly and Brent King started the Chelsea's Light Foundation in 2010 in honor of their 17-year-old daughter Chelsea, who was kidnapped and killed while out running near Lake Hodges in Rancho Bernardo. A Finish Chelsea's Run 5K each year and other sponsorships fuel the Chelsea's Light Sunflower Scholarship Fund.

This year, 10 students received awards. Ravazzolo was chosen for the special "Sparkle" scholarship, worth an initial $10,000 then $10,000 more over three years.

What the foundation had to say about the Canyon Crest student:

Holly’s limitless energy flowed into her leadership of the Improv Club, her advocacy of diversity and acceptance through Students Learning Acceptance Through Education and her participation on her school’s Aluminum Narwhal robotics team. Her passion for change was clearly demonstrated through organizing and hosting globally streamed TED events, designed to spread the message of empowerment, inspiration and accountability.    

The foundation awarded seven $2,000 scholarships which, in a surprise, were announced to become ongoing awards totaling $5,000 over four years. The other two winners will receive a total of $10,000 and $6,000 over four years. Sony Electronics also donated new Sony Vaio laptops to all 10 winners and each will get a sweatshirt from the college they plan to attend.

For Ravazzolo, that means a sweatshirt from Washington University in St. Louis, MO where she plans to pursue a career in medicine with an emphasis in neonatology, according to the foundation.

More than 250 students from 68 county high schools applied for Sunflower Scholarships. 


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