Riverhead High School’s senior class is fundraising for a new scholarship program created to help low-income graduates continue their studies.
The Waves of Opportunity Scholarship will help graduating seniors who “demonstrated academic excellence, community involvement, and a strong commitment to their future,” attend college, trade school, or other post-secondary education programs, according to senior class president Lorena Correa, spearheaded its creation.
“I actually come from a low-income background, so I know that college and the next steps for my future are up in the air because of money,” Correa said. “I wanted to make it a possibility for someone else at the high school to also go to college and make that opportunity available for other students.”
The scholarship’s online fundraiser opened today with the goal of raising $10,000 and the hope of receiving more. “Depending on how much money we get, we will then be able to decide if we want more than one person to receive the scholarship,” Correa said. The fundraiser is open until April 4.
A majority of the students at the high school come from low income families, she added; 58% of students are “economically disadvantaged,” according to the New York State Department of Education.
Class of 2025 faculty advisor Riley McHugh said Correa came to him with the idea of the scholarship at the beginning of the school year. “She really was excited about giving back to her fellow classmates and community,” McHugh said. “And once she came with me to the idea, I thought it was a fantastic way to show Riverhead spirit and to try and give back to the seniors who worked really hard these past four years to get to graduation.”
“As the Riverhead High School Class of 2025, we have grown, persevered, and uplifted one another,” the description of the fundraiser says. “The Waves Of Opportunity Scholarship represents our belief in the power of education and community—ensuring that those who have dedicated themselves to both can continue striving toward their dreams.”
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
