GGUSD Celebrates Class of 2026 Simon Scholars

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

At its November 12^th meeting, the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) Board of Education recognized 56 high school juniors who were named Class of 2026 Simon Scholars. The Simon Scholar program is a life-changing opportunity that provides students with a host of resources to support their college and career goals. GGUSD is proud that of the 191 Class of 2026 Simon Scholars across Orange County, nearly 29%, are GGUSD students.

Students are selected as Simon Scholars through a rigorous application and interview process and receive a $16,000 college scholarship, a laptop, mentoring, college coaching and application support, leadership and life-skills training, and opportunities to participate in a variety of college tours and community service initiatives. Students continue to receive support from the Simon Family Foundation in college including workshops, team-building events, and career networking opportunities.

GGUSD has partnered with the Simon Family Foundation since 2007 beginning with one high school but has consistently grown over the years. Next year, all seven of GGUSD comprehensive high schools will participate, making all GGUSD sophomores eligible for the Simon Scholar Program.

Simon Scholar Family Foundation Executive Director Andy Robles also attended the board meeting to highlight the organization’s longstanding partnership with GGUSD and to recognize GGUSD as the first Simon Scholar Legacy District.

“We are grateful for our positive relationship with the Simon Family Foundation which shares our mission of ensuring economically disadvantaged students have access and support to achieve their college and career goals,” said Board of Education Trustee Bob Harden. “The Simon Family Foundation has made an incredible difference for our students for more than 20 years, removing barriers and opening up opportunities for students to achieve lifelong success.”

Click here to watch our video which provides testimonials from Class of 2026 Simon Scholars across the district.