Two graduates of Discovery Charter Preparatory School in Sylmar were among 10 students who were each awarded $3,000 scholarships from the nonprofit Think Together to help support their transition to higher education this fall.
Think Together, which provides expanded learning opportunities for students across California, selected Discovery Charter classmates Samuel Hernandez and Rosie Medrano as recipients of the 2026 Beyond Think Together Scholarship for demonstrating exceptional growth and commitment to their education.
Hernandez found support and stability through Think Together despite facing significant challenges at home, including eviction. He credits the nonprofit with helping him remain focused on his goals and empowering him to pursue his college and career aspirations.
This fall, Hernandez will attend Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar with plans to transfer to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he will study construction engineering and management.
Medrano said she felt the care and positive energy that Think Together staff provided from the first day she joined the program, noting that they help ensure students are set up for success. For Medrano, Think Together was a safe haven during a time when her home life was overwhelming and she was having trouble staying motivated at school; mentors helped get her back on track.
Medrano will attend the University of California, Los Angeles, while remaining committed to serving her community, a value reinforced through her experience with Think Together. She wants to become a surgeon to honor the memory of her father, who was a surgical technician.
Think Together’s high school programs served more than 9,000 California students across 32 school sites in 2025. Students participate in a variety of college, career and life-readiness activities and training, including workforce development, financial literacy and driver education.