The Give Something Back Foundation awards full scholarships to nine hard-working Trenton youths.
TRENTON - In just four years nine freshmen from Trenton's Foundation Collegiate Academy will be on their way to college debt-free.
The scholarships come courtesy of the Give Something Back Foundation - a nonprofit organization that provides mentors and scholarships to help Pell Grant-eligible kids go to college.
"I was pretty excited because I didn't think I would get in," said one of the students, Kristofer Guadron. "I was basically in denial."
"At first I thought 'this can't be real, I'm in a dream or something,'" Guadron said. "I tried to pinch myself but it didn't work - this is actually real life."
"This is four years - paid," he said. "It's like you're set basically."
The foundation was established by businessman Robert Carr, founder of Princeton-based Heartland Payment Systems, with the goal of sending students who might not be able to afford steep tuition costs.
Carr received a $250 scholarship from the Lockport Woman's Club when he was accepted to the University of Illinois in 1963 - and vowed someday he would give back.
Unlike other scholarships traditionally given to high school seniors, the program selects students early in their high school careers and pairs them with mentors who will guide them along the way.
"We're just starting to get our scholarships in freshman year and usually you get it at senior year - that's crazy," said fellow awardee Audrey Vargas.
Each applicant must go through a family information meeting, obtain school and community recommendations and participate in an in-person interview in order to be eligible for the scholarship.
The process was a nail-biter.
"It was long," said Vargas. "We had our orientation in January, then we had to do a college estimator to see if moneywise we were eligible, we had to do the application process, and then... we had to wait until April... to see if we actually got in."
"Then in April they sent emails and then letters," she said.
"I was like 'oh my gosh!,'" she said. "I called my best friend... I called my mom, I told my grandma, I told everybody."
The students must maintain a B average throughout high school, participate in a mentoring program and attend workshops to continue in the program.
As seniors, the students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be accepted into the partner colleges.
The seven other students from the Foundation Academy are Jennifer Araya, Alecia Cason, Destiny Colon, Nyi'shera Hairston, Justin Polanco, Donovan Smith and Elmer Sobalbarro.
Carr said in a prior interview that the first six or seven years of the program, they chose top high school seniors who had need but found it would be better to start at a younger age.
"That worked great, but after one of our kids graduated from Harvard with honors, we realized you know these kids are going to make it without our help," Carr has said. "Let's help some kids who maybe come from a family who never had anyone go to college."
"My mom went to a two-year business school... but in my household I'm the first one going to college for four years," said Vargas.
Both Guadron and Vargas have big plans while trying to stay focused.
"I want to be a bioengineer," said Guadron. "I just find science very interesting."
"I want to be a lawyer." she Vargas. "I'm thinking of double majoring with music and performance as well."
"It's a big relief, but then again you have to work on your grades and keep them up because... you can lose the scholarship...," she said.
Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.