6th Annual Janessa Ramirez Scholarship Awards

To honor and remember Janessa, the Foundation for Central Schools adopted the Janessa Ramirez Scholarship Program. In April of 2016 the first annual Janessa Ramirez Scholarship Awards took place, and six outstanding Central Unified Seniors were each awarded a $2500 scholarship. Since then, the Foundation for Central Schools has grown the program to keep Janessas’ story alive and educate the importance of gang prevention. In 2020, the Foundation announced the award of an additional $2500 scholarship. Which increased the total to seven scholarships.In spring of 2021, the first Janessa Ramirez mural was commissioned by muralist Samantha Lazcano. The mural represents Janessa’s story. It is our hope the mural will bring awareness to gang violence in the Central Community and surrounding areas. The mural is located at Granville Teague Community Resource Center and will stay for the next 4 years.
Today, the scholarship program is thriving and adapting to keep Janessa’s memory alive through the power of education and community outreach. This year, the Foundation for Central Schools Board of Directors approved to increase the program to ten (10) $2500 scholarships.

The Foundation for Central Schools was founded in 2004 by parents, staff and community members of Central Unified. The Foundation immediately went to work, by creating grants for classroom projects and teachers. Since its inception, the Foundation has grown to include a scholarship program, jacket & sweater distribution, clothing closets, food distribution and textbook grants. Additionally, the Foundation has provided monetary support to a number of district programs like, History day and Young Authors’ Faire. Plus, assistance for opportunities like students performing at Carnegie Hall. To date, nearly $1.5 million dollars has been raised to support the mission. Today, the Foundation actively advocates for community investment and partnerships to provide high-quality educational experiences for Central Unified.