2024 CYO Scholarships Awarded

Excitement in playing girls’ CYO volleyball was the common thread for the awardees this year, as the CYO Scholarship Committee awarded three annual scholarships from a group of fifty applications received from eighth graders in all CYO sports.
 
The scholarships were awarded to

• Alexandria Arcibal from St. Felicitas CYO, San Leandro;
• Sarai Espinoza from St. Elizabeth CYO, Oakland; and
• Emmy Abar from Holy Spirit CYO, Fremont.

 
All played multiple sports in CYO and are active in church and other activities.  They all had something to say about how their sports experience related to their faith.
 
Alexandria attended St. Felicitas Catholic School and participated in CYO cross country, girls’ basketball and girls’ volleyball. She also swam, was active on student council and is an altar server. In her scholarship essay, she wrote, “God will always be with you at church or preparing for a big sports game; you can always count on him to be your biggest cheerleader.”
 
Sarai attended St. Elizabeth Elementary School and participated in girls’ CYO volleyball as well as girls’ basketball and track.  She wrote in her essay, “My favorite part of CYO sports is praying before games. It has always given me the strength and courage before playing. knowing God is with me.”
 
Emmy attended Holy Spirit Catholic School and participated in girls’ volleyball, girls’ basketball, track, cross country and cheerleading.  She was student council president, senior acolyte, active in Girl Scouts and a Júnior Vincentian.  In her scholarship essay, she wrote, “My CYO journey taught me valuable lessons about sportsmanship, hard work, communication, teamwork, and the importance of faith. CYO gave me the opportunity to practice my commitment to living out the values and teachings of Christianity on and off the court.”
 
“Bill Ford” CYO Scholarships are awarded by the CYO Scholarship Committee each spring to three eighth grade CYO players. They apply with an essay on their understanding of the experience of CYO in their lives, and with a letter of recommendation from a significant adult. The top candidates then interview with the Committee. Athletic ability is not taken into consideration.  The $1,000 award is to be used for the awardee’s education. The scholarship is funded each year by a private foundation.
 
For more information on the CYO scholarships, visit
www.oakdiocese.org/cyo-scholarships