The San Bernardino Education Foundation’s Mentor Supported Scholarship Pillar has awarded more than $3.9 million in scholarships to SBCUSD seniors since 2016, helping cover the costs and tuition associated with attending a higher-education institution after high school. Each year, local organizations and individuals raise funds to support between 65 and 100 Mentor Supported Scholarship awards. Each recipient receives $3,000, distributed over the first two years of college, and access to an assigned peer mentor who is a former scholarship recipient and SBCUSD graduate.
Applications across the district increase each year. In the 2026 cycle, more than 300 seniors applied, and 63 scholarships were awarded. The recipients are now attending a range of higher-education institutions, including community colleges, UC and CSU campuses, private universities and trade schools.
The Foundation hopes to one day raise enough funds to provide a scholarship to every SBCUSD senior who wants to attend a higher-education institution. San Bernardino students should know that their community supports their dreams and career goals. The program provides more than financial assistance and mentorship; it gives students the support they need to continue striving despite social and economic challenges.
Many past and current scholarship recipients demonstrate the powerful impact a mentor-supported scholarship can have on a student. Liliana “Lily” Aceves is one of the 2026 scholarship recipients and a recipient of the Yuhaaviatam Scholarship Award. A graduate of San Bernardino High School, Lily is now studying psychology at her dream school, UC Berkeley, with the goal of becoming a child psychologist.
She explained that high school was about making time for everything she cared about. Lily spent four years on the varsity tennis team, helping lead it to a league championship and a CIF appearance. She also spent four years in the CTE Theater Program, acting, managing and working backstage, and won an award for a video project at the State Festival.
In addition, Lily competed in the Mr. and Miss Cardinal pageant and remained deeply involved in campus life. She helped revive the Sobobans Club as vice president; served as co-president of Cardinal Buddies; held secretary positions in AVID and Tennis Club; and remained active in Life Skillz, Asian Club and LGBTQ+ Club—all while serving as the vice mayor of Cardinal City.
In addition to these accomplishments, Lily is fluent in two languages and has intermediate proficiency in ASL. Communication and connection are important to Lily, which is why she completed three separate psychology internships during high school to prepare for her future career.
When asked how the Mentor Supported Scholarship has impacted her future, she explained:
“Coming from an under-resourced community, I often look around at the people here and wonder how anyone could ever want more from a place that is so forgiving. I am so grateful for the time and energy I poured into my passions because it got me where I am today. The Making Hope Happen scholarship (now known as the San Bernardino Education Foundation) is giving me a life-changing opportunity, and I want to use my education to give back and support young people the exact way I always wished I was.”
Help us grow the future of San Bernardino students by donating to our Foundation today!