WHITTIER –  Three college-bound Santa Fe High School seniors are seeing their higher education journeys receive a financial boost, after being named Youth Enrichment Fund (YEF) Destiny Scholars and receiving scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 from the Santa Fe Springs Chamber/League program designed to support Santa Fe Springs high school students.

Santa Fe High seniors Samuel Zamora, Sandra Sanchez, and Rida Athar were each named Destiny Scholars, with Zamora receiving a $20,000 scholarship, while Sanchez and Athar both received $5,000 scholarships.

“Congratulations to our Destiny Scholars, who are so very deserving of this honor,” Santa Fe Principal Craig Campbell said. “The Destiny Scholarships reflect the culture of student achievement at Santa Fe High, which is driven by dedicated teachers and an inspired student body working towards success in college and career.”

The scholarship recipients praised the Santa Fe College and Career Center and its advisor Ashley Alas for keeping them informed of financial aid opportunities, as well as 2025 Destiny Scholar and Santa Fe High graduate Mia Fernandez, who personally reached out to Zamora and Sanchez, urging them to apply. Fernandez currently attends UC San Diego.

Zamora, who boasts a 4.31 GPA, plans to attend UC San Diego and study political science and pre-law, with a goal of continuing to law school.

“I began to get interested in law as a freshman, after learning about how law, political science, and public policy affects our community,” Zamora said. “I have many family members that are lawyers and public officials, and after hearing stories from my classmates about the challenges they face, I can see myself continuing to do this work and help my community.”

Zamora has been involved in student leadership since his sophomore year, currently serving as Santa Fe’s Associated Student Body (ASB) vice president. Zamora served as a California Association of Student Leaders (CASL) regional director, attending CASL student leader conventions, meeting with peers, and learning how to empower his communities. Zamora was also a member of the Santa Fe High football and soccer teams.

Sanchez, who has a 3.8 GPA, plans to attend San Diego State University, looking to major in criminal justice and become a crime scene investigator.

“My mom works for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and I’ve always been interested in law enforcement, but I didn’t want to go through the rigors of the police academy,” Sanchez said. “I took a Río Hondo College dual enrollment class in administration of justice, which really opened my eyes. It taught me hands-on skills and how to get in the mind of criminals.”

Sanchez completed the dual enrollment course and will receive a certificate from Río Hondo College in June. Sanchez is also involved in ASB, currently serving as Santa Fe’s activities assistant, which allows her to better connect with her classmates. She is president of the school’s Media and Production team, and assists students in learning photography and videography. Sanchez was also a member of Santa Fe’s track & field and dance teams.

Athar, who has a 4.0 GPA, plans to attend UC Riverside and study either bioengineering or biochemistry.

“My dad is an engineer so I’ve always had an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). There are always new things to learn and discover with STEM, which is why I love it so much,” Athar said. “I remember in sophomore chemistry lab, doing the invisible ink challenge with our STEM Club; it amazed me that you could do a simple calculation and make things disappear.”

Athar is a four-year member of the college-prep program Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and currently serves as an AVID mentor for underclassmen. Athar also volunteers as a tutor at the Santa Fe Springs Library, is a member of the National Honor Society, and was selected by the College Board as a BigFuture Ambassador.

The YEF Destiny Scholarships are given annually to high school students residing in Santa Fe Springs who will be attending a four-year university. The YEF is sponsored by the Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce.

PHOTO CAPTIONS 

WUHSD_DESTINY1: Santa Fe High School senior Samuel Zamora was named a Destiny Scholar and the recipient of a $20,000 scholarship.

WUHSD_DESTINY2: Sandra Sanchez, a senior from Santa Fe High School, received a $5,000 scholarship after being named a Destiny Scholar.

WUHSD_DESTINY3: Senior Rida Athar from Santa Fe High School is the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship after being named a Youth Enrichment Fund Destiny Scholar.