Jorge Ochoa. Photo by BB Rivas / El Concilio Family Services
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Services 2014 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Saturday, May 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here to register or to become a sponsor or call 805-486-9777 for more information.
Amigos805 staff reports
Jorge Ochoa, a senior student at Oxnard High School, was born in Oxnard but moved at an early age to Bakersfield. Both his parents had limited education and so the family moved to several locations between California and Texas in search of work.
Ochoa returned to Oxnard when he was 12 and went on to earning A’s in most of his honors and advanced placement courses at Oxnard High School. On Advance Placement Exams, he has earned 5’s in U.S. History, Chemistry and English Language composition, earning 4’s in European History and Biology, and earning a 4.58 Grade Point Average, ranking number one at the high school.
He was selected as a Questbridge Scholar, an honor bestowed to only 400 students from the U.S. out of the total of 5,000 finalists. He has earned early admission to his top university, Stanford, with a full $250,000 scholarship.
Ochoa also serves as a peer tutor for underprivileged students as a Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) member since the 7th grade. He supplements the family income by tutoring and workings weekends by helping his father as an auto mechanic.
“Jorge is a first-generation college bound student,” according to one nomination letter. “Both parents are immigrants with limited education His mother dropped out of elementary school to work and help the family and his father only finished junior high school. In spite of this, they have instilled a hard work ethic and have motivated Jorge to excel academically. His family is proud of his accomplishments. Jorge’s struggles have taught him responsibility, determination and have strengthened his character. In 20 years as an educator, I have not met a more deserving and talented young man.”
For more information on El Concilio’s programs and services or reservations for the awards gala, visit www.elconciliofs.org or call 805-486-9777.