Four Deserving Young People Honored as
2008 "Beat The Odds" Scholarship Winners

The 2008 Beat the Odds Scholarship winners are (left to right) Fadumo Hassan of Minneapolis Edison Hight School, Justin Haynes-McKizzie of Minneapolis Washburn High School, Maricruz Monreal of St. Paul Johnson High School, and (front) Maipacher Her of St. Paul Harding High School.

Children's Defense Fund has chosen four deserving Twin Cities young people who have overcome extreme adversity, including the violent death of parents, poverty, serious illness, family violence and abuse, and chemical addictions to succeed in school and life. The four were named the 2008 recipients of CDF's "Beat the Odds" Award and each will receive a $4,000 college scholarship at CDF's annual "Beat the Odds" awards dinner Tuesday, February 26 at 7 p.m. at the Depot in Minneapolis.

"Too often attention is focused on Minnesota teens who commit crimes and get into trouble, but those who do well despite having to overcome long odds are rarely recognized," said Children's Defense Fund Minnesota Director Jim Koppel. "These four exceptional students have had to deal with problems that would derail most young lives. They've done so with an effort and determination that is not only inspiring, but also leading them on to college and careers. We are recognizing them for their hard work, academic excellence, community service and personal determination to beat the odds."

The Beat the Odds scholarship winners include Minneapolis High School students Justin Haynes McKizzie and Fadumo Hassan, and St. Paul students Maipacher Her and Maricruz Monreal. The four were chosen from more 80 nominees from schools across the Twin Cities.

Four Spotlighted at Beat the Odds Awards Dinner February 26

The four honorees officially received their scholarships at the 16th Annual Beat the Odds Awards Dinner on Tuesday, February 26 at 7 p.m. at the Depot in Minneapolis. Mayors R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis, and Chris Coleman of St. Paul helped present the scholarships.

The event is sponsored by Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP; Matt Entenza and Lois Quam; the Dunning Family Scholarship, and Thomson West.

Read the Four Honorees' Stories.

About Beat the Odds
Children's Defense Fund Minnesota's Beat the Odds program is an annual awards dinner honoring four local high school seniors who have have overcome exceptional challenges to become personally and academically successful. Past honorees have gone on to graduate college and become successful personally, academically, and in their careers.

The four high school seniors honored will be chosen from a list of nominees, and will receive a scholarship to further their education. The life stories of these young people are often heart wrenching, and their courage a strength are an inspiration to all who attend the event. A silent auction kicks off the Beat the Odds dinner each year and is the major fundraising effort of CDF Minnesota.

Beat the Odds 2007
Beat the Odds 2006