2008 Beat The Odds Scholarship Application

Click here to download the Application Form

Meet Four Who "Beat the Odds"

Group Recognized at Beat the Odds Awards Dinner

Four Beat The Odds Honorees include (left to right) Jacqueline Bonilla, Choua Yang, Mohamed Mohamed, and Tanya Allen.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Minnesota recognizes four inspirational local teens 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 2007 recipients of CDF's "Beat the Odds" Award and each received a $4,000 college scholarship at CDF's annual "Beat the Odds" awards dinner on March 1.

The Beat the Odds scholarship winners include Minneapolis High School students Choua Yang and Mohamed Mohamed, and St. Paul students Tanya Allen and Jacqueline Bonilla. The four were chosen from more than 60 nominees from schools across the Twin Cities.

"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."

At the event, Mayors R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis, and Chris Coleman of St. Paul presented the four with their scholarships, and nationally-known CDF founder and President Marian Wright Edelman gave the keynote address. WCCO radio personality Jack Rice served as emcee of the 15th annual event.

Meet Four Who "Beat the Odds" in 2007

Read Their Stories
Read the Press Release

2007 Beat the Odds Awards Dinner
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Minneapolis Hilton
5:30 p.m. Silent Auction
7 p.m. Dinner and Program

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.

CDF Founder Marian Wright Edelman speaking at the 2006 Beat the Odds Awards Dinner.

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.

Attend the Event or Donate to the Silent Auction

Please attend by purchasing a table or individual tickets. Table purchasers receive recognition through all promotional material, CDF MinnesotaÕs web site, its newsletter, and through priority seating. You can also participate by donating to the silent auction.

Tables of 10 are $5,000 (platinum), $3,000 (gold), $1,500 (silver), and $1,000 for small non-profits. Individual tickets are $100.

Contact Amy McTeague at 651-855-1185 or for information on tickets or the silent auction.

Four Who Beat the Odds: 2006
The Four 2006 BTO Scholarship winners are Katie DeSantis of Minneapolis, Pang Kou Yang of St. Paul, Westenley Alcenat of Minneapolis, and Rance Palmer of Minneapolis. Click here to learn more about the winners.

Beat the Odds 2006
Beat the Odds 2005