Student with cancer overcomes obstacles

At the last minute, she gave the OK to do a CAT scan. With no major problems standing out, Martinez-Luna was sent home. She returned shortly after because doctors had found an ovarian tumor which turned out to be cancerous.

The diagnosis put many things in question for Martinez-Luna, who needed to apply to and figure out how to pay for college while going through treatment. Earlier this month, Martinez-Luna was among a group of 18 students who received a four-year, $3,000 annual scholarship through the Peninsula College Fund. Monetary help is part of the process. PCF also offers ongoing mentoring and internship placement for students in hopes of giving deserving students from low-economic areas a chance to succeed in college.

Before being chosen as a recipient, Martinez-Luna had doubts about her abilities to complete high school, let alone get into college.

She did three rounds of chemotherapy, but was out of school until late March. During the first round, Martinez-Luna was able to do some school work. But it really took a back seat for the remainder of treatment.

The downtime did give her a chance to apply to colleges, but not completing high school would delay any collegiate goal.

Upon returning to Summit, Martinez-Luna wasn’t confident in her ability to graduate on time.

"I wouldn’t even try to do my work,” she said. "I was really behind.”

But in the last stretch of days, Martinez-Luna found inspiration. She dedicated additional time before and after school to catching up. Teachers stayed after to help the effort. Martinez-Luna didn’t complete the work until the very last day of school, but she did.

Earning the scholarship was an additional achievement. It gave Martinez-Luna the ability to attend college.

Martinez-Luna plans to attend California State University, East Bay to study speech pathology. Many people in her family have speech problems, including her little brother.

"These students should not be limited in their education by personal financial circumstances,” said Founder Charles Schmuck. "We provide them with scholarships, mentoring and summer internships that will help them achieve their short- and long-term educational and career goals.”

The Peninsula College Fund first honored three students in 2006 and has grown the number of students whom it supports annually. It all started as an inspiration from Schmuck’s brother who has a similar foundation supporting students in Los Angeles. Schmuck volunteered as a mentor for one of the students and then held a local fundraiser for the organization, at which others asked why they weren’t supporting local students.

Schmuck agreed and started researching the need locally and found there were a group of students who are not the top academically, but perform strongly with a significant financial need. Today the group supports students from Redwood City, East Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. While Schmuck admitted the $12,000 scholarship paid over four years is a draw for students, he pointed to the emotional support and internship placement as one of the most helpful things the group offers.

Marisol Gomez, one of the original three scholarship recipients who graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz this year, agreed.

While the money gave Gomez the opportunity to go away and have a real college experience, it was the mentor relationship that helped her get through college.

"My mentor guided me through a lot. Especially after my first year when adapting to college was tough as I faced academic probation. My mentor, since she had been in the same position, advised me on how to relax and seek for help on campus like tutoring. If it weren’t for her, I probably would still be completing another year,” Gomez said.

She described PCF as a family whose support encouraged her to excel.

"If I disappoint them I disappoint myself,” she said.

Gomez plans to use her degree to get involved with the East Palo Alto community, where she grew up, and work with undocumented students to achieve academic success.

The Peninsula College Fund is always looking for supporters, which could come in the form of a monetary contribution, volunteer work, internship opportunities or by becoming a mentor. For more information visit www.peninsulacollegefund.org or contact Charles Schmuck at 561-9534 or cschmuck@pacbell.net.