MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A 17-year-old Medford girl who was homeless last year has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Children’s Defense Fund for overcoming adversity.
The Mail Tribune reported that Dakota Garza, a senior honor student at North Medford High School, is the first Medford recipient of the national Beat the Odds scholarship.
The scholarship is given to high school seniors who have overcome tremendous adversity to achieve academic excellence, demonstrate leadership and want to attend college.
Officials said Garza’s father’s died when she was a toddler. She was homeless with her mother before declaring herself legally emancipated, and getting a job and an apartment with the help of the Community Works program in Medford.
