Lookout’s annual journalism scholarship competition drew an unprecedented 85 submissions from high school students across Santa Cruz County; here are the top 10.
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Posted inStudent Stories
Unsung Santa Cruz: Meet Ruby Vasquez, the woman building bridges across language barriers in public education
This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here. Watsonville is a beautiful, tight-knit community, with a wide range of diversity. Its community is built on strong connections and mutual support. […]
Posted inStudent Stories
Unsung Santa Cruz: Huyana Garcia, hero of the year helps to end homelessness one day at a time
Case manager Huyana Garcia is a kind and motivating local figure who dedicates time to helping families in need with Families in Transition.
Posted inStudent Stories
Unsung Santa Cruz: Dr. Katie Gabriel-Cox, the OB-GYN giving care from birth to end-of-life
This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here. While driving to Monterey, it is easy to realize how many people spend countless hours in the fields doing backbreaking labor and […]
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Unsung Santa Cruz: Coach Todd Hoffman amps up athletes and makes a difference
This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here. He champions. He empowers. He listens. He shows up. He is there for every student, every athlete, every workout, race, game, musical […]
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Unsung Santa Cruz: Teacher Tom Bentley nourishes the growth of both students and families
This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here. Open the dictionary, find the definition of a hero: “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble […]
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Unsung Santa Cruz: Ms. Roxana Jimenez, the teacher changing lives beyond the classroom
This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here. When Ms. Jimenez steps into her Spanish classroom at Soquel High School, she does more than just teach a language — she […]
Posted inStudent Stories
Unsung Santa Cruz: Digital NEST provides a powerful space for Latinx youth to grow tech skills
This article was a winner of Lookout’s 2025 Journalism Scholarship Challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. Learn more and find all of the winners here. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS What is a hero? […]
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Unsung Santa Cruz: Inspiration through drumming; Zack Olsen’s story
Zack Olsen is an inspirational musician who has helped students achieve music awards.
Posted inStudent Stories
Unsung Santa Cruz: How a devastating bike crash sparked Danny Cortazzo’s mission to spread beach joy
This article was in the top 3 winners of Lookout’s Journalism Scholarship challenge, which invited high school students to highlight an unsung hero in their life. For placing in the top 3 they were awarded a $500 scholarship. Learn more and find all of the winners here. It takes a village. In the case of […]