Boys & Girls Club in Cypress awarded employee Shaunna Gamboa with a full scholarship through their partner, University of Phoenix, at a reception in her honor on May 29. Gamboa, 30, of Anaheim is one of 250 applicants nationwide, one of 30 scholarship award winners and one of two awarded in southern California. The scholarships are open to all employees, parents and alumni of the club.
“It’s kind of surreal being awarded the scholarship,” said the single mother of two. “It’s beyond a dream come true. I would have never been able to go to college on my own.”
Gamboa has been working since February 2012 at the club as an administrative assistant and was recently promoted to office manager this month. She wanted to be near her two children, Breanna, 11, and Aiden, 8, who attend the club in Cypress. She works there full time and studies at night in her one bedroom apartment after they go to bed, taking classes online. She said her children inspired her to apply for the scholarship. She is pursuing her B.S. degree in Human Services.
Life wasn’t always so good for Gamboa, who grew up in a rough neighborhood in Norwalk. She became pregnant with her first child two weeks after her high school graduation. She worked for several years in accounting and had gone back to school to become a preschool teacher, but returned to office work to make a better living.
“I wanted a job working in an office setting with kids,” she said. “The Boys and Girls Club has been a blessing ever since I started.”
“It’s a new beginning and a new chapter,” said Gamboa of the scholarship. “I figure better now (for college), than never.”
At her reception, Gamboa was presented with flowers from the Boys & Girls Club children, certificates from University of Phoenix and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk Silva’s office along with a new laptop computer from the Boys & Girls Club board members. She was in tears expressing her gratitude to board members, parents and her own children.
Gamboa credits her two greatest mentors, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Anne Hertz and Area Director Sue Osbon. “She has such an inspiring story about how people can change their lives,” said Hertz. “I’m so proud of her. She is hardworking and a great example to her children and all club members.” “We are so excited for Shaunna,” said Osbon. “When I met Shaunna, I knew she was very special. She sets very high standards but sets the highest standards for herself. She is very tough and very committed. She is very deserving of this scholarship.”
Another co-worker, Director of Club King’s Allison Valois said Gamboa is the glue that bonds the site together and that without her, they’d be lost. Gamboa works like glue in that she loves connecting parents and families together with the resources the club offers. She once knew a girl who needed shoes but that her mother, who was undergoing chemotherapy, was embarrassed to come in the club due to being bald. So, Gamboa partnered with another parent who was getting rid of a wig. She gave the wig to the parent in need. Finally the mother came in and Gamboa was able to give a gift certificate to Vans shoes.
“I love making connections with parents to each other,” said Gamboa.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club in Cypress, please call 714-527-2697 or visit them online at www.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com.
