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CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION 2016
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It was a memorable moment when the first 100 recipients of
full-tuition scholarships in the Students Inspiring Students
program gathered onstage in GCU Arena.
brother, Carlos. And yet, despite having to
become self-reliant, despite having to keep his
home life a secret and despite not knowing when
he’ll get to see his family again, Fornes remained
focused on his education. He plans to become
an engineer.
It’s no wonder that Fornes’ speech at the
Students Inspiring Students celebration was
filled with emotion. He struggled through
several long pauses before he was able to finish
his message. The reason: It was the first time he
had shared with a group what it meant to have a
shot at attending college, apart from his family.
“Even though I had practiced before so many
times,” he said, “it was in that moment that
everything came to me.”
Fornes has the heart of a servant — he smiles,
he’s willing and he carries the right motivation
in everything that he does, said Myrna Fornes,
his aunt.
“He is the perfect example of what it means to
grow through life’s challenges,” Myrna said.
“Because of that, we know he deserves this
opportunity and we are grateful to God.”
Language barrier
Sabuni was 11 when she took on the heavy task
of learning a new language and adapting to a
new culture. It wasn’t an easy adjustment.
“I was bullied and made fun of a lot because
of the way I pronounced certain words,”
said Sabuni, now 18. “It was hard and it was
concerning, but I knew it was another test in
my life that I would have to pass to see the great
things ahead.”
Now, Sabuni said, those great things are starting
to become real. She is proud of graduating from
nearby Alhambra High School.
“I am a refugee, a minority, an immigrant in a
country with many intelligent people, and I was
able to do something so big,” Sabuni said.
Even though her family’s circumstances have
improved slightly, Sabuni worked while going to
school in order to contribute financially to her
French-speaking parents and her siblings.
“As a child, I saw my family struggle a lot — my
dad worked two jobs, my mom worked at a meat
factory and I wasn’t fortunate to have the life of
a normal child,” she said. “I want my younger
siblings to know that you can cultivate what you
want with the very little that you have.”
Sabuni plans to become an entrepreneur
and hopes to serve as an inspiration to other
refugees. Someday, she would like to open an
orphanage.
“In Tanzania, we used to live next to an
orphanage where my mother would take food to
the children, and I would see that and feel that
calling within my heart,” Sabuni said. “Although
what we had was very little, I was lucky to have
parents who provided me with a roof. I was lucky
to have water and to have food.
“I know that I can’t save the world, but I can save
the world of some.”
That’s exactly what GCU is trying to do, too. For
more information, see pages 18 and 35.
ge. Success in School. Earn Full Ride Scholarships