Brenda Fuentes, a senior at Park View High School, suffered a stroke during her sophomore year in high school. She had to repeat the grade and learn once again how to read and write. Her rehabilitation took several months and now, because of the stroke, she writes with her left hand.

Brenda Fuentes Photo Courtesy/Brenda Fuentes

Despite this challenge, she is graduating high school with an advanced diploma and plans to attend George Mason University—making her the first in her family to graduate from high school and attend college.

The Loudoun chapter of Beat the Odds, a scholarship program formed to reward students like Fuentes, has taken note of her achievements.

On May 27, Fuentes was named the top winner of this year’s Beat the Odds scholarship and awarded $5,000.

“Even if you have major difficulties, you can surpass them if you have the determination and the will to live,” Fuentes said.

The Loudoun chapter of Beat the Odds was started in 2004 by the Loudoun County Bar Association with the support of the Loudoun Bar Foundation, which also is made up of attorneys.

Over the years the program has assisted students who have overcome difficulties such as poverty, family separation or violence.

The program’s members also gave a special $1,500 merit award to Farah Shah of Park View High School, who will attend the University of Virginia.

Three seniors received $500 merit awards: Christina Mathers from Park View High School, Telharsha “KT” McNair from Dominion High School, and August Santillo from Briar Woods High School. Mathers will be going to Northern Virginia Community College, McNair to Georgia State University, and Santillo to University of Notre Dame.

“This recognition is a demonstration of their resilient spirit and drive,” Virginia Minshew, principal of Park View, said of Fuentes,  Shah and Mathers. “I am incredibly proud of them and cannot wait to see what incredible things they go on to achieve.”

The winners received a total of $8,000.

“Each of the five students was selected for their own unique reasons,” said Matthew Snow, an attorney on the Beat the Odds Committee. “Each one demonstrated academic and personal success despite their challenges.”