Assistance League’s scholarships benefit 68 students -

PLEASANT HILL, CA (July 1, 2025) — The Assistance League of Diablo Valley started its scholarship program 25 years ago with one award worth $6,000. Fast forward to 2025, and the annual distribution has risen to more than $272,000.

This year, the group helped 68 people defray the ever-increasing cost of an advanced education. The league held a celebration ceremony on May 15 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center.

There are various categories of scholarships, including high school graduates going on to college, those continuing their studies in community colleges, foster/kinship, Spotlight Scholarships for students in the second, third and fourth years of college, the Lisa Park Hurst Memorial Scholarship, along with funds for individuals returning to school and those on a career technical educational path.

This year’s scholarships bring the total recipients to 700, with financial support surpassing $2.2 million since the program’s 2000 launch.

The bulk of the funds comes from profits at the league’s volunteer-run Thrift Shop Way Side Inn in Lafayette. In addition, various individuals, family trusts and corporation earmark donations for scholarships.

Area high school graduates receiving scholarships this year include:

College Park: Jamilton Choc Gamarro, Johanna Hartsman, Max Lopez, Connor Nachand, Sarah Samhan, Gema Sanchez Pereza and Milena Wendler-Luengo.
Mt. Diablo: Johana Hernandez Reyes.
CVCHS: Alex Ternate.
Concord: Jared Tumay.
De La Salle: Jose Rodriques.

Aasim Yahya, a 2018 Concord High graduate and former Pioneer student reporter, is among past reward winners – having received multiple scholarships from the Assistance League, including the Judy Oliphant Scholarship. Now studying law at Stanford, he offered some remarks to inspire the latest group as they move forward with their academic pursuits.

Yahya acknowledged that many of the students might be feeling immense pressure to be perfect or not want to fail – as he shouldered that weight when he started at UC Berkeley. But, in sharing his own tale, he emphasized that perfection is neither a true measure of success nor a realistic path for which to ultimately achieve what they desire.

In moving his attitude from one of pressure to one of patience, Yahya spoke of finding his way forward.

“As I shifted my perspective, I invested in what I valued and, most importantly, learned to be kind to myself. I began to build wonderful relationships, memories and experiences in college – easily some of the best years of my life,” he said.

“Being kind to yourself doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your goals or program ambitions,” Yahya continued.

He pointed to recognizing and acknowledging small advancements in one’s life: Am I better today than I was yesterday? Not necessarily, am I where I want to be?

“If you are even one percent better, you are doing pretty good,” Yahya said.

He closed his remarks by noting that many in the hall might also be the first in their family to go to college.

“It might be terrifying, and you may feel out of place. But as you find yourself in these new rooms that you may never have imagined for yourself, find a way to help others get there, too,” Yahya said.

Referring to what he learned from the scholarship committee about the 2025 honorees, he told them: “You are a diverse, intelligent and driven group of recipients. And despite what others might say, your diversity is not a disadvantage, your intelligence is not insignificant and your thoughtfulness is certainly not trivial.

“Please go forward with kindness,” Yahya added.

David Scholz

David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.