Ten Napa County High School Seniors Given a Chance to Continue their Educations
Napa, California—September 11, 2025— A firefighter. A filmmaker. A nurse. A sound engineer. These are some of the aspirations of 10 Napa County high school seniors who If Given A Chance (IGAC) will help achieve their future goals.
These members of the Class of 2026 join over 400 local students this non-profit organization has supported through mentoring and financial assistance for over 30 years. IGAC identifies students who face extraordinary challenges and are committed to continuing their education. Through community support, IGAC supports these students every step of the way as they pursue college careers or professional/technical education.
“I’m looking forward to having some real support and guidance from If Given A Chance,” said Alexis Lazo, a senior at Napa’s Vintage High School who is interested in becoming an emergency medical technician and possibly a firefighter. Despite being placed in foster care and suffering neglect, Alexis said he strives to rise above his circumstance by working harder for the same opportunities and resources as others around him.
“I feel like this program can help connect me with the right people and give me a better idea of how to move toward my goals,” Alexis added. “Financial help is also a big thing, because that’s something that can hold a lot of students back, including me. Just knowing I’ll have some backing while I figure things out means a lot, and I’m excited to see where this can take me.”
Joining Alexis in this school year’s group of IGAC students are:
Andrea Berrera Coca of Napa High School, who looks forward to studying music and composition/sound engineering.
Shian Dellacort of Vintage High School, who is interested in a career in medicine.
Jasmine Hoskins of Vintage High School, who plans to study pharmaceutical science or earn credentials in education.
Melody Kondor of American Canyon High School, who hopes to major in biology and enroll in a medical program.
Jaye Luhn of New Technology High School, who is interested in performing arts, especially film, and in the sciences.
Maria Mosconi Carrion of Napa High School, who hopes to study political science and law with the goal of helping immigrant families.
Jimena Reynaga Castro of St. Helena High School, who wants to study political science and international relations.
Jayden Romero of Vintage High School, who plans to study psychology and criminal justice.
Michelle Villafana of American Canyon High School, whose goal is to become an obstetrician.
During their senior year, these students will attend monthly workshops and receive one-on-one coaching led by Kelli Watkins, IGAC’s student services manager and Napa Valley Unified School District college and career counselor, and Norma Magdaleno, IGAC’s high school post-secondary preparedness counselor.
Once in college and vocational programs, these students will continue to receive financial support from IGAC and mentoring, counseling, life-skills, and career workshops through IGAC’s partnership with Students Rising Above.
Learn more about these students, go to https://www.ifgivenachance.org/meet-our-seniors/. To donate to help these students achieve their goals, visit https://www.ifgivenachance.org/giving/
About If Given A Chance
If Given A Chance identifies vulnerable, yet resilient, Napa County high school juniors who have faced extraordinary challenges and demonstrated a commitment to continuing their education to better their lives. It helps students regain their sense of self-worth, emotional balance, and independent living skills through mentoring, life-skills training, mental health support, and financial assistance. IGAC provides ongoing support as these students navigate the challenges of obtaining a college degree or completing a technical training program so they can achieve job security, experience increased quality of life, and become contributing members of their community.
For more information, contact: Marisa Binder, executive director, at (415) 412-8431 or email info@ifgivenachance.org.