Three city students win ASPIRA scholarships LONG BRANCH- Three Long Branch High School students were honored as 2008 scholarship winners at the 31st annual New Jersey ASPIRA luncheon held this month. ASPIRA is the only national organization devoted solely to the education and leadership development of Puerto Rican and other Latino youth in America, according to a press release from the Long Branch Public School system. ASPIRA, which takes its name from the Spanish verb meaning aspire, was founded in 1961 in New York City. Today, it serves over 89,000 students and families and has an alumni of nearly 450,000. ASPIRA operates with a $44.2 million budget and has regional chapters in many states. New Jersey established an ASPIRA chapter in 1968 and has over 6,000 students involved. All of the goals and objectives of the organization spring from one basic belief: Puerto Ricans and Latinos have the collective potential to move their community forward, according to the release. Long Branch was the only district statewide to have three scholarship winners this year. Long Branch ASPIRA scholarship winners were Oscar Sanchez, Joana Calderon and Mariana Oliveira. Each of the students received a check in the amount of $1,000 from the New JerseyASPIRAchapter. Sanchez, a senior at Long Branch High School, came to America in January 2003 fromMexico.At the age of 12, Sanchez was immersed into the English as a Second Language program. Two years later he was earning high honors and participating in AP classes. Currently, Sanchez is in the top 1 percent of his graduating class and the president of the ASPIRA Club. He plans to attend Brookdale Community College in the fall. Calderon is another immigrant from Mexico. She came to the United States at the age of 13 and is also in the top 1 percent of her class. She has high honors and is enrolled in AP classes. Calderon plans to attend Rutgers University to pursue a career in computer engineering. Oliveira came to the United States from Brazil at the age of 9. She said that when she first came toAmerica, she found it difficult to adapt to her new life and country. She said the bilingual program in Long Branch helped her become comfortable and successful. She is receiving high honors and plans to pursue post-secondary studies at the Fashion Institute in New York. "I am very proud of our students," said Long Branch Superintendent of Schools Joseph M. Ferraina, who moved to the United States from Argentina when he was 13 years old. "The mission of ASPIRA mirrors our mission here in Long Branch," Ferraina said, adding, "A valued education for all, a positive self-identity, the development of leadership skills, a commitment to one's community and family, and parent involvement in their children's education and success."