27 Dresses Project announces scholarship recipients

The 27 Dresses Project is excited to announce its 2023 scholarship recipients! The Project was able to award three $500 awards to deserving students for higher education expenses. Proceeds from their annual formal dress sale go towards awarding scholarships to area students.

This year, the chosen recipients were Cleveland ISD's Abigail Martinez and Sofia Hernandez and Port Arthur graduate Sanai Jones from Woodrow Wilson Early College. Each applicant is asked to describe what kind of nonprofit organization they would create to blend their passions with helping their fellow community.

For Sanai Jones, that dream would be an organization named 'Healthy Heads.' Her mission would be to provide satin bonnets within the African American community that raises awareness of the importance of mental health while promoting the maintenance of healthy hair as a reminder.

For Sofia Hernandez, equipping her peers and those who come after her with the resources and guidance needed to navigate first-generation college-bound students is a pressing need. Sofia's organization would provide hands-on instruction on how to study for standardized exams, prepare applications and work within the labyrinth of various high education systems.

For Abigail Martinez, her passion for animals drives her charitable work. Abigail's Project would be to provide a safe place to bathe and feed stray dogs and to seek loving homes for abused animals.

Sofia Hernandez: Cleveland ISD Valedictorian. Texas State University. Political Science. Establishing a program that helps first- generation college- bound students understand how to study for standardized exams, hands- on help with preparing applications, and working with the various systems of higher education that are difficult for high school juniors and seniors to understand on their own how to navigate by themselves.

' Reading the scholarship applications each year is one of my favorite activities. We believe everyone can look around and see what kind of need there is in a community and ask themselves what skills they have in order to help meet a certain need. We aim to encourage that sort of problem- solving and community involvement on a personal level from a young age,' co-founder Emily Cook said.

The 27 Dresses Project is run annually by co-founders and Tarkington natives Hannah Taylor and Emily Cook. Next spring, when you're looking for a prom dress, dresses for banquets, or bridesmaid dresses, make sure you check out their Dress Extravaganza.

You can snag a great deal and support local youth at the same time. For more information, visit 27dresses. com.

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