Live Your Dream for Nine Single Moms

On March, 8, Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will honor nine single mothers — a record number — with Live Your Dream awards.

Each will receive a cash award she can use for anything that enables her to complete her education, including rent, medical bills, child care and car repairs.

Awards go to women enrolled in or accepted into a bachelor’s or technical or vocational training program, are heads of their household and have a demonstrated need.

“We’re very proud of our winners who have persevered in their dreams of getting an education despite multiple setbacks,” said Therese Malachowski, Live Your Dream program chair and club vice president. “Our awards will acknowledge and encourage their continuing efforts.”

The winners are:

Jessica Armstrong

Jessica Armstrong, 38, of Scotts Valley, is the single mother homeschooling two children ages 8 and 11, due to bullying in public school. She grew up in foster care with no family support and suffered numerous setbacks in her life.

But now she is determined to be a role model for her children by getting an education.

After several previous attempts, she successfully completed her studies for her GED last year. She is now enrolled full-time at Cabrillo College seeking a degree in human services. Her goal is to be a social worker. She believes her greatest accomplishment so far is getting her GED, something she wanted her children see her do.

“I accomplished that and still to this day am so proud of myself for getting it and showing my kids it’s never too late to follow your dreams,” she wrote.

Joel Jacob

Joel Jacob, 54, of Bonny Doon, is the single mother of one child and caregiver of one autistic young adult. She works full-time while pursuing a degree in early childhood education at Cabrillo College.

Although she got a late start on her education, she is dedicated to becoming a preschool teacher working with developmentally delayed and special needs children. She is nearly a straight-A student and wants to serve low-income and minority communities on the Central Coast when she completes her education.

“My dedication to children and their families has always been the driving force behind my desire to become a preschool teacher,” she wrote.

Kailey Johnson

Kailey Johnson, 28, of Santa Cruz, is the mother of a 7-year-old son who began working toward a nursing degree when her son was 18 months old. For several years, she had to work full-time in low-paying jobs barely meeting her expenses and putting her education on hold. Eventually, she decided to go forward with her plan to work in the medical care field and enrolled at Cabrillo College.

She has been able to finish all her classes and earn two associate degrees with high honors. She also fulfilled her California State University transfer requirements to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“I have put so much time and effort into my classes and grades and it is my dream to make it happen,” she wrote in her application.

Christine Saunders-French

Christina Lee-Ana Saunders-French, 40, of Scotts Valley, is a single mother of an 11-year-old daughter, and is studying criminal justice at Cabrillo College. After working as a house cleaner for more than 20 yeas, at age 38, she went back to school and got her GED in 2024. Immediately afterward, she enrolled at Cabrillo and has completed one year. She has applied to be a police officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

“As I walked up on that stage (to get her GED) I felt such a huge surge of accomplishment and confidence,” she wrote in her application. “I knew I could do anything from then on.”

Nadine Atilano

Nadine Atilano, 27, of Santa Cruz, is the single mother of three young children, 6, 10 and 12, two of whom are autistic.

She became a teen mother at 14, had her second child at 16, and had no familial support. She was in a toxic relationship for many years.

However, in her early 20s, she went back to school and became a dental assistant, a career she loved and has worked in for four years, but she was unexpectedly let go.

Despite that setback, she enrolled in the Health Science program at Cabrillo College in 2024. She will work to complete that program, which will enable her to move into Dental Hygiene training.

“I want to provide a better life for my kids before they get too big,” she wrote.

Nancy Zamora Fernandez

Nancy Zamora Fernandez, 38, of Scotts Valley, is the single mother of two children, 13 and 17, and is pursuing a degree in human services at Cabrillo College.

She is working on earning a family development certificate, and her long-term goal is to get a master’s degree and found a nonprofit that supports kids with mental and behavioral health needs.

She has struggled financially, being offered minimal job opportunities and limited work hours. Last year, she was unemployed for eight months.

“Trying to focus on school, manage family responsibilities and keep up with work has been difficult,” she wrote. “Financial stress has jeopardized all three.”

Priscilla Figueroa

Priscilla Figueroa, 37, of Watsonville, is a divorced mother of four children ages 8, 13-year-old twins and a 19-year-old, all of whom she supports by herself. During the pandemic, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and enrolled at Cabrillo College.

She was raised by a single mother and is the first generation in her family to attend college. She has faced significant financial struggles while trying to stay in school and complete her nursing studies.

But she is planning to graduate from the BRN nursing program this spring while simultaneously starting a bridge program this summer to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing at California State University Monterey Bay. She will graduate in spring 2026.

“I made the choice to show up for myself, and to show my kids that against all odds we can do hard things and overcome hardships,” she wrote in her application.

TaRaya Lundy

TaRaya Lundy, 41, of Aptos, is the single mother to two children, ages 17 and 19, who are students. She is attending Cabrillo College studying business administration with a minor in counseling and teaching.

She says she has a huge dream— to open a restaurant that sells comfort food from around the world and a hair salon, both of which would operate as teaching facilities for young students.

“Owning the two businesses, I can employ, teach and mentor my students in being successful in life,” she wrote. “Teaching them work ethic, leadership and trade skills that can be used in the real world and even as a means of financing through college.”

Iracema Torres

Iracema Torres, 28, of Santa Cruz, is the single mother of a daughter, is enrolled at Cabrillo College and is pursuing a human services career path.

After a difficult childhood that led her to make some poor choices and surviving domestic abuse, she decided to get an education so that she could provide a better future for her daughter.

She currently works 25 hours as a behavioral aide while attending classes. Her goal is to work with juveniles released from detention who have experienced addiction.

“Working as a behavioral aide will prepare me for my future career as a drug and alcohol counselor,” she wrote.

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Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training to achieve economic empowerment. For info, visit www.best4women.org, or email sicapitola.by.the.sea@gmail.com