Dominique Velde

January 01, 2014

My parents divorced when I was eight and my mom, Joy, is a single, working parent. She’s also my hero. Every day she inspires me to work hard, be kind, stay organized, and focus on what matters most – my education. She wants the best for me when it comes to school and so do I. Unfortunately, when I was looking at high schools to attend, my district school was not going to be a good fit for me. I wanted a smaller size school, with a supportive and safe community that would challenge me academically – I wanted to go to Salpointe High School but, we couldn’t afford it.  I remember my mom saying she would do anything to make Salpointe a reality for me, even if she had to get a second job…

I am now a senior at Salpointe and co-captain of the varsity volleyball team. I have a 3.8 GPA and am taking honors and AP college prep courses. I enjoy photography and volunteering at Reid Park Zoo and the Food Bank. And I love nothing more than the challenge of solving a tough problem. Salpointe has taught me discipline and hard work; to learn about people before you judge them; to make lots of friends from all different social groups; to ask for help and learn from my mistakes; and to be a good person. None of my personal growth would have been possible without the tuition assistance I have received over the years from the corporate tax credit program.

Every day my mom and I make sacrifices, so I can earn a great education. I don’t go on vacation for spring break, my clothes are from second hand stores and I have very few luxuries. But it’s OK, because I know that in the long-run it will pay off. While I am unique, my story isn’t. So many of my classmates and friends at Salpointe share similar hardships, and some have suffered far worse.

I’m currently applying to colleges and have already been accepted to my top three. I plan to major in criminology and become a crime scene investigator. I want to use my passion for solving problems to help bring people closure.

Thanks to you (corporate donors) and my Salpointe experience, I am recognized and noticed, I am emotionally strong and I am fully prepared to go to college—And one day, I will pay your generosity forward.

The Arizona Leadership Foundation proudly provides scholarship assistance to private schools and Lexie’s Law schools throughout Arizona with no preference to religious or political affiliation. We believe parents should have a choice when it comes to the education of their children! The Arizona Leadership Foundation is able to offer scholarships through Arizona’s Corporate Income Tuition Tax Credit (CTC) Scholarship Program and the Lexie’s Law Corporate Income Tax Credit Program. These Arizona programs are education plans designed to help Low-Income families and families with Disabled/Displaced children obtain the best education for their children.

Salpointe Catholic High School is a high school of distinction! Since opening its doors in 1950, Salpointe Catholic has enjoyed a distinguished reputation for its strong curriculum, competitive athletics, highly-acclaimed fine arts, faith-strengthening religious program and spirited co-curricular activities. Salpointe is a private, Catholic college-preparatory high school enrolling approximately 1100 students.