2026 Friedberger Education Fund Scholarship Awardees

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) would like to congratulate the 2026 Friedberger Educational Fund Scholarship awardees.

Twenty-two outstanding graduating seniors from San Joaquin County high schools have been awarded a total of $65,000 to continue pursuing their education.

Each of the students was awarded approximately $3,000 to be paid out in installments over four years. The Friedberger Educational Fund Scholarship has been awarded to San Joaquin County graduates since 1964.

The fund was established in 1963 by William Friedberger, a prominent Stockton physician and longtime medical director at San Joaquin General Hospital. He established the fund in memory of his father and mother, Arnold and Lotta Friedberger. They were 19th-century pioneers to the Mother Lode and Stockton from their native Germany. The Bank of Stockton has been the fund manager since the scholarship was established.

To qualify for the scholarship, nominees must meet a list of criteria. The list includes a need for financial assistance, excellent schoolwork, outstanding character, leadership, and public service. Students must also have the intent to enroll in an institution of higher learning in California.

Each high school in the county may nominate one applicant per year. The schools can be either public or private.

The applications were reviewed by a three-member awards committee, which included Barbara Greenwood, representing Stockton Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez; Marlene Acosta, representing San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Troy A. Brown; and Jeremy Silcox, committee member-at-large.

Congratulations to the 2026 awardees:

• Ricky Aguilar-Lopez – Stockton Alternative High School (Stockton Unified School District)
• Syed Zainn Ali – Sierra High School (Manteca Unified School District)
• Guadalupe Barajas – Weber Institute (Stockton Unified School District)
• Yazmin Castro-Esquivel – Escalon High School (Escalon Unified School District)
• Alexa Dominguez Ramos – Millennium High School
• Maritza Espitia Lopez – Kimball High School (Tracy Unified School District)
• Rahmeen Faisal – Health Careers Academy High School (Stockton Unified School District)
• Brittney Garcia – Linden High School (Linden Unified School District)
• Ivan Gonzalez Giacopello – Tokay High School (Lodi Unified School District)
• Wendy Guzman – Edison High School (Stockton Unified School District)
• Jasmin Hidalgo – East Union High School (Manteca Unified School District)
• Amberjit Kaur Kandola – Aspire College Prep Academy
• Samanta Laminero – McNair High School (Lodi Unified School District)
• Cayla Mendoza – Franklin High School (Stockton Unified School District)
• Esmeralda Mendoza – Lodi High School (Lodi Unified School District)
• Chioma Ononuju – Middle College High School (Lodi Unified School District)
• Kaylee Polk – St. Mary’s High School
• Emmanuel Reyes – Lathrop High School (Manteca Unified School District)
• Jacquelin Serrano – Venture Academy (San Joaquin County Office of Education)
• Daisy Toledo – Weston Ranch High School (Manteca Unified School District)
• Giselle Valencia – Bear Creek High School (Lodi Unified School District)
• Isabella Velic – Stagg High School (Stockton Unified School District)