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In Partnership: A Better Chance and Cate School

A Better Chance (ABC) and Cate School have collaborated for more than 50 years, bringing students of color who wouldn’t have otherwise had access to the Mesa to share their talents, wisdom, and experiences with the community.

With dozens of ABC scholars graduating from Cate since the 1970s, we share a deep history of connection with the organization. ABC scholars have mutually supported Cate in meaningful ways, including six who have served or currently serve on the Board of Trustees, a dedicated employee who is an administrator, advisor, and dorm parent, and dozens who are class agents, volunteer leaders, and loyal donors.

In 2013, Cate was awarded the Access Award from ABC for “opening doors to greater educational opportunities and demonstrating continued commitment to ABC’s mission by graduating over 50 scholars.” Since then, more than 40 additional ABC scholars have graduated from Cate. And as recently as 2016, Cate hosted 70 of the program’s scholars and their families from across Southern California for a full day on the Mesa.

In 2024, thanks to the leadership of Sheila Marmon Heuer ’90 – Cate trustee, ABC Scholar, and Chair of the ABC Board of Trustees – a group of generous donors, comprised of ABC scholars and others who admire the program, collectively contributed to name a space in the Inquiry Collaborative, the capstone building project in the For Cate and Forever campaign. Recognizing this gift in the academic hub of the school is intentional in fostering belonging and celebration for ABC scholars on the Mesa.

In celebration of A Better Chance and the many placement programs that have supported students over time, Cate offers our gratitude and acknowledgment of the many perspectives and gifts every scholar brings to the community.

A Better Chance Cate Scholars

Please contact the Advancement Office at advancement@cate.org if you find errors or omissions, or prefer not to be included in the list below.

1971
Richard Walker

1976
Samuel Dacus
Juan Salcedo
Brent Washington *

1977
Johnnie Fudge
Jose Palmas

1980
Eric Taylor

1981
Lauren Alexander
Clarence Grant

1982
Alonso Duenas
Cletis Shelby *

1983
Gerald Brooks
Calvin Rankin

1984
Angie Gomez
John Patencio
Sylvia Torres-Guillén

1986
Lori Jordan
Amanda Kim

1987
Andrea Edwards
David Jones

1988
Joe Beas
Tha Le

1989
Mireya Corona
Sheldon Smith

1990
Darnell Brooks
Sheila Marmon Heuer
Tania Smith

1991
Larry Burks

1992
Gilbert Beverly
Michael Coffey
Cherie Conley

1993
Lane Burks
Elton Carter
Fatima Nelson
Adriana Palafox-Pina
Kameke Sweeney

1994
Tamara Heyward
Elijah Irby
Athena Jones

1995
Mia Grandpre

1996
Daniel Cherry
Aisha Dawson
Gregory Lemmons

1997
Shante Bell
Alonzo Maldonado
Brandon McKenzie
Alexis Riding-Rice

1998
Maritsa Hofherr
Shannon Mitchell
Ogo Nwanyanwu
Erika Salazar Mata

1999
Micah Carr
Karina Palafox
Tiffany Vaughn

2000
Alejandro Flores
Ariana Lorenzana
Christine Luu

2002
Alvin Chin
Timothy Hawkins
Leone Price

2003
Nydia Di Bello

2004
Matthew Hawkins

2006
Nisha Babaria
Vanessa Cruz Santana

2009
Guadalupe Ortega

2010
Jazmin Rogers

2012
Stephanie Flores
Vanessa Lizárraga

2015
Sandra Silva
Sal A. Villatoro

2016
Ajibola Bodunrin
Clinton Hall
Isaiah Washington

2017
Ciana Biasi-Smiley
Ya’Kuana Davis
Musa Hakim
Isaac Lee
Angie Meneses Olvera

2018
Desmond Castillo
Jazmin Estévez-Rosas
Joe Silva
Joseph Thomassen

2019
Israel Sanchez
Victor Vasquez Diaz
Emely Villatoro

2020
Tesfa Asmara
Madeleine Gutierrez
Alex Kim
Jamie Morales

2021
Nkemka Chukwumerije
Zach Hanson
Jay Hernandez
Sarah Ruelas
Hector Silva
Ari Sterling
Tega Umukoro

2022
Chidera Chukwumerije
Diamond Head
Ethan Ligon
Kalia Lopez

2023
Jae Hall-Collins
Marley Joseph
Kennedy Kirkland
Justin Musyimi

2025
Stephanie Akinfolarin
Alexander Espinoza

2026
Ali Zielina

2027
Arelic Rodriguez

2028
Shirdon Nouh

2029
Bradley Gomez-Perez
Trinity Hasbun
Kemdi Iwu

* Deceased

Juan Salcedo '76

A Better Chance changed the trajectory of my life by opening paths and providing opportunities that would otherwise not have been available to me.

Eric C. Taylor '80

I am so proud to be an alumnus of the A Better Chance program. The day that I applied at age 13 in 1976, would change my life forever. Thanks to everyone who supports our at-risk youth. Education lasts a lifetime.

Sheila Marmon Heuer '90

A Better Chance opened doors for me that I never imagined. Having the opportunity to attend Cate School put me on a path of lifelong learning that has fostered both my academic and career success. I am forever grateful for the guidance and support over the years that have helped me realize my potential and my dreams. I am also honored to continue the important work of supporting our next generation of scholars.

Vanessa Cruz Santana '06

My journey to Cate started in 7th grade when my middle school counselor introduced my family to the idea of doing high school a different way. My middle school counselor worked with A Better Chance to support students in my community to pursue a path originally unintended for us. I am forever grateful to Ms. Colmenares for knowing about, working with, and sharing the ABC Program with my community and my family.

Stephanie Flores '12

A Better Chance allowed me the vision and courage to pursue my greater potential. It led me to Cate School, which propelled me towards personal growth, leadership, and possibilities I once thought were out of reach.

Diamond Head '22

I’m thankful to the A Better Chance program for catapulting me into a world of opportunity that I otherwise never would have seen. The support my mentors offered me and the community I became a part of has served me from 7th grade up until now. It brought me to Cate, where I continued to make lifelong friends. Most importantly, it combined two things that ended up changing the trajectory of my life: it helped me instill a new kind of confidence, a belief that I can achieve more than I ever imagined, and provided me with the guidance to make those dreams come true.

ABC Coastal View Room Donors

Richard Baum ’64
Ajibola Bodunrin ’16 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Lawrence Browne
Micah Carr ’99 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Alex Choi & SK Hwang
Maribeth & Scott Claassen ’97
Andrew Clark & Roanne Daniels
Jazmin Estévez-Rosas ’18 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Clinton Hall ’16 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Sheila Marmon Heuer ’90 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Athena Jones ’94 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Ginny & Ralph Lewis ’76
Adam Rhodes ’79
Emery Rhodes ’79
Stephanie & Todd Schurz ’79
Eric Taylor ’80 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Joe Silva ’18 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Sandra Silva ’15 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Sylvia Torres-Guillén ’84 – Cate/ABC Scholar
Salomon Villatoro ’15 – Cate/ABC Scholar

A Better Chance (ABC) Statement of Purpose:

Since 1963, A Better Chance has been the preeminent resource for identifying, recruiting and developing leaders among underrepresented young people of color throughout the United States. The oldest and only national organization of its kind, we select, prepare, place and support high-performing middle and high school students of color in some of the most rigorous and prestigious independent day schools, boarding schools and public schools in the country.