DSUSD Recognized for Excellence in Supporting Foster Youth FAFSA Completion

Desert Sands Unified School District has received the FAFSA/CADAA Completion Award from the John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), recognizing the district’s strong support of foster youth on their path to graduation and higher education.

The award highlights DSUSD’s efforts to ensure students in foster care have the tools, resources, and encouragement to pursue college and career opportunities. Key leaders behind this work include Superintendent Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar, Assistant Superintendent Laura Fisher, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance Larry Bellanich, Coordinator Cathy Wuertz, and Foster/Homeless Youth Liaison Francesca Camarena.

“We know that our students in foster care face incredibly difficult circumstances,” said Dr. May-Vollmar. “Oftentimes it’s difficult for them to survive, much less thrive. Work like this around FAFSA completion really does offer a message of hope.....hope to go to college when maybe they would never have thought of that as an option otherwise.”

The award was presented by leaders from the Riverside County Office of Education during a special ceremony. DSUSD also received certificates of recognition from  Assemblymembers Jeff Gonzalez and Greg Wallis, State Senators Alex Padilla and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and the offices of Supervisor Manuel Perez and Congressman Ken Calvert.

This recognition reflects DSUSD’s ongoing commitment to supporting every student’s journey toward a successful future.