Silvia Trejo

Last year, Silvia Fentenes Trejo was awarded the prestigious AALA $2,500 scholarship, a recognition of her dedication and resilience. She also inspired her classmates and community as the graduation speaker.

Silvia’s journey is a true adult education success story. An immigrant from Oaxaca, she first enrolled at Venice Adult School in the early 1990s. After taking time away to raise her family, she returned five years ago with the determination to complete her studies. Today she is the proud mother of three college graduates and she has not stopped pursuing her own dreams.

While continuing her work cleaning houses, Silvia is enrolled at El Camino College where she is taking courses toward her Associate of Arts (AA) degree. She is also studying in Ms. Kowaney’s Accounting class at Venice Skills Center.

Beyond her studies, Silvia is known for giving back. She actively advises and mentors her peers in the Independent Instruction Lab, sharing her wisdom, encouragement, and example of perseverance.

Silvia reminds us all of the power of education to transform lives, not only for individuals but for families and communities.