Joni Thompson College Scholarship Fund

In celebration of Joni Thompson’s 34 years of service and leadership at Our Lady of Tepeyac High School, we are proud to announce the creation of the Joni Thompson Scholarship Fund. This scholarship will help graduating seniors pursue their college education and take the next step toward their future.

Joni is not only recognized for her decades of dedication, but for her profound impact on college access at Tepeyac. In 2008, she helped establish the College Readiness Program, which has led to an incredible achievement: 100% of our seniors have applied to and been accepted by college every year since its founding.

This year's scholarship recipient was Kaila Santiago. A leader both in and out of the classroom, Kaila participates in all that Tepeyac has to offer. She embodies what it means to be a Tepeyac girl, serving as National Honor Society Co-President, Student Ambassador, volleyball team captain, as well as the basketball team's captain. Kaila also starts the morning of all Tepeyac girls with her cheerful voice on the morning announcements.

Kaila will be attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and majoring in Health Science. She hopes to one day pursue dentistry,.

Still, many of our students face financial challenges when it comes to covering the rising costs of tuition. With 74% of the Class of 2025 identifying as first-generation college students, this scholarship will help bridge that critical gap—making the dream of higher education a reality.

The Joni Thompson Scholarship Fund will become a permanent part of our fundraising efforts, ensuring that her legacy lives on through the success of every future Tepeyac graduate.

A generous lead pledge has already jump-started the Joni Thompson Scholarship Fund—and now you have the opportunity to help it grow. By joining us in this effort, you’ll honor Joni’s incredible legacy and help make college possible for Tepeyac students.

Let's continue the work that Joni started  -- empowering young women through faith, leadership and access to opportunity.