COD multi-sport student athletes Celeste Padilla and Vanessa Madera were awarded scholarships from the College of the Desert Foundation.

Padilla, from Blythe Palo Verde, and Madera, from Thermal Coachella Valley, both participate in multiple sports for the Roadrunners. Padilla played Women's Soccer in the fall and Madera played Women's Basketball in the Winter, both are currently playing Softball for Desert.

Padilla was awarded the MSA STEM scholarship totaling $950. "I walked up to Financial Aid one day and noticed they had this particular scholarship advertised on their board," she said in a recent interview, "I filled out the scholarship application and completed a handwritten essay." Padilla also shared, she had to add a photo of herself to the application and then waited for the response from Financial Aid.

Madera was awarded the Smilo Family Scholarship, totaling $500. "The Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley helped me get the scholarship I was awarded," Madera commented. She said that the Boys and Girls Club asked her, "if I was a full time student at COD and I said, 'yes,' and they took care of the rest."

Both students were humbled by the awarding of their scholarships and were planning on using the money to pay for books.

Photo by Garrett Estrin (COD Women's Soccer & Softball Coach)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.