Gunn High School Social Entrepreneurs Get Awards

Submitted by Diane Downend

Gunn High School Social Entrepreneurs Awarded two $20,000 Westly Foundation
Grants

Former California State Controller, Steve Westly and his wife, Anita Yu, operate The
Westly Foundation whose mission is to invest in youth as an avenue for success in the
future. In 2012 they announced the Westly Prize to be awarded to young innovators in
California with creative solutions to community problems. To recognize and encourage
social entrepreneurship among youth, two of the four $20,000 prizes were committed
to current high school students. Both of these awards came to students at Gunn High
School.

Founded in July 2012, Club Academia provides supplemental instruction to students who
are struggling with a particular concept and are looking for further explanation. Starting
with only four students uploading videos to a YouTube account, Club Academia has
expanded to include seventeen video makers and over 300 videos on their website, http:/
/clubacademia.org/ With the help of the $20,000 Westly Prize, Club Academia plans to
acquire additional equipment, enabling engagement by more volunteers in the expansion
of its video base.

Inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon we
can use to change the world,” senior Tatiana Grossman founded Spread the Words, an
organization committed to global literacy. With its Westly Prize of $20,000, Spread the
Words can take next steps in its commitment to cost effectively deliver digital textbooks
to third world classrooms that lack computers and, often, reliable electricity. Read more
at http://spreadthewords.us