ANAHEIM -- The Angels Baseball Foundation (ABF) announced today that it has awarded six outstanding 8th grade AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students with the Angels 8th Grade AVID Scholarship to assist in their continuing education once they reach the collegiate level.

“The Angels Baseball Foundation focuses on education and enriching the lives of our youths,” said Angels Baseball Foundation President, Dennis Kuhl. “Embedding college aspirations in a child early will allow them to pursue their goals in high school and beyond. As they continue their success through education, we hope that they make a positive impact in their surrounding community.”

Candidates were recommended by the AVID teachers at their respective middle schools. Students were nominated based on merit, leadership, and strong academic performance while participating in the program. The six finalists were selected through an extensive process among the 65 middle schools throughout Orange County.

The Angels 8th Grade AVID Scholarship was founded in 2006 by Angels Baseball Foundation in conjunction with the Orange County Department of Education and the non-profit organization Advancement Via Individual Determination. Most AVID candidates are first generation students who aspire to attend a four-year university and come from a low income family or have special circumstances. They have strong GPAs and are determined to succeed in college with the proper support.

Over the years, the scholarship has been awarded to 98 outstanding 8th grade AVID students. Past recipients pursued their college dreams at institutions that include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Notre Dame, University of California at Berkeley, and University of California at Los Angeles. These one-time non-renewable scholarship funds are held for the scholars in a trust until they graduate from high school and are accepted and enrolled into an accredited university. The Angels Baseball Foundation has also donated laptops to over 300 nominees in Orange County for their exceptional achievements.