Onward Newsletter

November 3, 2026

For us, "Onward” is more than a word. It’s a challenge: to be your best, to dream big, to attempt what feels difficult—and to do it with courage and hope.

- Cindy & John Smet

A Message from Nancy Portillo,

O2HS and OSP Executive Director

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I want to thank our entire OSP community for your welcoming spirit and warm reception as I've come on board these past few months. After every event and every conversation, I leave inspired by our students and families.  

One of the greatest gifts of joining the Onward community has been hearing your stories. Parents have shared how the Onward Scholars Program has helped their children become more independent and confident. I've met families whose journeys with Onward began years ago through Onward 2 High School's Honors Algebra and Summer Institute programs, and in many ways, we have grown up together.  

Parents have shared how dropping off their middle school students at the school gates during O2HS Summer Institute, rather than walking them onto campus as they once did, was both necessary and difficult. For many families, it became an early lesson in independence. It offered a small yet meaningful glimpse into the transitions ahead in high school, college, and beyond.  



I am grateful for the stories of perseverance, sacrifice, and success that families have entrusted me with. In this issue, you'll hear from students, alumni, and parents as they reflect on what they are most thankful for and the role OSP has played in their journeys, including lasting friendships and future professional networks.

As we continue to strengthen our community, I invite you to share your Onward story with me. I would love to hear about the experiences, challenges, and milestones that have shaped your family's Onward journey.  

If you know a student who could benefit from the opportunities and support offered through the Onward Scholars Program, there is still time to apply for the Class of 2031 by January 20. For more information, please join us for an OSP virtual information night on November 18. Details below!  

May God continue to bless you and your loved ones this season and always.  

Onward! 



Nancy Portillo 

Scholar Highlight: Meet Keoni Pena

OSP Partner School

St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy

Class of 2027

8th Grade Graduate

St. Dominic Savio

LOC Scholar and College Graduate

Class of 2031

This month, we are proud to feature 12th-grade Onward Scholar Keoni Pena, one of the many trailblazers helping shape the legacy of the Onward Scholars Program. As the first Onward Scholar to earn the prestigious Leonetti/O'Connell (LOC) Scholarship in support of his college journey, Keoni exemplifies what is possible when scholars think big, embodying one of the Smet Foundation's core operating principles. A visionary leader, Keoni founded SLAM (Student-Led Assisted Math), a peer-support initiative designed to strengthen math learning and expand academic support for fellow students. Whether leading peers through SLAM or performing in school theater productions, Keoni brings passion and purpose to every endeavor. From earning admission to UC Irvine's MedAcademy summer intensive and volunteering at Kaiser Permanente to taking Multivariable Calculus while pursuing his dream of becoming a physician, Keoni's journey reflects the innovation, leadership, and excellence that define so many of OSP's remarkable firsts.

How would you describe your high school experience as an Onward Scholar? How has Onward Scholars helped you grow?



As an Onward Scholar, my high school experience can be largely defined by the support that I have access to as a member of the program. Not just in access to a passionate mentor and advocate with OSP's director at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, Mrs. Turcios, but also in access to a community of peers and friends who are constantly pushing me, inspiring me, and supporting me on the path to becoming a better student, community member, and so much more. I could go on for days about every moment that Mrs. Turcios was there to support me academically, always pushing me to take challenging courses and serving as the bridge necessary to make it there; she made what would have been confusing and overwhelming a more straightforward path to success. Of course, I could also go on endlessly about the fun and meaningful moments that I’ve spent with my friends and peers in my cohort over the years (inside school and out!).

What do you value most about being an Onward Scholar?



There is no shortage of things to love about the program: the mentorship, the college guidance, the scholarship (wink wink). But the single most meaningful part of my experience as an Onward Scholar is the connections I’ve made with my peers. The friendships I’ve made within Onward are some of the most precious and powerful things in my life, and no doubt will last a lifetime. Not only that, every one of the Onward Scholars is awe-inspiring, unique, and focused in such a way that you cannot help but want to improve and push yourself. The thing I value the most in OSP is my friendships, many of those who will be lifelong. My friendships are what really completes the program for me. 

Is there a specific Onward experience, trip, or opportunity that had a lasting impact on you?



There is one very small moment in my Onward experience that I hold very close to my heart, and I think that it encapsulates the impact that the program has had on me: One day, I was particularly stressed about my final interview to become a LOC Scholar.

So, I went to Mrs. Turcios' office with my OSP cohort member, Hope Bersales, for guidance. Mrs. Turcios, being very understanding, suggested that I use my energy to take my mind off the interview instead of worrying so much. So, she offered Hope and me her office, and we had the bright idea to do some impromptu YouTube Zumba. Taking my mind off things, and doing it with a friend, were what prepared me to enter my interview later that day calm and ready (and to absolutely kill it!). I have that moment to thank for the confidence that I was able to carry myself with and eventually use to become the first LOC Scholar from the Onward Scholars Program. 

"They have given me my favorite part of myself: my community."

-Keoni Pena, OSP Class of 2027

What are you looking forward to as a future OSP alumnus?

As a future OSP Alum, I am so incredibly excited to be able to give back to the community around me. I have always admired Onward’s ability to bring aspiring students together under a common goal, and I hope that I will be able to contribute to that in any way possible. As a LOC Scholar, I look forward to the change that I will be able to create with the resources provided and the lessons I learned as an Onward Scholar. As the first LOC Scholar from OSP, I am excited to have the opportunity to welcome future Onward Scholars into the program.  

Keoni's Parents' Reflection

What initially drew your family to Onward Scholars?



What drew us in initially was the possibility to continue with Catholic education and help us to maintain the finances in our home.

What do you value most about Onward Scholars?

We are so grateful for the mentorship and vocational experiences that the program provides to direct the students during their four years of high school.

If another parent asked you, “Why should my child apply to Onward Scholars?” what would you say?

Apply and not just for the financial help, but for the guidance that they give our children to be better students and the opportunities that they give to travel and learn more about college!

Keoni's words of gratitude in the spirit of Thanksgiving: 

First and foremost, I am so thankful for the people in my life that have given me their support and believed in my ability to do great things. All of my involvement in and out of school, and the effort I put into that involvement so that I can give back to my family, friends, and mentors who constantly pushed me to leave my comfort zone and challenge myself. They have given me my favorite part of myself: my community. 

Mama and Pops, thank you for being the first ones to believe in me. All of your sacrifices, all of your hard work, and all of the time you spend in the hopes that I can have the opportunity to grow never goes unnoticed. Whenever I perform on stage, you are always the first ones I look for, and your cheers are always the ones that mean the most. The lessons that you give me are the tools that I take to face the trials of life, and I have you to thank for the fact that I feel poised and ready to do so. Thank you.

Don't Miss Out! OSP Virtual Information Night

OSP College Access Corner:

Johns Hopkins Coffee Chat

Onward Scholars and their families recently joined us for an exclusive Coffee Chat with a regional admissions representative from Johns Hopkins University. This gathering gave Scholars the opportunity to learn about the university's renowned research, diverse academic programs, and opportunities in medicine, STEM, and beyond while gaining valuable insight through direct conversation with the admissions representative.

Franklin Chanchavac, an 11th-grade OSP Scholar at Salesian High School, attended OSP's Johns Hopkins Coffee Chat. As a student excelling in five AP courses while maintaining outstanding grades, he shared his interest in pursuing a future in medicine.

Why are you interested in Johns Hopkins? 

First, it was great to meet with the Johns Hopkins representative at the OSP event. She was informative and shared her contact information. I plan to stay connected.

I know Johns Hopkins is one of the best pre-med schools with high graduation and medical school acceptance rates, along with being one of the most funded universities for research. My dream in life is to go into the medical field and major in either biochemistry or molecular biology, so Johns Hopkins is a top choice.

How has the Onward Scholars Program supported you with college access and in your high school career? 



I have been given advice, opportunities, and support. OSP has encouraged me to explore college options like Johns Hopkins, pushing me to aim high.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? 

I am very thankful for my school. You feel good there and the environment is very welcoming. Salesian's community and being surrounded by good people is amazing.

I am thankful for my family.My parents have always been very involved and attentive to me growing up. Along with my parents, my brothers have always supported me and made sure I did not have to struggle.

Mr. Chanchavac, Parent

Why did you want the Onward Scholars Program for your child? 

We applied to OSP for the support that the team gives to students. The program provides counseling, leadership, follow-up, and guidance to the boys at Salesian. We decided this is what we needed for Franklin.

Do you recommend the Onward Scholars Program to other families? 

Absolutely, absolutely. The OSP Director at Salesian, Mr. Alonso, is like a parent to the boys. He really gives good advice and is always aware of what is going on. He keeps us informed, and I really recommend the program to other families.

What advice would you give to other parents who are just starting the college process with their child? 



There are a lot of opportunities for kids as long as they have good grades, or even good enough grades. I tell fellow parents and friends that we have to look for opportunities and ask for them- we have to go out and look for opportunities such as the Onward Scholars Program.

Thank you, Franklin, Mr. and Mrs. Chanchavac, Johns Hopkins University, our OSP partner schools, and all the families who joined us for this special opportunity to explore college possibilities together! 

If you are a college representative and would like to learn more about the ways to engage with our scholars and families, please contact us!

OSP Alumni: Jose and Damian

Jose Borja

Bishop Mora Salesian High School, OSP Class of 2025

Loyola Marymount University | Psychology with Spanish Minor

Jose is a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University, where he studies psychology and works as one of five paid student researchers with Dr. Vanessa Bermudez. Their work with students from kindergarten through fourth grade explores how connecting math and reading to play strengthens early academic skills. Before college, Jose completed an internship at Loyola Law School during his junior year, sparking an interest he hopes to pursue alongside psychology through a career in law or clinical forensic psychology. 



Jose credits OSP for teaching him the real-life and college readiness skills he uses today. OSP Scholar Saturdays taught him about credit, budgeting, reading financial aid packages, and college-level coursework that helped prepare him for the rigors of college. He thanks his parents, Mr. Alonso, and the Salesian leadership and staff for encouraging him to believe he was capable of thriving in college and beyond. 

Damian Laguna

Bishop Mora Salesian High School, OSP Class of 2025

University of California San Diego | Business Economics



Damian is a sophomore at UC San Diego, where he is studying business economics and interns with a nationwide insurance company. His first step into the working world as a professional was as an Onward 2 High School Summer Institute Program Assistant in 2023 hosted at partner OSP and O2HS school, Sacred Heart High School.

Damian learned that having support through OSP did not mean someone else would do all the work for him. OSP challenged him to research opportunities, ask questions, and take ownership of his future while providing guidance every step of the way. These experiences helped him develop real-world skills, confidence, and initiative. Inspired by what he learned, Damian created a website for his younger sister to help her and students like her to access educational resources and opportunities more easily. He thanks his parents, Mr. Alonso, and fellow Salesian scholars for building his confidence and preparing him for public speaking and networking.

Onward 2 High School: Fall Cohort Events

This fall, our O2HS cohorts came together to meet, compete, and celebrate math!

Algebra 1 Honors students and their families gathered at their cohort’s high school to take on math challenges, meet classmates from partner elementary schools, and learn about the host high school and the Onward Scholars Program. Bishop Mora Salesian High School hosted School of Santa Isabel and Resurrection School for a Spooky Math Challenge. Sacred Heart High School welcomed St. Bernard School and Sacred Heart Elementary School for a gallery walk of student statistics projects. At St. Anthony High School’s athletic complex, students from St. Cyprian School and St. Maria Goretti School competed in math review and fun challenges. St. Pius X–St. Matthias Academy hosted students from St. Helen School and St. Odilia School for an evening of learning about function families in new friend groups.

Stay tuned! We’ll feature the Cathedral High School and St. Mary’s Academy cohort events in our upcoming winter newsletters.

Partner Schools

Click to learn more about the Smet Foundation's partner elementary and high schools!

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Read Past Newsletters

Onward Newsletter October

Onward Newsletter September

O2HS Inaugural Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 1

Onward Scholars Spring 2026

O2HS Volume 1, Edition 2

O2HS Volume 1, Edition 3

Summer Institute 2026 Week 1 Highlights

Summer Institute Week 2 Highlights

Summer Institute Week 3 Highlights

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The Smet Foundation

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