Announcing our 2020 Kevin Blain Memorial Scholarship Recipients

In order to honor and continue Kevin Blain’s legacy of supporting the youth in his community, Dani Blain Brokerage began the Kevin Blain Memorial Scholarship Fund where we award deserving Tulare High School students with their sights set on furthering their education after graduation with $500 each. We love knowing we can give back to the community that Kevin was born and raised in that supported him in his youth and later as he grew his business and created a successful career here in the Central Valley. We look forward to every spring as we work with Tulare high schools to submit our scholarship application packet to their eligible students. This year’s scholarship committee, comprised of staff, agents and members of our executive leadership committee, had the very hard job of selecting the most deserving applicants. Ultimately, the graduates that were selected showed great character, leadership, volunteerism, and demonstrated that they have a heart to serve others and faith in Christ. 

As we all know, the Class of 2020 did not get to have a typical Senior year of high school leaving school abruptly in March with the COVID-19 Pandemic. They missed out on a lot of the senior experiences many of us had and remember fondly. It has become apparent though, that among these graduates is a group of young adults that make us feel like the future is in good hands. This generation is full of people forced to become adaptable and to make the best out of difficult situations. Our scholarship recipients are headed on to bright futures and we are so blessed to be able to help them financially as they transition into college. We are very excited to introduce our Class of 2020 recipients:

Isaiah Borjon is headed to Gardner Webb University (GWU), a top Christian college in North Carolina to play Division 1 soccer, where he plans to study Theology and aspires to play professional soccer. He has already had a taste of what playing soccer abroad would be like when he played in Spain his Sophomore year in High School. He graduated with a 3.0 GPA, as a member of the Bible Club, Link Crew, ASB, and was in the Christian Fellowship of Athletes Club, while still managing to play in his church band. Isaiah is sure to be a success in his future endeavors and we are excited to see where his time at GWU will take him. 

Kortney Hamilton not only graduated in the top 6% of her class with a 4.17 GPA, she was also a three sport athlete (Volleyball, Soccer, and Softball), an award winning artist, and was very involved in school clubs. She was a member of the Art Club, MECHA, the Christian Fellowship of Athletes Club, and the Black Student Union Club. In her multiple missions trips to Mexico and Nicaragua, and her volunteer experience at her church’s VBS, she learned that she would like to pursue a career in architecture or teaching. We are certain that whether she ends up at Cal Poly, Fresno State, or Grand Canyon University (she hasn’t decided which of these she will attend just yet) that she will make us proud and we are so happy to offer her one of these scholarships.

Lilia Mora is headed to a local community college before she plans on transferring to CSU Bakersfield to pursue a career in nursing. As a four year member of the Pre-Med Club, a volunteer at the SPCA, earning her way onto the Honor Roll for all four years, and ultimately graduating with a 3.74 overall GPA, she showed us through her application that she’s dedicated to her studies and goals. Lilia also played piano and sang for her church band and has already taken part in a nursing program that started in August of 2019 and wrapped up this spring. Despite some tough times in her family, she stayed dedicated to her studies and we could tell from her application that she is committed to her dreams of becoming a nurse and we are so pleased to be able to contribute to part of her tuition next semester. 

Our final recipient, Kambrya Persinger is headed off to Fresno State to pursue a career as a public accountant. She graduated with a 4.29 GPA and as the valedictorian of her class. She kept very busy in her four years at Tulare High involved in ASB, Interact Club, Project Z, as well as playing on the tennis, soccer, and track & field teams. In addition to being on the Honor Roll all four years, she also received the impressive Perfect Attendance Award (wow!).  Somehow she also found time to volunteer with Harvest for Hope, Young Life, and participated in two Missions trips! We happen to know her well, because she worked as an office assistant for us during her junior year. We saw first-hand that this girl is going places and we are so proud of her and all of her achievements. 

During the uncertain times that we are all facing, we are glad to contribute in some way to these promising and deserving members of the Class of 2020. We are also excited to announce that Dani Blain Brokerage will be expanding our scholarship program in 2021 to all Tulare County High schools and hope to award students that are looking to also to pursue careers in the mental health field. Part of what makes this scholarship fund possible, is by our wonderful clients that trust us with all of their Real Estate needs. Without you, none of this would be possible… so, thank you for helping us keep Kevin’s name and legacy alive with this Memorial Scholarship Fund and helping us contribute to our future’s greatest asset – our youth.