The Cleo Marie Memorial Scholarships
The Cleo Marie Memorial Scholarships are need-based and awarded to students who appreciate the value of education, want to further their education by attending college, and need some financial assistance to achieve this goal.
Gramma Knows Best!
As a kid, all I wanted to do was play baseball and become a professional baseball player. When I reached middle school, this dream had grown with me. I remember telling my grandmother, “Gramma, I want to be a pro. I’m gonna get drafted straight outta high school and start playing in the minor leagues.”
She looked at me lovingly and replied calmly, “That’s a wonderful goal, sweetie, but you have to make me one promise. You have to go to college first.”
I looked at her perplexed and responded, “But Gramma, I wanna get into the minor leagues as soon as possible, so I have a better shot at makin’ it to the big leagues.”
Again, looking at me patiently, she said softly, “And I’m sure you will…Right after you graduate from college. You know how important doing well in school and going to college is.”
As time went on, I relented. I began to alter my plans. I adored my grandmother and knew that everything she instructed me to do was because she genuinely wanted the best for me. Soon, I began telling her, “Gramma, I am gonna go to college and play baseball while I’m there. Then, I’ll start playing in the minor leagues when I graduate!”
She’d say, with an approving smile, “Now that sounds like a great plan, my dear.”
Needless to say, I never made it to the major leagues. In fact, I never even played baseball after high school. I was an average fielder and barely could hit my weight. But I did attend and graduate from college.
As a thank you to my grandmother and all other influential individuals out there who guide us on our academic journeys, I have created the Cleo Marie Memorial Scholarships, which serve as the cornerstone of Gramma’s Jam.
How To Apply
Meet A Couple Of Recent Scholarship Superstars
Youssef Salib
UC Berkeley – Class of 2024
Youssef is an inspiring student. He and his family immigrated from Cairo, Egypt, to Bakersfield, California, when he was in middle school. Youssef is a credit to his family and a young man of faith. He embodies the saying, “When life gives you lemons – make lemonade.” His strong spirit and innate ability to constantly keep moving forward and strive for his goals, no matter the obstacles, impressed and continues to impress me. I am confident that he will one day be the successful engineer he aspires to be.

Carlos Georgescu
University of British Columbia – Class of 2025
Carlos is truly one-of-a-kind. He immigrated from Bucharest, Romania, to Vancouver, British Columbia, with his family when he was just a boy. Not only is Carlos an excellent son and brother to his younger brother Eduard, but he is genuinely inspired to make the world a better place. While in high school, he founded The Global Spotlight, a non-profit dedicated to sharing stories from different cultures/places in hopes of effecting positive change in those places. He received the Diana Award for his exceptional work in the local and global community. I have no doubt that Carlos will one day be the founder of a ground-breaking tech company geared toward improving the world with his unparalleled determination and hustle.