Impact Report: Year-Ends 2021 and 2022

Goodman

Maurice Goodman and Martina Center Goodman: The Goodman Middle College Scholarship at Skyline College

For Martina Center-Goodman and Maurice Goodman, Skyline College has long been a welcoming home. Both received their associate degrees at the college; Martina in Early Childhood Education in 2002 and Maurice in Administration of Justice/Paralegal Studies in 1998. Maurice also distinguished himself as President of the Associated Students of Skyline College for two terms. Both still have a strong connection to Skyline College and the San Mateo County Community College District.

Even before she completed her higher education, Martina chose to work at Skyline College and give back to the community she loved. She started her career as a preschool teacher at the Child Development Laboratory Center in 1998. After nearly two decades at the center, in 2015, Martina transitioned to the Retention Specialist role in the Middle College Program, where she is now the Director. Maurice also served Skyline College as an advocate for the establishment of the Child Development Laboratory Center as a student and, today, as an elected Trustee of the San Mateo County Community College District.

Growing up in North San Mateo County, Martina and Maurice met as teens at a neighborhood basketball court, and while they had no idea what the future would have in mind, they would stay in contact as friends. As fate would have it, it was their shared lived experiences as first-generation college students that led them to reconnect some years later, they would share a love for children, community, and each other that would prove to be the bond and passion that drives their commitment for improving the lives of others to this day.

Together, Martina and Maurice are passionate about education and providing the youth in this community with opportunities through the Middle College Program, particularly at Skyline College. “I love that it serves underrepresented students that wouldn’t necessarily see themselves in college,” says Martina. “The program provides them the chance to see themselves in college and where they can be successful. A lot of students are still exploring and are not sure of what they want to do, and this program gives them that opportunity.”

The Middle College Program at Skyline College is an alternative to traditional high school. In collaboration with the South San Francisco Unified School District, the program allows select juniors and seniors to complete high school while enrolling in concurrent college courses and accumulating college credits. The program is designed to serve low-resourced, high-potential students that have been historically under-served and underrepresented in higher education. 85% of Middle College students are first-generation, and 40% come from low-income families. 95% of the program’s students go on to study at Skyline College after graduating high school.

Goodman Scholarship Martina learned about SMCCCF’s work while she was still a Retention Specialist in the Middle College Program. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Tykia Warden, along with the Financial Aid team at the college, gave a presentation about scholarships and how students could go about applying. Martina learned that seniors in the program who would be incoming Skyline College students could apply for Foundation scholarships. She approached the then Director with the idea of creating a dedicated scholarship for the Middle College Program. The idea came to fruition when she and Maurice decided to create the Goodman Middle College Scholarship themselves in honor of Maurice's two brothers, Benjamin and Johnny, who lost their lives too soon; as young men of promise, they failed to reach their full potential. Given the services and support of a program like Middle College, students of promise and potential with little to no opportunity can now have what Maurice so desired for his brothers so many years ago.

The Goodmans established their Scholarship because they wanted to give students something in return for taking the leap and investing in themselves, into this program, into their education, and into their future.

The award provides financial assistance to seniors in the program as they begin their journey in higher education, either at Skyline College or another institution. “Students will go above and beyond when they are motivated and have the right tools available to them. Receiving a scholarship shows that their effort has value. By creating and donating to scholarships, people show that they care, which boosts students’ morale and self-esteem and makes them want to continue with their education. Some of our students are in need of extra funds to help support their families. This scholarship gives the students who need it most the extra push to succeed. We both wanted to give to underserved students that were pursuing their secondary education.”

The Goodman Middle College Scholarship is now three years old, and the first group of students to receive the award and their family members have already come back to Skyline College to express their gratitude. “There is always a great pool of students who apply, and I wish we could give the award to all of them.”

Both Martina and Maurice hope that the scholarship will continue. Martina has been at Skyline College for 24 years, and even when she’s no longer there, she and her family will continue to donate to this fund. She and Maurice feel that they have made an impact on students at Skyline College, which is so special to them. Eventually, they would like to work towards creating an endowed fund that will fund scholarships for Middle College students in perpetuity.

“The Middle College Program is thankful to everyone who has so generously donated to the scholarship fund, and the students appreciate the support. We appreciate all the donors, and I’m proud of this scholarship and how it helps our students and their families.”

To support the Goodman Middle College Scholarship, click here.