These teens have life stories that would make a Hollywood screenwriter drool, the kind of scripts that could make even the most apathetic of people teary-eyed.
The Rochester Community and Technical College Foundation will award this year's "Beat the Odds" scholarship winners on Thursday night.
Five college-bound students who have overcome significant obstacles will receive scholarships of $2,500.
Three other students will receive $1,000 scholarships. Two other students will receive $500 scholarships.
"A lot of them are average kids who are facing incredible obstacles as they pursue their college education," said Colleen Landherr Maddox, who serves as the Beat the Odds coordinator.
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Society would look at the circumstances these students have been dealt and figure the odds are too great to succeed, but they find ways to persevere, she said.
"They somehow or another find that inner core of resilience in order to look at their life and chart the course for their future." Landherr Maddox said.
This is the 10th year of the Beat the Odds program, and in the past nine years, $117,500 has been awarded. This year, an anonymous donor gave an additional $2,500 after hearing about the scholarships.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are $75.
