Upward Scholars laptops boost whole families

When Natalia received a laptop from Upward Scholars, her nine-year-old daughter, Camila, was incredulous. “Mommy, why did you get a laptop?” she wanted to know. “It’s because I’m working hard in my school,” Natalia said. “So, if I work hard and get a laptop, maybe you can, too.”  

Natalia uses her new laptop to prepare presentations for her ESL class and to check Canvas, Cañada’s course-management platform. But she also uses it to motivate Camila to do her homework.  

“Sometimes it is hard for my daughter to focus,” Natalia says. “She can do homework in a notebook or on the computer, but Camila is more excited when she uses the laptop… The future is all about technology. So, my laptop is good for Camila and for me.”

In the past five years, Upward Scholars has given laptops to 232 students. This semester alone, 30 students — many of whom are parents — were awarded laptops. Menlo Park resident Sue Kayton, director of the Menlo-Atherton Computer Donation Program, volunteers to equip all of the laptops awarded by Upward Scholars with Microsoft Office and other essential applications and fixes any laptops that break. 

For Upward Scholars student Ana, receiving a laptop has meant a more peaceful home life and a better night’s sleep. Prior to receiving her laptop, her whole family — including her teenage son, her 24-year-old daughter, and her husband — shared one desktop computer. Rather than compete for screen time, Ana waited until the wee hours of the morning to do her assignments. Now, that’s no longer an issue. 

When Ana came home from the Upward Scholars event where she received her laptop, her whole family was waiting, ready to congratulate her. “When I saw everyone there, I started to cry. I felt so happy, so proud that I was elected to have my own laptop.”