Kayla Salazar, was chosen as a 2023 Girls Inc. National Scholar and awarded a $25,000 Suzanne Patmore Gibbs Courage Scholarship. She wasselected for her outstanding academic achievements, community service work, and dedication to the Girls Inc. mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Kayla is one of three Girls Inc. SPG National Scholars selected in 2023 from across the United States and Canada.

In 2022, Kayla was also a Girls Inc. National Scholar and awarded a $5,000 Girls Inc. Lucile Miller Wright Scholarship and our local Girls Inc. Jackie McManus Memorial Scholarship for $5,000.

Kayla is currently attending UCLA.

Kayla credits Girls Inc. for helping her find a safe space where she could learn and be a leader, Kayla says, “Girls Inc. gave me the opportunity to become a youth leader where I facilitate workshops at the very same middle school I attended! It is fulfilling to help my community and younger peers avoid drug usage. Instead of falling into a statistic, Girls Inc. inspired me to make healthy choices, resist negative pressures, and aid others. Most importantly, I realized that I do not have to follow in other’s footsteps and that I can shape my own future.”