From left: YWCA of North Orange County Executive Director Diane Masseth-Jones, Rosanne and Don Thurmond, Kristy Haffner, Eileen Marie Anguiano and Aihanh T. Truong. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz Three economically disadvantaged college students, who hope to earn bachelor's degrees from Cal State Fullerton, each received a $2,000 Thurmond College Scholarship from the YWCA of North Orange County on June 24, 2010. The scholarship recipients — Aihanh T. Truong, 46, Kristy Haffner, 26, and Eileen Marie Anguiana, 29 — plan to serve their community after they graduate. Truong, a mother of two and Cal State Fullerton undergrad, plans to work in the human services field; Haffner, who is transferring to CSUF from Fullerton College this fall, plans to become a teacher; and Anguiana, a single mother of four and Fullerton College student who plans to transfer to a four-year university next year, wants to become a marriage and family counselor or juvenile probation officer. When hairstylist Rimma Andrew, who works at Alexander's Salon and Spa in Brea, heard about the three women, she recruited two fellow stylists — Pam Coryell and Cristy Slavens — and offered the scholarship winners free haircuts. With their new hair styles, the three went from the salon to the YWCA scholarship luncheon in Fullerton. Said Truong: ''Everything is so generous. I will work hard to succeed because I am so grateful.'' Don Thurmond said his parents started the scholarship years ago to help single mothers who have a need for financial assistance. To qualify for the scholarship, recipients must be at least 24 years old, have a 2.0 or higher grade point average and be working toward completing an undergraduate degree, said Diane Masseth-Jones, executive director for the YWCA of North Orange County. She said there are plenty of scholarship offers for younger students fresh out of high school, but few for single mothers or older women, who often need the most financial assistance. For more information, visit ywcanoc.org.

Cristy Slavens, right, blow dries Eileen Marie Anguiano's hair. Photo by Mimi Ko Cruz Three economically disadvantaged college students, who hope to earn bachelor's degrees from Cal State Fullerton, each received a $2,000 Thurmond College Scholarship from the YWCA of North Orange County on June 24, 2010. The scholarship recipients — Aihanh T. Truong, 46, Kristy Haffner, 26, and Eileen Marie Anguiana, 29 — plan to serve their community after they graduate. Truong, a mother of two and Cal State Fullerton undergrad, plans to work in the human services field; Haffner, who is transferring to CSUF from Fullerton College this fall, plans to become a teacher; and Anguiana, a single mother of four and Fullerton College student who plans to transfer to a four-year university next year, wants to become a marriage and family counselor or juvenile probation officer. When hairstylist Rimma Andrew, who works at Alexander's Salon and Spa in Brea, heard about the three women, she recruited two fellow stylists — Pam Coryell and Cristy Slavens — and offered the scholarship winners free haircuts. With their new hair styles, the three went from the salon to the YWCA scholarship luncheon in Fullerton. Said Truong: ''Everything is so generous. I will work hard to succeed because I am so grateful.'' Don Thurmond said his parents started the scholarship years ago to help single mothers who have a need for financial assistance. To qualify for the scholarship, recipients must be at least 24 years old, have a 2.0 or higher grade point average and be working toward completing an undergraduate degree, said Diane Masseth-Jones, executive director for the YWCA of North Orange County. She said there are plenty of scholarship offers for younger students fresh out of high school, but few for single mothers or older women, who often need the most financial assistance. For more information, visit ywcanoc.org.