PENDER COUNTY, NC - Pender County Schools is proud to announce that two of our own seniors have been awarded scholarships by FOCUS Broadband to support their college education. Sereniti A’niyah Branch and Jessica Juarez-Santiago, both seniors at Pender Early College High School, have each received a $2,000 scholarship in recognition of their academic achievements, community involvement, and interview skills.
Sereniti Branch, daughter of Shayla Branch of Burgaw, has plans to major in exercise science with a minor in dance at East Carolina University. Sereniti’s dedication to both physical fitness and the arts has shaped her academic journey, and she is eager to continue her studies at ECU.
Jessica Juarez-Santiago, daughter of Bacilio Juarez of Burgaw, will pursue a degree in chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her commitment to academic excellence and her passion for the sciences have helped her earn a spot at one of the country’s most prestigious institutions.
The FOCUS Broadband scholarship program is open to students living in households served by FOCUS Broadband, with recipients selected based on their academic performance, community engagement, and interview presentations. In addition to Sereniti and Jessica, other students from surrounding counties also received scholarships this year, including Lizzy Cruz, Miguel Dominguez, and Haley Parker from Columbus County; Kinslee Martin from Robeson County; Jamaurie Perry from Chowan County; and Ella Bellamy, Emmy Russ, and Aley Williams from Brunswick County.
Since its inception in 2002, the FOCUS Broadband Scholarship Program has awarded over $173,000 to 106 students. The application period for the 2026 scholarship program will open in October 2025. Students interested in applying can learn more about eligibility and the application process by visiting FOCUS Broadband’s scholarship page.
