the Woman Behind the partnership

partners in wine.

Erica and Brother Kevin at Chappellet Winery.

Erica Alfaro-López ’06 THE WOMAN BEHIND THE PARTNERSHIP

By Andrea Flores, Director of Philanthropy

thanks to erica, Justin-siena now has a fundraising effort that directly benefits students who were a lot like she was just fifteen years ago - first generation to college children of immigrants with limited economic resources and a dream of a college education. through one loving, Christ-centered action, reaching out to mrs. farver this past spring and asking, “What if…,” erica alfaro-López ‘06 is paying it forward and helping more students to achieve their own dreams and aspirations. Loving. Christ-Centered. There are echoes of these words, embedded in our mission statement, all over the campus every day. A student experiences the loving accompaniment and “big sister, little sister” relationship of a teacher, counselor, or coach. A teacher takes a Christ-centered approach to their students every day they step through the classroom door. And these same words reverberate in the actions of our alumni who are engaged in loving, Christ-centered actions that positively impact Justin-Siena and the communities in which they live and work. For alumna Erica AlfaroLópez ’06, the time was right to find a way to give back to the school that changed the trajectory of her life and that of her brother Ismael ’04.

Erica’s story is like the story of hundreds of students who have graced the halls and breezeways of Justin-Siena. She and her brother were among the very first “mission” students at Justin-Siena, students who today are known as Lasallian Education Access Program (LEAP) Scholars. Her Justin-Siena journey began when her brother Ismael ’04 was a sophomore attending a local public high school. At the time, their mother, Mrs. Maria Alfaro, had heard about Justin-Siena but had not considered it as an option for her children. It was unlikely that their family could afford the then $7,425 per year for tuition for one child, let alone two. But Ismael’s high school experience had not been a positive one. Having been tracked into a vocational program, Mrs. Alfaro wished for more than manual labor for her son. Like many parents, she believed that a college education would positively impact his life. In a leap of faith and an act of humility, Mrs. Alfaro walked to 4026 Maher Street to find out how to get her son into Justin-Siena. For Ismael, getting in was not that easy. It required meeting a standard on Justin-Siena’s admission entrance exams that was simply out of reach for him. Believing in his capabilities, Mrs. Alfaro was determined to convince then Director of Admissions Sr. Susan Allbritton to admit Ismael as a junior transfer. So she mentioned to Sr. Susan that she also had a daughter who had high potential. Mrs. Alfaro posed this notion: if her daughter Erica did well on the entrance exam, would Justin-Siena accept both her daughter and her son? Just as her mother predicted, Erica more than met the bar on the High School Placement Exam. That August, Erica and her brother became Justin-Siena Braves.

Mrs. Michele Farver, Erica’s mentor at Justin-Siena, and now lifelong friend of the Alfaro family, fondly remembers both Erica and Ismael. Mrs. Farver recalls, “they felt out of place at first; JustinSiena was a stark contrast to the schools they had previously attended. But they came to love and embody everything that Justin-Siena stood for.” Erica especially found a home at Justin-Siena over her four years. She was an award winning editor-in-chief for the yearbook and also involved in Mock Trial. To contribute to financing her education, Erica worked during her lunch period in the cafeteria.

In the afternoons, evenings, and on weekends, she worked as a file clerk, was a tutor, and she nannied and cleaned houses. Even with all of this outside work, she maintained exceptional grades. Madame Annick Bouldt, Instructor in French and current World Languages Department Chair, taught Erica all four years. Madame Bouldt fondly remembers Erica as a inquisitive scholar, sharing, “Erica always impressed me for her dedication to her education, her commitment to others, and her determination to become a successful young woman.” In Erica’s senior year, she was nominated to the Homecoming Court. On the day her selection was announced over the loudspeaker, the student body’s chants of “Er-i-ca! Er-i-ca!” rang throughout the hallways. Preparing for Homecoming came with a series of firsts, including her first evening gown and her first salon day, and a hefty expense. Numerous alumni and staff stepped up that week to make sure that Erica would have the same experience that any Justin-Siena Homecoming Princess should have. A huge Erica fan, the Director of Dining Services who had hired Erica to work in the cafeteria, volunteered to chauffeur her in his snazzy convertible sports car in the parade. She was crowned Queen at half-time of the football game, escorted by her brother to loud and loving cheers.

After graduating from Justin-Siena, Ismael was accepted to and attended Saint Mary’s College of California. He graduated in 2008, with a degree in Business Administration and today he works in the business office at Chappellet Winery. As for Erica, she went on to graduate in 2010, from UC Berkeley with a triple major in Chicano Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Political Science. Today, Erica is Executive Assistant to Cyril Chappellet, Chairman of the Board at Chappellet Winery. This past spring, the time was right for Erica to find a way to give back to the school that transformed her and her brother’s lives. In early discussions regarding what is now the ACCESS 707 Winery Partnership Initiative, Erica said, “It is in times like these that we all need to pull together. Amidst COVID and these catastrophic fires, we should help families who really need that extra support to get through these difficult times.”

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