Community Services for Children recently announced the distribution of its second Head Start Alumni Scholarships to two local graduating seniors who were former Head Start/Early Head Start students and are now pursing higher education.

Each scholarship is worth $2,500.

The recipients are:

Brianna Herrera, a graduate of Dieruff High School, maintained honor roll in middle and high schools.

She has been inducted into the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society and played in both the concert and marching bands.

Attending Kutztown University to study music, she plans to become a music teacher.

Brianna credits Head Start, El Sistema and other mentors for teaching her life skills through music.

Natalie Santiago, also is a Dieruff High School graduate.

She will be the first to attend college in her family.

Natalie graduated with an Associate degree in the Lehigh Carbon Community College dual enrollment program, where she participated in volleyball, softball and student council.

She is attending Cedar Crest College to pursue a degree in nursing.

Natalie wants to work in the medical field to help others and ultimately would like to open her own medical spa or home health care agency.

This year is the third year Community Services has offered this scholarship.