Alumni
Mariano Serrano
Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship Alumni
Mariano graduated from Heights High School in 2024, where he was awarded a full 2 year scholarship under the Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship. Mariano decided to pursue an HVAC certificate from Houston Community College, now known as Houston City College. While in high school Mariano joined the Mission Squash program. Mission Squash prepared him both physically and academically to succeed in college and serve as a productive young adult who would give back to his community. Mariano has completed his post secondary education and has chosen to pursue a career in squash coaching. He will be a fulltime coach and completing professional development training to enhance his leadership, coaching and mentoring skills. We are so proud of all his many accomplishments.
Henry Tohom
Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship Alumni
Dear Ms. Finger,
I hope this message finds you well. This is Henry Tohom, and I’m excited to share some wonderful
news I was recently hired as an Automotive Instructor at Sam Houston Math, Science, and
Technology High School. HISD officially brought me on board two months ago, and I couldn't be
more grateful.
I want to sincerely thank you for the recommendation letter you wrote on my behalf. Your
support, along with Mr. Finger’s, has meant so much to me from the very beginning. I still
remember his encouraging words during the interview: "You're going to make money, and you're
going to be a successful person." Those words stuck with me and continue to motivate me today.
There have been few people in my life who truly believed in me, and I will always be grateful to
the Marvy Finger Family Foundation for giving me the opportunity to follow my dreams. I got
married seven years ago and am now the proud father of two boys Henry Joel (6) and Michael
Isaias (2). They are my greatest motivation and the reason I strive to keep moving forward.
Now, as a teacher, I see just how important it is to have dedicated educators who can guide
students down the right path. Your support has not only helped me reach this point in my career
but has also impacted many students’ lives. Thank you for everything you do.
Jonathan Alvarado.
Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship Alumni
Dear Ms. Finger,
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. The support
you and your team have provided has truly changed the course of my life. Without the Marvy
Finger Scholarship, I honestly don’t know where I’d be today. Your generosity lifted a
tremendous weight off my shoulders and allowed me to pour my energy into school, without the
constant fear of not having the means to succeed. Because of you, I had a chance—not just to
dream, but to build a life I never thought possible.
Today, I’m proud to say I’ve been teaching at Sam Houston High School for six years. I started
with a salary of $55,000 and now earn over $85,000 a year. Just a few years before that, I was
juggling multiple full-time jobs making $20,000–$30,000 annually, trying to make ends meet. At
22, I achieved something I never thought I’d reach so early I bought my first home. A year
later, I welcomed my son into the world. He’s about to turn three now, and he is the light of my
life.
Every time I look at my students, I see parts of my own story in them. Many are facing battles
I’ll never fully understand, but I recognize the silent struggles the ones I also lived through.
I was raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly at multiple jobs to give us a chance at a
better future. She left everything behind when she migrated from Mexico not for herself, but for
her children. That sacrifice gave me the strength and purpose to push forward.
Now, I try every day to be the role model I wish I had growing up. I tell my students: if I
could make it, so can you. I remind them that I walked the same halls, lived in the same
neighborhood, faced the same obstacles and still, here I am. Not because it was easy, but
because people like you believed in someone like me.
One film that truly speaks to the kind of educator I aspire to be is Freedom Writers. The
stories in that movie mirror the lives of so many of my students of our students. If you haven’t
seen it, I would love for you to watch it. I think it would resonate deeply with you, especially
knowing the impact your scholarship has had on young lives like mine. I’d be honored to hear
your thoughts if you do.
Ms. Finger, thank you again for your kindness, your belief in me, and for giving me the
foundation to build a future I am proud of. Your generosity is not just a scholarship, it’s a
legacy. And I carry that with me every single day in my classroom, hoping to pass it forward to
the next generation. Sending you a warm embrace and all my gratitude. I hope you are doing well
and know just how much you’ve changed my life.
Warm Regards, Jonathan Alvarado.