"College is more and more costly, especially for low-income families," said Piedmont resident and East Bay College Fund president Andy Fremder. "This is an efficient way to help people who need it."

The fund was founded in 2002 by Fremder, Oakland resident Patricia Durham and several other donors who wanted to help bolster four-year college attendance among low-income high school graduates. It provides $16,000 to each student over four years.

This year, a community panel picked 10 recipients from 84 applicants. The 2004 Great Expectations Awards scholars and their high schools are:

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen, McClymonds High School
  
• Alejandro Avila, Castlemont High School
  
• Jameil Butler, Oakland Tech
  
• Luz Gomez, Skyline High School
  
• Arthur Jackson, McClymonds High School
  
• Jamerson Johnson, Far West High School
  
• David Lloyd, Far West High School
  
• Damien McDuffie, Oakland Tech
  
• Concepcion Solis, Life Academy
  
• Nicole Tobor, Castlemont High School

Students selected as alternates, should other scholarships become available to the award winners by the fall, are:

• Samuel Becerra, Life Academy
  
• Ashleigh Chambers, McClymonds High School
  
• Rosa Moran, Castlemont High School
  
• Jessica Senephansiri, McClymonds High School

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