Christopher Bran

Christopher Bran, a student at Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy, Oakland, CA, received a 2011 Susan Steelman Bragato Scholarship of $1,500 for college tuition.

An honor roll student since his freshman year, Christopher said his experiences growing up among the crime ridden streets of East Oakland inspired him to pursue a career in law enforcement. Always fascinated by the FBI and CIA’s commitment to keep the country safe, his goal was to help and protect people in need.

Christopher notes that being robbed inspired him to work hard to attain a career with the FBI or CIA because not only will I be able to protect his own community and be able to help the whole nation.

The scholarship is named for Susan Steelman Bragato, the co-founder of the first charter school in California and the founder of the California Network of Educational Charters (which was renamed the California Charter Schools Association in 2003). Sue was one the first Californians to recognize the need to build a strong network of support among charter school leaders statewide.