Josefina's story:

With her short essay comparing every student to a piece of art, Myrtle S. Finney Elementary student Josefina Vega won the grand prize in the "Save Me a Spot for College" scholarship contest.

More than 12,000 middle and high school students throughout California were asked to express their hopes for the future through writing or drawing and answer the question: "Why should California leaders save you and your peers a spot in college?"

"I said that when we're younger, you're kind of like a sketch," Josefina said. "And then as you proceed through life you turn into a painting ... And then when you get to college you can be a painting in a museum."

Josefina, who is called Chepy by her friends and family, earned $1,000 for being among the winners and an additional $1,500 for winning the grand prize in her category.

Edrick Macalaguim, her teacher, learned of the scholarship contest through one of his colleagues three years ago. Since then, he has had all of his students submit at least a written entry every year.

"More than winning the scholarship, I'm trying to instill the idea that college doesn't start in high school, it starts right now," Macalaguim said.

Josefina, 12, has been at Finney since preschool, Macalaguim said. When she arrived, she didn't speak any English. Spanish is her primary language, but by fourth grade she was able to be reclassified as fluent in English.

"She now has a full command of the language and uses her creativity to compose pieces with precision and grace," Macalaguim said.