Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Janessa Ramirez Remembered with Scholarships and a New Mural
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 4 years ago on
May 21, 2021

Share

The memory of Janessa Ramirez is honored each year with scholarships awarded to Central Unified high school seniors. On Wednesday, when the seven scholarship winners lined up, Janessa’s smiling face was just behind them.

A new mural painted on the side of the Granville Teague Community Center on Polk Avenue in west Fresno contains an image of Janessa and some of her favorite things, including a purple teddy bear. The wall art was created by Dulce Upfront muralist Samantha Lazcano.

Other muralists, artists, Janessa’s family members, friends, and members of the Central Unified community participated in “paint night” events.

Lazcano and others who worked on the mural were on hand Wednesday as the scholarship winners were recognized.

The seven students — Isabella Aguila, Damien Casares, Thomas Fuentes, Je’Kob Jones, Elisha Mata, Arielle Romero, and Kaitlyn Ybarra — received $2,500 scholarships because of their academic excellence, leadership, and hard work outside the classroom.

Janessa was a fourth-grader when she was struck down by a stray bullet fired during a gang dispute in January 2015. To honor and remember her, the Foundation for Central Schools established the Janessa Ramirez Scholarship program. Wednesday’s award ceremony was the fifth annual event.

More Scholarships on Tap

Foundation executive director Serena Dohi said the number of scholarships has grown over the years, and the goal for next year is to have 10 $2,500 scholarships and seed a four-year California State University scholarship.

Mayor Jerry Dyer, who was chief of police when Janessa was killed, recognized her mother, Stacey Gonzales, in the audience and commented that he wished they could have been brought together under different and less tragic circumstances.

Janessa’s death shocked and united the community, he said, leading police, gang members, and other community members to gather together in prayer.

With gang violence again on the upswing in Fresno and across the nation, the mural of Janessa on the side of the community center should be a constant reminder of “how fragile life is, to know how precious our children are, and to do all we can to protect them and to make sure that gang violence is not allowed or tolerated in our city because bullets do not have eyes,” Dyer said.

” … This mural means so much to this community as a reminder that we must constantly be vigilant against gang violence. And it will be a constant reminder of how much we all loved Janessa.”

At left, Stacey Gonzales, Janessa Ramirez’s mother, stands with April Henry, executive director of Highway City Community Development, at Wednesday’s Janessa Ramirez Scholarships award ceremony. (GV Wire/Nancy Price)

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Eight More Drowning Deaths Added to Kern River Warning Signs

59 minutes ago

Caitlin Clark Will Miss at Least Two Weeks With Quad Strain

2 hours ago

Tulare County Authorities Arrest 45 in Parole, Probation Sweep

Authorities arrested 45 people and seized illegal firearms and drugs during a multi-agency parole and probation compliance sweep across Tula...

8 minutes ago

Authorities arrested 45 people and seized guns and drugs during a multi-agency parole and probation sweep across Tulare County over the past two weekends. (Tulare County SO)
8 minutes ago

Tulare County Authorities Arrest 45 in Parole, Probation Sweep

Students walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Faith Ninivaggi/File Photo
14 minutes ago

Trump Administration Halts Scheduling of New Student Visa Appointments

19 minutes ago

Trump Pardons Tax Cheat After Mother Attends $1 Million Dinner

Lower Kern River
59 minutes ago

Eight More Drowning Deaths Added to Kern River Warning Signs

Caitlin Clark Against the NY Liberty
2 hours ago

Caitlin Clark Will Miss at Least Two Weeks With Quad Strain

David Sanchez Montes is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for May 27, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: David Sanchez Montes

2 hours ago

Trump Threatens Action as Clovis Prepares for CIF State Track Championships

2 hours ago

Giants Are No Match for the Tigers’ Montero and Greene

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend