We’re honored to share our scholarship recipients and their testimonials. Because of the incredible support of families and our communities, we were able to make these scholar’s educational journeys possible.
2026 Recipients
JENNIFER LIANG
UC BERKELEY
CLASS OF 2030
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“As an incoming first-generation, low-income student at UC Berkeley studying cognitive science, I am thrilled to pursue higher education to fulfill my career goals in user experience design and continue supporting my community. Knowing that many students from marginalized communities are underrepresented in STEM, I encourage every student with similar backgrounds to take every opportunity and not let their circumstances define their success.”
ANDREW MELEK
UC RIVERSIDE
CLASS OF 2030
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“He was raised on games that don’t forgive. Chess first — the board where every mistake has a name and a punishment, where he learned to think three moves past his own confidence. Then LeetCode, which is just chess with worse manners: no opponent, no glory, only a clock and a judge that says wrong in the coldest font ever designed.But Opus Magnum is where you find the real him — a man who’d rather spend four hours building an elegant machine that runs six seconds slower than a fast one that looks like a crime scene. He optimizes for beauty first, efficiency second, and forgives himself for neither. Ask him for a rook sacrifice, a two-pointer, or a marble-transmutation loop and watch the same face appear: unbothered, already three branches deep, already certain the ugly solution isn’t a solution at all. He doesn’t play to win. He plays to make the win inevitable — then goes looking for a harder board.”
MYRNA ESCAMILLA
UC MERCED
CLASS OF 2030
“I graduated from San Rafael High School, and will be attending UC Merced on a full ride scholarship! I am looking forward to majoring in Political Science with an emphasis on law, with hopes of becoming a lawyer in the future.”
WENDY MARCIAL SILVA
UC SANTA BARBARA
CLASS OF 2030
“As the daughter to an immigrant mother and through my own health journey, I have developed a deep passion for medicine and patient advocacy. I am an incoming Biology major at UC Santa Barbara with aspirations of becoming a Physician Assistant in rheumatology. I strive to bridge the gaps of the healthcare system in immigrant and underrepresented communities.”
KAMILA JIMENEZ
UC DAVIS
CLASS OF 2030
“Coming from a low-income household as a first-generation daughter of two hard working immigrant parents, I intend to join the ~17% of women with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and utilize that degree to create accessible life-saving medical devices for all.”
ABRAHAM LY
UC BERKLEY
CLASS OF 2030
“I’m interested in the intersection between different fields of science and engineering. I hope that my education places me on a path that allows for me to work in a field that solves an issue many people are facing.”
ESHAL MAQSOOD
UC LOS ANGELES
CLASS OF 2030
“Growing up with limited resources has fueled my passion to give back as a healthcare professional by advocating for equitable access to medical care and conducting research that improves the lives of underserved communities. I’m eager to dedicate my life to the sciences, addressing healthcare disparities and contributing to a future that fosters innovation, diversity, and equity for all.”
AMVINA PHAM
UC BERKLEY
CLASS OF 2030
“My name is Amvina, and I’ll be attending UC Berkeley to study Electrical and Computer Engineering. My passion for engineering comes from working on various STEM and technology projects that inspired me to use my skills to help others. I want to develop technologies that improve accessibility and everyday life, and give back to my communities.
2025 Recipients
EDUARDO DOS SANTOS
UC SANTA BARBARA CLASS OF 2029
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“I come from a first-generation, low-income immigrant household, and over time I’ve seen how hard it can be for people in communities like mine to access mental health care. I hope to become a psychiatrist and support those who have been silenced. My goal is to serve communities that are too often overlooked, to listen, and to help spark change where it’s needed most.”
MIA BULNES MARTINEZ
UC BERKELEY CLASS OF 2029
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“Driven by the dream of becoming an engineer, I left my home in Honduras to pursue better educational opportunities in the United States, leaving behind my parents, who continue to support me despite limited income and ongoing challenges. Every achievement is a tribute to my parents’ sacrifice and a step closer to building a better future.”
MINA ALJANABY
UC LOS ANGELES CLASS OF 2029
“To live, is to be educated. My initiative as a future scientist and medical professional lies in bringing back the spark, the love, and the power of education to the underprivileged and underestimated. I want to work towards an advanced future, one filled with diverse experiences, unsheltered environments, and unlimited access to knowledge.”
ODALIZ VICTORIO
UC BERKLEY CLASS OF 2029
“My name is Odaliz Victorio and this fall I’ll be attending UC Berkeley. I’m a first first generation student and oldest of four siblings from a mixed status family.”
RUBI LOPEZ LEMUS
UC LOS ANGELES CLASS OF 2029
“Guided by resilience and shaped by lived experience, I’ve grown from mentee to mentor, caregiver to future clinician. My mission is to help minority communities reclaim dignity in healthcare and beyond to ensure every person feels seen, valued, and understood, especially those whose stories have too often gone unheard.”
VANESSA LAM
UC BERKLEY CLASS OF 2029
“I’m interested in the correlation between gut and mental health, and hope to focus on that topic in my future career as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. My hope is that as more people grow open to discussing their insecurities and health concerns, we will be able to build a more inclusive environment where everyone feels safe to share their concerns, no matter how big or small.”
2024 Recipients
CARLOS PIMENTEL
CSU SAN JOSE CLASS OF 2028
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“My name is Carlos Pimentel. I am an Aerospace Engineering student at San Jose State University, and after graduating, I want to work on creating more sustainable and equitable transportation.”
KIMBERLY NGUYEN
UC SANTA CRUZ CLASS OF 2028
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“My name is Kimberly Nguyen. In the future, I hope to contribute more through my career as a clinical psychologist by addressing the mental health stigmas in the Asian-American community, reducing the prevalence of substance abuse in my local community, and setting an example for young girls who may not yet know their power and potential as the leaders of our tomorrow.”
LAURA KHUU
UC DAVIS CLASS OF 2028
“My name is Laura Khuu. I am majoring in biomedical engineering at UC Davis, which is a discipline that intertwines my passions of STEM and service. The lack of representation in healthcare motivates me to increase diversity and improve health outcomes by engineering medical devices. I hope to foster an inclusive environment in both my education and career where different voices are heard and work together towards change.”
FARIDA ABD EL HAK
UC BERKLEY CLASS OF 2028
“My name is Farida Abd el hak. I am especially interested in understanding how living biological materials interact with non-biological materials. I believe educating people about the opportunities available to them is a good place to start. Diversity in STEM and beyond starts by addressing the barriers of marginalized students, one voice at a time.”
2023 Recipients
JOSEPH MOLANO
CAL POLY POMONA CLASS OF 2027
“I’d like to be a role model for others just like the incredible people in my life. I want to enlighten the minds of my community and shatter the barriers of ignorance around us. I hope to create a brighter future where we can all collaborate and solve problems together. I look forward to a brighter future for all.”
JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ
SAN JOSE STATE CLASS OF 2027
“I’m excited to channel great momentum into my studies and future endeavors in Computer Science, carrying forward the spirit of determination via a diversity of thought and background that this scholarship represents.”
2022 Recipients
GAEL FONSECA
CSU FULLERTON CLASS OF 2026
ANDREW LI
UC BERKELEY CLASS OF 2026
“My name is Gael Alejandro Fonseca and I am a freshman at Cal State Fullerton majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Finance. I plan to use my education to pursue a career in the tech industry and give back to all the non-profit organizations that made it possible for me to get to this point, such as Healthy Cities Tutoring and the Silicon Valley Food Bank. I currently work as a baseball coach and volunteer tutor and plan to continue this throughout college.
Diversity isn’t just a group of people with different backgrounds and ethnicities coming together. Diversity is when people with different ideas and viewpoints can come together and learn from each other in ways that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible without having an open mind. By supporting programs that allow people from disadvantaged backgrounds to have the same opportunities as everyone else, we broaden the diversity in higher education, giving fields such as STEM different viewpoints and angles to solve complex problems.”
“My name is Andrew Li and I’m from Oakland, California. I will be attending UC Berkeley as a bioengineering major while on the pre-med path. I’ve always been interested in medicine, but this passion really grew over the recent years with the various medical hardships that my family has faced. Witnessing the intricacies of medical care first-handed has inspired me to pursue a career as a physician, more specifically, a surgeon.
I understand the pain of losing a family member, the difficulties of navigating the logistics of health care, the disappointment of not being able to afford an opportunity, and the challenges of seeking support. Medicine is not only about saving lives, it’s also about making sure that those involved can go on and live a happy life. As a physician, I hope to not only cure physical illnesses but also help alleviate the disparities my patients and their families may face.”
AMY ZHANG
UC DAVIS CLASS OF 2026
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“My name is Amy Zhang and I’m from Alameda, California. I will be attending UC Davis this fall as a biological sciences major.
Growing up stereotyped by my looks and background, I faced challenges accepting my culture and identity. However, after witnessing and understanding the sacrifices my parents made for me to receive an education in the United States, I was able to recognize the privilege I had which motivated me to take full advantage of it. In the future, I hope to contribute to the development of more effective, cost efficient alternative medicine and technology in order to increase supply and access to disproportionate communities. I’m incredibly thankful to have received this scholarship and grateful for all my friends and family who continue to support me every step of the way.”
DAVID HERNANDEZ
UC BERKELEY CLASS OF 2026
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“My name is David Hernandez and I will be attending UC Berkeley as a Computer Science major this year. I come from a community with limited educational resources around me and hope to use my degree to provide my community with the resources and skills needed to pursue higher education and gain a passion for programming and engineering.
I believe that minority and low-income communities entering the STEM field will enable and spread the new perspectives and beliefs needed for problem solving and innovation in our society. I strive to reach a higher level of education in order to incite the change and innovation needed to help our youth escape cycles of poverty, crime, and violence. Hopefully paving the way for a safer and more equitable society.”
2021 Recipients
MASOMA NASERI
UC BERKELEY CLASS OF 2023
VIVIAN LEE
UCLA CLASS OF 2025
“I am a junior majoring in Bioengineering at the University of California-Berkeley. This summer, I interned for Puspadi Bali, a non-profit organization, based in Indonesia and the surrounding areas. During my internship, I was able to modify prosthetics using design software to alleviate the challenges the disabled community in Indonesia faced.
My passion is not limited to bioengineering, I am also passionate about advocating for women in STEM and decreasing barriers that women face in pursuing their STEM careers. At UC Berkeley, I currently participate in an engineering program to prototype portable generators for victims of flooding and other developing countries without electricity. In addition, I hope to participate in research with CRISPR-CAS9 and its potential contribution to epilepsy. After earning my Bachelor’s degree, I plan to pursue my Ph.D. and continue my work with CRISPR-CAS9.”
“My name is Vivian Lee and I am from Orange County, California. I graduated from Cypress High School as class of 2021 and will be attending UCLA in the fall as a biophysics major. I hope to pursue a career in the medical field, utilizing interdisciplinary connections in researching medicine and providing care to patients. I currently work as an Executive Officer for the nonprofit Cooperation Act as well as a private math tutor.
As a Korean American, I’ve grown up embracing and balancing the different aspects of each culture. This has allowed me to recognize the importance of communication, tolerance and diversity. When individuals from different backgrounds and viewpoints collaborate, they are able to empower each other and create the best possible solutions for society. Through medicine, I hope to provide an inclusive environment for underprivileged communities. I am truly honored to have received this generous scholarship.”
REBEKAH SONG
UC BERKELEY CLASS OF 2025
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“My name is Rebekah Song, and I am from Los Angeles, California. This fall, I will be attending UC Berkeley with a major in mechanical engineering. I come from an inner-city, low-income neighborhood where resources, including quality healthcare were out of reach for my family.
Experiences and struggles within my community inspired me to become a strong advocate for public health. I believe there is much that I can learn from healthcare systems and incorporate this knowledge into my future career as an engineer. My love for engineering will complement the efforts of the research in the healthcare field by improving the wellbeing of everyone. Beyond being successful in engineering, I hope to be a model to others by sharing such a perspective and highlighting healthcare issues. As ambitious as this may be, I hope to contribute to the groundbreaking discoveries of new technology, being at the forefront of designing medical equipment.”
YÊN JADA NGÔ
UC IRVINE CLASS OF 2025
HOME OF HOPE SCHOLAR
“My name is Yến Jada Ngô and I am a daughter of Vietnamese refugees. I grew up in Salinas, California and will be attending UC Irvine as a Global Cultures major with a pre-health track. My education in Global Cultures will help me gain different perspectives of the many people in this world and I plan to use that knowledge along with basic health skills to provide patients with individualized and holistic care.
With the diversity of race and ethnicity in the United States, I believe it is essential to learn as much as possible about social, political, and cultural challenges and history of different ethnic groups. Through education and the act of acceptance, diversity will soon not come hand-in-hand with racism and discrimination, but with respect and love.”
2020 Recipients
KAYLA WALTON
UC DAVIS CLASS OF 2024
FIONNA LIM
UCLA CLASS OF 2024
“My name is Kayla Walton and I am from Los Angeles, California. I graduated from Alliance Health Services Academy High School with the class of 2020. Through high school I always felt very marginalized because my school wasn’t very diverse, so for this reason I took it upon myself to make a Black Student Union but this organization wasn’t only for African Americans it was for anyone who felt like an outsider. This club made students come together and feel more included in an approachable environment to where they can thrive.
This fall I will be attending UC Davis as an incoming freshman with the major of animal sciences and management. I am thankful to be chosen for this scholarship and I believe that diversity is a keen factor in education today. Diversity gives others the ability to have cultural sensitivity, communication skills, and a variety of perspectives. Diversity has helped me become the woman and student I am today.”
“My name is Fionna Lim from Union City, CA. I am currently attending UCLA and majoring in Chemical Engineering with a possible minor in Chinese. I want to use my degree to help communities get the food and water that they need. Through chemical engineering, I can help design chemical reactions to create products that are more accessible.
I believe that diversity is an essential component to any professional workspace. Because, especially in STEM fields, there is never one solution, it is imperative to have multiple voices, demographics, which each bring their own perspective. When school starts, I plan on volunteering through clubs that advocate for spreading STEM education. I like to watch new dramas on Netflix, as well as bake cookies, in my spare time.”