Interested in Becoming a 2023 scholarship recipient?

Victoria Alexander is a disabled and first-generation transfer student who has attended both Los Medanos College and Diablo Valley College. Victoria’s intersectional identities have influenced my goals to complete the undergraduate work with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and to engage in graduate study of LGBTQIA+ issues and trauma in Psychology / Neuroscience. Victoria expects to transfer to UC Santa Cruz. “After serving as a clinical psychologist and researcher, I have goals of teaching at the university and community college level.”

Janette received her Bachelor degree in Integrative Biology from the University of California. She aspires to become a Physician Assistant (PA) because of the value PAs provide as essential members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams and leaders in the healthcare community. To that end she has been accepted to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Dominican University of California.

A first-generation, low-income student, Thyra Cobbs has been studying psychology at Los Medanos College and African American studies at Contra Costa College. She is a part of Umoja, Honors, and EOPS at Los Medanos and has served as the president of the Los Medanos College Associated Students. Thyra plans to transfer to Stanford University or UCLA and pursue a double major in Psychology and African American Studies. Her aspiration is to obtain a doctoral degree in psychology.

Albert Orozco is a first-generation Chicano college student graduating from Contra Costa College as a Molecular Biology transferring to the University of California. He is an active student on campus being a part of the student government body and advocating for LGBTQ+ students in the Rainbow club. Albert has been giving back to the homeless community in Richmond by volunteering at the Bay Area Rescue Mission. His dream is to graduate from Berkeley, pursue a Master’s degree, and do research work in medicine.

Bridgette is a first generation Latinx woman who is determined and strong willed. She aspires to work with low-income, minority individuals and families in her professional career. One of her references says “Bridgette has tremendous potential for success; the key is that she’s aware of that potential. I can easily say that her overall work ethic is one of the strongest I’ve seen.” This is exhibited by her excellent GPA at DVC and LMC. Her immediate goal is to pursue a Sociology degree at the University of Nevada Reno.

A first-generation Latino student, Mario intends to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science at UC Irvine. Once he graduates he intends to pursue one of two paths—as a police officer or a private investigator; or returning to school so he could become a teacher or a counselor. Mario has worked and volunteered at the Northern California Family Center for foster youth. He goes out of his way to make sure they know he cares and is an advocate for them. The youth trust him because they know he genuinely cares.

Sasha attended Contra Costa College. After being awarded the Kennedy-King Scholarship in 2017 she attended U.C. Berkeley where she became a Regents’ Scholar. She earned her B.A. in Ethnic Studies in 2020. Sasha just completed her first year at the University of California Law School. She hopes to earn a judicial clerkship, possibly work as a prosecutor and eventually become a judge

LaVanta received a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from CSU East Bay in 2020. LaVanta is committed and determined to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been accepted into the Master’s Program in Community Mental Health at Cal State East Bay. LaVanta says, “I take no opportunity for granted. My community needs me to help shift the underserved into overcomers like myself.”

As a first-generation college student and first-generation immigrant Veronica Guzman has encountered many educational and personal barriers. Born in Peru, she immigrated alone to the United States at the age of 15. Being part of a minority group she noticed the lack of minority STEM professionals in the country. This influenced her desire to become a role model in the medical field. Veronica intends to transfer to the University of California and major in Integrative Biology and Spanish.

Monica Hicks read about the field of Computer Science in a newspaper, and it inspired her to return to her education. The difference was returning after addressing addiction issues through a 12-Step Program. These actions ultimately led her to Diablo Valley College where she excelled with a major in Computer Science. She expects to transfer to Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo. Her long-term goal is to be a project manager at a tech company where she can couple her soft-skills with technical prowess as a team lead.

Dannesha is a re-entry student who returned to the classroom in 2016. She transferred to CSU Sacramento where she received a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice. She started working for a firm that produces software for organizations conducting clinical trials. Following the birth of a son, she is now prepared to pursue her Master of Cybersecurity at the University of San Diego.

Miguel received a BA in Political Science with Honors from the University of California in 2016. Miguel spent three years working as a Legislative Aide to Senator Steve Glazer learning the value of constituent services. Miguel will be entering his third year as a JD candidate at the Yale Law School where his work focuses on constitutional law, election, and political law. Miguel intends to establish a private practice and to enter electoral politics in the near future.

Gloria Menjivar Beltran is a single mother of two who was born and raised in El Salvador and immigrated to the U.S. in 2011. She currently works as a Family Support Worker for Contra Costa County Behavioral Health. Her bilingual abilities have been important in her career opportunities. At Contra Costa College, Gloria did very well, with a 3.9 GPA. She intends to pursue a Psychology degree at Sacramento State University. The long-term goal is to pursue a Master’s in Social Work and work in mental health services.

Following her graduation from Los Medanos College in 2011, Toi transferred to SF State University where she received a BA in English: Creative Writing. Toi recently served as a Gilman Ambassador with the Department of State for International Education. Toi will be attending Arizona State University in the Fall 2021 where she will be pursuing her Masters of Science in Family and Human Development so she can study the family structure.

A first-generation college student, Daniela has begun to discover her potential in her two years at Diablo Valley College. Her goal is to obtain a teaching certificate and become a High School Government or Ethnic studies teacher. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in order to become a college professor at a community college. Transferring to UC Santa Cruz is something few expected from her while in high school, where she experienced challenges related to anxiety and homelessness.

Joana Orozco is a first-generation college student at Contra Costa College where she earned a 3.9 GPA. She plans to attend UC Davis or San Francisco State University in the fall. She intends to study child and human development since her ultimate goal is to become a child therapist. She is determined to change her community outlook by helping minorities accept that mental health is as important as one’s physical health. Joana is the eldest daughter in the Orozco family and as such was the translator, bill payer, tax preparer, and job consultant for her mother.

Born in Mexico,Yazmin is a first-generation college student at Contra Costa College. She is transferring with an Associate Degree in Psychology to either UC Davis or San Francisco State University. She will major in Psychology and plans to become a therapist to help break the stigma around mental illness, especially in the Latino community. Yazmin has been actively involved in the family business during her college years. She developed a marketing strategy to increase the services of her Father’s janitorial services business.

Juliana is a first-generation college student, at Diablo Valley College. In addition to pursuing associate degrees in sociology and Social Justice, she’s a student ambassador at the campus. With a 3.7 GPA, she intends to transfer to the University of California, Riverside to receive a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She later plans to further her education and seek a License in Clinical Social Work. Overall, her volunteer and personal life experiences have made her passionate about advocating for and assisting underprivileged individuals.

Andrea Sanchez is currently attending Diablo Valley College. She is majoring in Psychology and intends to transfer to UCLA. Andrea hopes to be a good role model to her 3 younger brothers by being the first to attend college in her family. She plans to earn her Bachelor’s degree and then pursue a law degree with the goal of becoming a medical malpractice attorney. Andrea has been active on projects of the Oakland Education Foundation and has interned with the Best Foundation running their website and social media platforms.

Jonathan Torres Samayoa is a first-generation college student attending Contra Costa College and majoring in Electrical Engineering. Jonathon grew up in Richmond. He has lost friends due to gun violence always known what he has wanted to do and understood what an education could do for him. Jonathan’s first choices for matriculating are San Jose State University and San Francisco State University. With the help of his village, the whole community that supported him, he will make it.

Upon graduating from Contra Costa College Tamara transferred to the UC Davis where she received a BS in biotechnology. Upon graduation she affiliated with Children’s Hospital in Oakland working with an infectious disease physician. Her role led to studies of infectious diseases in rural communities in Kenya. She went on to work for a biotech firm where she conducted research studies in immune- oncology. In 2020 she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. She expects to receive her MD in 2024.

Daniel is a first-generation Chicano student who has come to understand the difficulty of navigating through an educational system that reflects the inequality of society. Through his scholarship he intends to pursue economic inequality research. Daniel intends to major in Economics at the University of California-Davis. His aspirations are to pursue a Master’s degree, undertake research, and run for local political office. Daniel’s founded an organization – Dreamers to Innovation – that provided high school students training in personal finance, economics, and entrepreneurship.

Brian is a 34 year-old family man with a wife and three children. He intends to transfer to San Francisco State University to major in Cinema. His goal is to become a screenwriter/director, and to one day own a production company. A larger goal is to help diversify the film industry. His volunteer activities include running and organizing the activities of his daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. A reference described him as “The Dad who always shows up.” He also volunteers with AA where he sponsors and mentors individuals in the program.