2024 Undergraduate Scholars

Diana Acosta is a first-generation student and the daughter of immigrants who aspires to one day become either a social worker, marriage and family therapist, or a college counselor. Inspired by her parent’s sacrifices to provide her with the support she needed, Diana wants to use her career to help and support others. This is reflected in her involvement on campus, where she helps support other first-generation students navigate higher education. 

 Ashly Alvarez overcame significant obstacles and turbulence in her youth, including having to abruptly move to Columbia after her parents were deported in 2008. When she returned to the U.S. after high school, Ashly dove into her studies and enrolled at DVC, where she is now the Student Body President. On top of remaining a stellar student and being heavily involved in her community, Ashly works full-time to support herself and her studies. Ashly stands as an example of resilience and hard work and hopes to inspire others to find their path to success.

  Demetri Cartwright has experienced firsthand the financial difficulties associated with growing up low-income. His family’s constant hard work, in light of this hardship, instilled a strong work ethic, giving him a deeper appreciation for his parents' sacrifices and resilience. Despite early challenges in his college journey, he has an unwavering determination. He is committed to pushing through and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead in his academic journey. 

 Hugo Cortes dreams of one day becoming a lawyer where he can become an advocate for those who have disabilities and fight for their voices to be heard. Despite overcoming learning disabilities/challenges, Hugo maintains a high GPA and engages actively in his community. In 2021, he worked on a local political campaign educating voters about key issues affecting the community and urging voters to vote. 

 Heath Galiwango is a first-generation student interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Heath is interested in using his experiences and adversity overcoming mental health issues to his advantage by helping his community in ventures such as volunteering on and off campus. In the future, Heath plans to eventually open up a private practice centered on youths, elementary through high school aged, working alongside mental health clinicians to whom he can refer patients to if they have suffered mental abuse. 

 Daniela Hernandez is a first-generation student who has learned the importance of stepping out of her comfort zone, allowing her to grow mentally and academically. Daniela has had to overcome many struggles, but overcoming her adversities has allowed her to acknowledge and appreciate the amount of endurance needed to overcome any future obstacles. Through her parent’s sacrifices, she has understood the sacrifices she is willing to make. Daniela aims to attend veterinary school one day and operate her own practice. 

 Natalie Klapperich, a proud person of Asháninka ancestry, intends to use their educational experience to help individuals with their mental health problems by being a counselor assistant or a part of a mental health facility team. Natalie volunteers with the Rainbow Community Center(RCC) in Concord, which gives them the opportunity to help those in the LGBTQ+ community. 

 Charles McCoy, raised by a single mother, is inspired to understand the biases people construct of others in order to challenge those assumptions and empower those who have felt overlooked by society. This is why he is interested in pursuing a career in counseling, where he can help others who feel like outcasts in society and support and uplift those individuals. 

 Essence McCoy is a first-generation college student who has a passion for nursing, which is fueled by her journey of overcoming adversity. She has shown significant resilience, overcoming childhood struggles in special education and addiction, to become a college graduate. She spends time working with disabled children, strengthening her empathy, and intends to use this in her future career. Essence intends to continue her educational journey, enhance her impact in healthcare, and advocate for the unheard. 

 Marlene Gomez Sarate has challenged imposed gender-normative ideals her entire life and has used this experience to inform her decision to study political science. Despite lacking resources, knowledge, and support, she led an independent journey to find opportunities. She joined educational programs that supported her journey and inspired her career and educational goals of becoming an educator. Now, she serves as a supplemental student instructor and tutor at DVC.. 

 Gloria Menjivar, an immigrant who lived through El Salvador’s civil war, is a single mother of two who graduated from Sacramento State with honors and currently attends San Jose State to receive her master’s in social work. In addition to going to graduate school and being a single mother, Gloria also serves her community through her work as a Mental Health Specialist in Contra Costa County Behavioral Health. Gloria aspires to become a licensed social worker to provide therapy services to disadvantaged community groups. 

Thrya Cobbs is​​ a first-generation, low-income, and financially independent student interested in developing Pan-African-centered approaches to psychological science and clinical interventions. As an undergrad at UCLA, Thrya was designated as a McNair Scholar, where her research focused on the philosophies of Continental and Diasporic

Africans, indigenous African healing practices, and the mental health experiences of African-descended college students at predominantly white institutions.

 Bridgette Garcia Alvarado is the proud product of two immigrant parents. Despite never imagining she would go on to have a higher education, Bridgette completed her undergraduate degree at twenty-one and is now a graduate student at Saint Mary's College. Inspired by witnessing her parents struggle to make ends meet, She hopes to obtain her degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs & Professional Clinical counseling, where she hopes to support and empower the youth of our future. 

 Kabria Pervoe is a graduate student attending the University of Colorado working on her Doctorate of Psychology. Kabria has an outstanding track record of volunteering and helping others in need. During her undergraduate years at DVC and UC Berkeley, she volunteered for numerous organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Glide Church, Reach the World, Sprouts Cooking Club, Girls, Inc., and W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Kabria hopes to become a school psychologist, where she will have the unique opportunity to impact the lives of children.