2025 Undergraduate Scholars

Zarah has shown resilience and determination in navigating both personal and academic challenges. Throughout her college journey, she has juggled helping care for a sick family member with her academic commitments, maintaining a GPA above 3.25 while being part of the LMC Honors program and MESA. She has also been an active volunteer, creating curriculum and coaching elementary students for the Science Olympiad, as well as founding the Los Medanos College Muslim Students Association (LMC MSA). As vice president of the LMC MSA, she played a key role in building a community and creating a space where others could feel they belonged. Her leadership and ability to overcome setbacks reflect her unshakeable determination and commitment to growth. With an unyielding passion for science and a drive to make a meaningful impact, Zarah continues to pursue her goals with resilience, refusing to back down from challenges.

Kinshasha, a first-generation Afro-Latina student from a low-income background, has faced numerous challenges, including the separation of her parents and the loss of her mother to breast cancer at the age of 12. Despite these hardships, Kinshasha remained focused on her education, inspired by a pivotal conversation with a school counselor that reinforced her belief in perseverance. She went on to establish a non-profit mentorship program, supporting young girls of color and teaching them about community service and education. Kinshasha’s passion for healthcare grew while working as a Medical Assistant at Kaiser Permanente, where she refueled her desire to help others.

Andrew has faced significant financial and emotional challenges growing up in a divorced household with limited resources. Despite these hardships, he has excelled academically, maintaining a 4.0 GPA at Diablo Valley College and being involved in leadership roles such as the Director of the "Locked In" Podcast, student ambassador, and president of the K-POP Culture Club. His passion for sociology has inspired him to help others navigate their educational journeys, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Andrew’s leadership has fostered community engagement and provided students with a platform to connect and grow. His experiences have shaped his academic and career goals, motivating him to pursue a career in law or therapy. With his dedication and perseverance, Andrew aims to continue making a positive impact and contribute to meaningful change in society.

Jeremiah, a passionate pre-med student at Los Medanos College, draws inspiration from his family’s resilience and his late grandmother’s cancer battle to pursue a career in medicine. Raised in a large household by a single mother who became a nurse while raising six children, Jeremiah learned early the value of perseverance and service. His interest in healthcare deepened through a medical assistant program and internship at Kaiser Permanente, where he worked alongside his mother, developing skills in patient care and diagnostic support. At LMC, Jeremiah was in many leadership roles, including serving as President of Rotaract and founding the Lakefront Beautification Project. Jeremiah is committed to increasing healthcare equity and access, especially for underserved communities, and sees the Kennedy-King Scholarship as a vital step toward fulfilling that mission.

Michelle Nicole Fernandez was born in the United States but spent much of her childhood in Mexico, where she began working at the age of 12 to help support her family. At 18, she returned to the U.S. alone, determined to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse despite facing language barriers and an unfamiliar education system. Through perseverance, she excelled academically in high school while taking on leadership roles and extracurricular activities. In college, Michelle balanced a demanding work schedule—serving as an assistant manager and caregiver—while also retaking challenging courses like anatomy and leading as Co-President of the Puente Club. Her journey has been shaped by financial hardship, but her dedication to nursing and helping others remains steadfast. As she prepares for nursing programs, Michelle reflects on how each obstacle has strengthened her resilience and deepened her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others through healthcare.

Evelin has shown perseverance in the face of significant challenges. Despite struggling with feelings of alienation and impostor syndrome, Evelin found support through programs like Puente, which helped her navigate her academic journey. She has been actively involved in leadership roles, including serving as president of the Latinx Student Alliance. Despite financial hardships and the pressures of working to support her family, Evelin has raised her GPA and remained committed to her education. Her goal is to become a Puente college counselor to support other underrepresented students, believing that everyone deserves access to education.

Itzayana has navigated financial difficulties and health struggles, but these obstacles have never stopped her from pursuing her education. Her involvement on campus has provided her with support and opportunities for personal and academic growth. She has learned to use her story to open doors for herself and others, and her volunteer work, including tutoring and mentoring, has fueled her passion for helping others. Despite dealing with chronic pain and transitioning to home-schooling, Itzayana remained focused on her education and future goals. With the encouragement of her mother, she continues to overcome challenges while maintaining her focus on helping her family and achieving her dream of attending university. This perseverance has shaped her into a leader, inspiring others with her dedication and hope.

America has been deeply shaped by her passion for social justice and advocacy. Growing up in a multicultural household, she was inspired by her mother’s sacrifices and her grandmother’s immigration story. Initially drawn to literature, America’s focus shifted to addressing the injustices in her community, particularly the environmental and systemic inequalities she witnessed in the Bay Area. By providing translation support at LSPC and using her voice as a journalist, she learned the power of communication in advocating for marginalized communities. America aims to pursue a career in public interest law, advocating for the civil and human rights of underserved populations.

Marisol, a first-generation Mexican-American student, is driven by a deep commitment to educational equity and representation. Growing up as an ESL student in an under-resourced school system, she often felt overlooked—but those experiences shaped her passion to uplift others who face similar barriers. Through her work in the Puente program, as a peer advisor in the Career and Transfer Center, and as a College for Kids instructor, Marisol has become a guiding light for her peers, offering mentorship, support, and advocacy. Balancing multiple jobs while supporting her younger sister, Marisol has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and leadership. She aspires to become an educator and program designer focused on dismantling systemic inequities in education.

Aliyah has always been drawn to storytelling, starting with the light-hearted rom-coms of her childhood, which sparked her passion for journalism. Writing stories early on, she eventually transitioned from fiction to truth, covering local issues and uplifting community voices through student-run publications. Her leadership grew as she helped rebuild the Youth Press and later served as editor-in-chief at Los Medanos College, where she produced impactful projects, including special sections and a documentary on housing and immigrant voices. Despite financial challenges growing up, Aliyah’s strong work ethic and support system propelled her to achieve great things, including fellowships and speaking opportunities at Stanford. With a deep desire to uplift underrepresented communities, she continues to push forward in her academic and journalistic pursuits, believing that with perseverance, she can overcome any obstacle.

Diana is a first-generation Mexican-American student whose parents' sacrifices have inspired her to pursue higher education. Growing up in a low-income, immigrant community, she faced many challenges, including language barriers and limited academic support. Despite these obstacles, Diana's determination and passion for education led her to major in English, finding a strong support system through the PUENTE program. As a Supplemental Instruction Leader, she helped students strengthen their writing skills and developed leadership abilities. Diana is also committed to giving back, volunteering as a tutor for high school students from low- income backgrounds. Through her education, she hopes to achieve her parents' American Dream.

Davi grew up in a lower-income household, where he learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and creativity in the face of financial struggles. These challenges shaped his mindset, leading him to realize that success comes not just from external circumstances but from internal growth and self-awareness. Through personal reflection and new strategies like insight meditation and active study techniques, Davi improved his academic performance and developed leadership skills by taking on roles in the Puente club and working as a Computer Science tutor. His transformation culminated in earning a spot on the Dean’s List and joining the NASA L'SPACE program. With the support of his family, Davi has learned to turn setbacks into opportunities and now aspires to mentor others in his community, showing them that no matter their circumstances, education can be the key to a brighter future.

David is a first-generation immigrant and pharmacy technician whose journey is marked by perseverance, adaptability, and ambition. While working as a shift supervisor at CVS Pharmacy, David has developed leadership and problem-solving skills that mirror his strong academic and professional goals. Balancing work and school has presented financial and time-related challenges, but David remains committed to building a meaningful career in healthcare and pharmaceutical services. His dedication to learning, resilience in the face of adversity, and pursuit of academic excellence reflect the values of the Kennedy-King Scholarship. With this support, David aims to further his education and make a lasting impact in the healthcare field while continuing to grow personally and professionally.

Jennifer Ordoñez is a recent graduate of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where she earned her degree in Business Administration while balancing her roles as a mother, student, and full-time accountant. Despite significant personal hardships, including progressive hearing loss and raising her son as a young single parent, Jennifer has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and determination. She currently works at La Clínica de la Raza, where she manages critical grants and serves as a union shop steward, advocating for her colleagues and leading community initiatives. Jennifer’s commitment to service is deeply personal, having established a community healthcare diabetes club in honor of her late mother. She plans to pursue an MBA to further her impact in the non-profit healthcare sector, with the goal of becoming a finance director dedicated to creating programs for underserved communities, particularly the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Jennifer’s journey is a testament to her perseverance, leadership, and unwavering dedication to uplifting others through her work.

Kabria Pervoe, a dedicated Kennedy-King graduate scholar, is pursuing her doctorate in school psychology while maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA. Through resilience and determination, she has transformed a childhood shaped by complex trauma and adversity into a lifelong commitment to advocacy and support for others. Kabria’s journey is a powerful testament to the impact of mentorship, community, and self-belief, and she is passionate about being that caring adult for her future students and their families. Beyond her studies, she volunteers with local initiatives like the firewood ministry and creates resources for low-income individuals, exemplifying the Kennedy-King spirit of service and leadership. Living simply in a historic mountain cabin, she balances personal challenges with her unwavering dedication to educational equity and inclusion. Kabria looks forward to a career where she can champion neurodiversity, empower marginalized voices, and help every child access the education they deserve.

Opal Franklin is a dedicated writer and community advocate whose work centers the transformative power of storytelling, particularly for adults who have aged out of foster care or were adopted. Through her platform, StoryNoir, Opal amplifies underrepresented voices and explores themes of belonging and identity, inspiring her pursuit of an MFA in Creative Writing. A first-generation college graduate and former foster youth, Opal has continuously turned personal challenges into fuel for community impact, from recruiting in the tech industry to mentoring Kennedy- King scholars and leading workshops on networking and professional development. With aspirations of earning a PhD and founding a literary agency to uplift marginalized voices, Opal embodies resilience and the spirit of the Kennedy-King legacy, striving not only for personal academic success but also to advance equity and creative expression for future generations.

Bridgette Garcia Alvarado is entering her third and final year of graduate school, pursuing a degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs/Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC). As a first-generation Latinx student, Bridgette’s journey has been one of resilience and determination. Raised in a low-income, immigrant family, she faced numerous challenges, including financial instability and adjusting to a predominantly white suburban environment. Despite these obstacles, Bridgette has excelled in her studies and continues to push herself beyond her limits. In August 2025, she will begin her field placement at Las Positas Community College’s Student Health and Wellness Center, where she will gain invaluable hands-on experience as a Professional Clinical Counselor in training. While this unpaid placement presents a financial challenge, Bridgette remains steadfast in her commitment to supporting student mental health. Her work with the Disabled Students Program and Services at Los Medanos College, as well as her volunteer efforts with Glide, demonstrates her dedication to uplifting her community. The Kennedy-King Memorial Scholarship will provide essential support to Bridgette, allowing her to focus on her career and continue making a positive impact in the lives of students.

Armond a proud Richmond, CA native, is a first-generation college graduate and advocate for equity and justice. He earned his associate degrees with honors from Contra Costa College and went on to graduate cum laude from UCLA with a double major in African American Studies and Sociology. Passionate about law and policy reform, Armond has led community initiatives, conducted impactful research on systemic injustice, and received the Luskin Center Innovation Fellowship as the only undergraduate recipient. This fall, he will begin his Juris Doctor at UC Davis School of Law with the goal of practicing public interest law and eventually becoming a judge. Armond is committed to creating a more just and compassionate world through advocacy, education, and leadership.

Tyree, a lifelong athlete and first-generation college student, has played baseball for Contra Costa College, Jackson State University, and La Sierra University. His journey through competitive athletics inspired his passion for sports psychology, where he aims to support minority athletes in achieving both peak performance and mental wellness. Tyree is now pursuing graduate studies to become a sports psychologist, with a mission to address the lack of representation of minorities in the field. Drawing from his own experiences managing the mental, physical, and emotional demands of student-athlete life, he is uniquely positioned to uplift others navigating similar challenges. Tyree embodies the Kennedy-King mission of perseverance, purpose, and giving back—and as a second-time recipient, he continues to break barriers and inspire others through education, advocacy, and lived experience.

Yessenia Marquez Villarreal is a first-generation college graduate and current master's student at California State University, Sacramento, pursuing an M.S. in Kinesiology with a focus on Exercise Science. Her research centers on the intersection of exercise physiology and neuroscience, particularly examining how exercise and the endocannabinoid system may improve outcomes for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Yessenia balances her rigorous academic work with service as a teaching associate and volunteer research assistant, contributing to Parkinson’s disease studies and community health initiatives. Passionate about expanding diversity in STEM, she is dedicated to mentoring underrepresented students and is organizing a Cannabis in Health and Performance Symposium at her university. Despite financial challenges, she remains steadfast in her commitment to academic excellence and community service. Yessenia aspires to continue her studies in a Ph.D. program and to become a professor, driving forward research and inspiring future generations of scientists from marginalized communities.