EDUCATORS FOR FAIR CONSIDERATION (E4FC)

NEW AMERICAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
2014 SCHOLARS

Overview

In 2014, we received applications from 90 talented immigrant students, representing 63 high schools, 23 colleges, and 17 countries of origin. We invited 12 extraordinary students to be part of our 2014 New American Scholars Program — eight undergraduate scholars and four graduate scholars.  We are awarding them $40,000 in scholarships. Our 2014 Scholars hail from Albania, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the Philippines. They are attending Chico State University, College of Marin, De Anza Community College, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Skyline Community College, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis.

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS

Darwin
"My little brother Mario taught me the basics of how to read and write by forming huge letters with dark matters in front of me. Despite my visual impediment, I learned to adapt to different environments, and it pushed me to take extra steps to succeed." — Darwin

Darwin emigrated from El Salvador at age 12, where he grew up in an impoverished community. He was born with cataracts, leaving him with limited vision. At his school in El Salvador, he learned only through listening and talking. However, after coming to the United States, he eventually learned to read and write through hard work and determination. He was a leader both in and out of the classroom throughout middle and high school; he ran track and cross country, participated in mock trial, and served on the Student Advisory Council for the San Francisco Board of Education.

Excited to continue his education after graduating from Washington High School, Darwin applied and was accepted to one of his dream schools. Unfortunately, upon finding out about his undocumented status, the college rescinded his acceptance. To Darwin, this felt like the end of his academic journey. However, he used this moment as motivation and decided to enroll at Skyline Community College, where he is now pursuing a degree in International Relations. In Fall 2014, Darwin will study abroad in Paris!

Darwin is also invested in the community. The City of San Francisco's Youth Commission named him as one of their eight "Youth of Year", awards given to those who display exceptional leadership and and service to the community. Darwin has also served as an Outreach Ambassador for E4FC, a role through which he provided hope, inspiration, and valuable information to the undocumented community. Eventually, Darwin plans to go to law school to study International Law.

Diana
"On our way home, my mom would tell me that, when I grew up, I had to obtain an education. She didn’t want me to experience the same things she had. My mom’s words, which I heard as young child, are still instilled within me. Throughout this journey, I have learned that education gives me, and my community, a chance towards liberation." — Diana

Diana became interested in immigration and humanitarian rights when her dad was placed in deportation proceedings in 2011. Fortunately, through the work of the community, her father was not deported; it was, however, at this moment that Diana realized she must become an advocate not only for herself but also for her family, friends, and community.

Less than a year after fighting her father's deportation, Diana graduated from San Dieguito Academy, packed her belongings into six trash bags, moved out of her father's apartment in San Diego, and came to San Francisco, where she is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology at San Francisco State University. Diana's transition into a new city was scary for her; she didn't know many people, so she turned to her writing as a form of coping. "I found great peace and serenity when I was able to observe and describe the world and the people around me," she remembers.

In 2012, Diana applied to and was accepted into E4FC's Outreach Ambassador program, where she educated community members on important issues on immigration. This role helped her to expand her advocacy role as a young immigrant student. "My voice would crack when I would shout the words 'undocumented' and 'unafraid.' It was as if these words were making me stronger. I was liberated."

In 2013, Diana transitioned into the Legal Services Program at E4FC, where she informs undocumented immigrant youth about potential immigration remedies, benefits, and rights. She was recently approved as one of E4FC’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Accredited Representatives.

Diana is currently interning for the House of Representatives, where she hopes to deepen her understanding of the legislative process, expand her professional skills, and increase her knowledge of public policy issues affecting immigrants and individuals with disabilities.

In 2015, Diana plans to graduate from San Francisco State University, and then hopes to pursue a career in law so that she can serve as an advocate for her herself, her family, and her community.

Izabela
"No dream is too big. No dream is too small. Every step of the way to my dream I have encountered many more obstacles than I would like, enough to make me want to quit again and again. But I keep chasing my dream through the fields of thorns and mud. Because, no matter how hard it becomes, I know the feeling of absolute euphoria at the end of the race will be worth it." — Izabela

Izabela was born in Albania but moved to Greece with her family when she was one year old. When she was sixteen, a law passed that would allow Izabela to become a Greek citizen. While she was ecstatic to be able to participate fully in Greek society, she made the difficult decision to uproot herself, leaving everything behind in Greece, including her family, in order to pursue an education and a brighter future in the United States. Izabela entered Fremont High School frightened and unsure of what the future might hold, but she quickly rose to the challenge. She is motivated by her genuine love of learning, zeal for reading, and incredible ability to interpret a text through multiple lenses. Her high school English teacher writes, "From The Crucible to The Great Gatsby, Izabela's ability to extrapolate her ideas from the literature studied throughout the year demonstrated how she was effectively analyzing and interpreting beyond the text. She tends to elicit the best from her peers by presenting early and setting the academic standard of excellence."

Izabela's love of learning does not stop at reading and analyzing literature; she plans to pursue a degree in biotechnology. As Izabela so articulately states about the science field, "the certainty of science that I so crave comes from the fact that I can prove something about the world, and about myself." Izabela is excited to continue learning and exploring in her first year at De Anza Community College this fall.

Maria
"Even though I grew up living in with my family in one small room, I am really happy and appreciate all that life has given me–especially this most wonderful family who has taught me so much. I have learned how to appreciate life and every opportunity I receive because it is not easy to get them." — Maria

Originally from Mexico, Maria comes from a low-income, single-parent family, but she has never used her situation as an excuse. As the oldest of five children, Maria goes the extra mile—including providing financial support—to ensure that her younger siblings are well taken care of. For much of her childhood, she and her entire family lived in a single room. Maria’s mother has a medical condition which does not allow her to maintain a stable job. Maria strives to be the first person in her family to graduate from college in order to one day be able to break her family’s cycle of poverty and serve as a role model to her siblings.

After graduating from Terra Linda High School, Maria enrolled at College of Marin. Her professors describe her as opportunistic, inquisitive, and thorough in her academic work. One instructor describes, "Maria demonstrated a deep commitment to her education by taking the time to follow up and ask questions about concepts that were unclear to her. More important, Maria demonstrated a patience and natural curiosity which I consider essential to the learning process."

Maria eventually hopes to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a nursing degree. Outside of school, Maria has volunteered as a teacher’s assistant and at a hospital. She has also worked as the shift leader at a restaurant and babysat in order to make ends meet.

Tasha
"I know Tasha has strong ties to her family. While her accomplishments—both in and outside of the classroom—bring her great satisfaction, I know that making her family proud through her education is what means the most to Tasha." — Paul Glanting, Professor in the Department of Business at San Francisco State University

Tasha is a returning New American Scholar who believes that "if your dreams do not scare you, then they are not big enough." She is a first-generation college student pursuing a Business Administration degree at San Francisco State University. In addition, Tasha is enrolled in multiple science prerequisite classes at Skyline College, so that she can keep alive her dream of becoming a dentist like her father.

Tasha's main source of motivation comes from her family’s economic struggles, which have repeatedly forced her to take odd jobs to meet ends meet. Despite the difficulties that Tasha faced growing up, she excelled at Westmoor High School, including being an excellent swimmer on the swim team, receiving the Good Citizenship Award, and graduating with honors.

Tasha hopes to be able to use her college degree to chase her dreams and provide for family. Tasha's counselors and professors describe her as persistent, motivated, innovative, and thorough. She also excels in her extracurricular activities as a member of the Red Cross, Youth Elderly Services Club, Burmese Club, Interact Club, and Leo's Club. She also practices her finance skills by volunteering at the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance office, where she offers free tax assistance to families in need. In the future, Tasha plans to pursue a career in either dentistry or business.

Vanessa
"I was born with vocal cords, enabling me to access language. The one I found necessary to learn for my own betterment and future goals was English. I speak it as my fifth, read it as my fourth, and write it as my third language. I speak English with the accent of the village I originally come from—Cerro Batea, Panama—a rural place of lower working class people, where my dreams were first conceived." — Vanessa

At just fifteen months old, Vanessa was sent by her parents to live with her grandparents in China. After living there for several years, she returned to live with her parents again in Panama, where she attended a Christian school. Vanessa views her unique ability to adapt to new environments, languages, cultures, and people as a privilege. "I found the idea of learning a new culture and religion to be interesting. I was already bi-cultural and tri-lingual, so why not accept the challenge of learning about a second religion?"

Vanessa has been forced to overcome many hardships to get to where she is today. Her father suffers from a chronic sickness, which prevents him from being able to work. Her mother provides for Vanessa, her two brothers, and her grandparents. Even with her difficult family situation, Vanessa excelled at Balboa High School, where she served as the vice president of the Chinese Club, was named the captain of the varsity soccer team, and volunteered for a food pantry.

Vanessa wants to use her diverse experiences to pursue an International Business degree at Chico State University, where she will enroll in fall 2014. One day, Vanessa hopes to work in import/export as a Compliance Specialist. She hopes that her ability to adapt to different cultures and speak multiple languages will allow her to help solve current global challenges in the trade industry.

Xiu Ying
"I had been through cultural change before. As a Chinese person, born and raised in Mexico, life posed unique cultural challenges. I had to grapple with the complexity of being Mexican while retaining my Chinese identity. I used to worry that my background would hold me back. Now, I know that it is my greatest asset, one that shapes both my values and my aspirations." — Xiu Ying

Xiu Ying's parents emigrated from China to pursue a better future in Mexico, where Xiu Ying was born. When she was 14, her parents informed her that she and her sister would be moving to San Francisco to live with their grandparents. Xiu Ying feared that all of her hard work to that point would be in vain. She wondered if she would ever be able to succeed in the United States.

At Mission High School in San Francisco, Xiu Ying quickly acclimated to the new environment. She helped to found the Awaken Dreamers Club, which continues to fundraise for scholarships for undocumented students and educates other students about the hardships undocumented students face. Her diverse background also inspired her to join the Gay-Straight Alliance because she wanted to build tolerance in her community. One of Xiu Ying’s high school teachers commented, "Xiu Ying has shattered demographic stereotypes by demanding and obtaining a strong education despite being a young woman living without her parents and with little financial support."

Xiu Ying has just begun pursuing a Business Degree at UC Berkeley. One day, Xiu Ying hopes to develop a socially responsible business that upholds the values of diversity and respect for all. Passionate about history and learning from our past, Xiu Ying is inspired by this quote from Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl: "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."


GRADUATE SCHOLARS

Carol's
"I understand why communities in need rely on hope and prayer to keep illness away. Their preventative care measures often result from not knowing where to seek care, fear of excessive medical costs, or fear of deportation. My experiences resonate with the experiences of the underserved, and this rooted understanding is my foundation to provide empathetic care." — Carol's 

Carol's' family emigrated from Honduras when she was just three years old. She grew up with her parents and sister in a small camper with no running water or electricity. She attended high school at Canoga Park High School in Los Angeles, and, despite having to help her family navigate a new country and economic struggles, Carol's was determined to go to college. Carol's grew up with a strong curiosity about other people’s lives and well-being, which has stayed with her throughout education. Her interest in medicine stems from her desire to care for people like her own family who have historically been marginalized in our national healthcare system.

While an undergraduate at UCLA, Carol's was a co-founder of Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success (IDEAS). IDEAS brought much-needed attention to the growing need for fair treatment and educational resources for undocumented students. Carol's is also a founding member of Pre Health Dreamers, which provides a support system and network for undocumented students nationwide who are interested in attending medical school.

Today, Carol's is paving the way for future undocumented students who are interested in studying medicine; she is one of the first openly-undocumented students to enroll at medical school at UC Davis. In addition, she is Co-Director at Imani Community Student Run Clinic, where she is learning how to manage chronic health care conditions with limited resources. In the future, Carol's wants to be a primary care physician providing adequate health care for the neediest of populations, and she believes that her deep understanding and appreciation of medical care will allow her to do so.

Cristine
"Cristine has such a great way of being with her students that they feel at ease, accepted for who they are, and supported for what they want to achieve. Although Cristine was given a specific list of students to work with, her students would tell their friends about Cristine and soon her appointment schedule was full." — Lin Greer, Associate Director, San Francisco State University Undergraduate Advising Center

Cristine emigrated from the Philippines to the U.S. with her family at the age of 4. For much of her childhood, her family shared one bed and lived off of canned food. Cristine and her siblings never considered college an option. However, Cristine's character, determination, and love of learning propelled her to be the first person in her family to attend college. She graduated from California State University, San Marcos in 2013.

Cristine's extracurricular activities have led her to become committed to helping young students achieve their potential. She has worked closely with the Girls' Council at San Marcos High School, her alma mater, to empower young girls to pursue their dreams while also preparing them for the potential academic and emotional obstacles that they may encounter along the way. She has also served as a mentor and created college-preparation workshops for at-risk, minority youth who are exposed to gangs, drugs, and family alcohol abuse. "Cristine stands up for what she believes in and does what is right - even when no one is watching," writes her high school counselor. "She is a true friend to all - she accepts people for who they are."

Cristine is currently pursuing her master's in Counseling at San Francisco State while also working as an intern at the Undergraduate Advising Center. She developed a passion for college counseling when speaking with her peers. She saw that, as some of them transitioned into adulthood, they were hesitant to pursue their aspirations for fear of failure or lack of a support system. She wants to become a valuable resource for students as they explore their futures, and looks forward to improving her ability to help disadvantaged students alleviate the pressure and stress that comes with pursuing higher education.

After graduating from Brawley Union High School, Josias graduated from Stanford University in 2005 with a B.A. in Psychology. Throughout college, he mentored middle and high school students in Palo Alto. Upon graduating, Josias co-founded Rising Immigrant Students through Education (RISE) at UC Berkeley, the first student group at UC Berkeley dedicated to supporting undocumented students. Josias currently attends UC Berkeley, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in social work and is a member of Graduates Reaching a Dream Deferred (GRADD), a support group for undocumented graduate students.

Josias' professional experiences have relied on his ability to analyze, synthesize, and organize information for community-oriented organizations. For three years, Josias worked at Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation in Oakland, where he provided educational and social support to K-12 students from all around the world. He also worked at Compass Family Services in San Francisco, where he assisted homeless families with their housing and social needs. Josias also recently finished an internship at Brighter Beginnings in Oakland, where he provided support for families and children with a variety of psychological challenges.

Josias is excited to continue developing his skills in providing long-lasting relief and support to families and children in need. Specifically, he hopes to implement therapeutic interventions that equip families with culturally relevant coping skills and strategies to raise healthy and resilient children.

Oscar
"Education is a prerequisite to be part of the American public, to participate actively in social movements, and to hold the government accountable. I am certain that my personal experiences will help instill the importance of a college education in other students so that they can pursue their dreams, too." — Oscar

Oscar's motivation is to serve people in his community. After graduating high school with high honors, Oscar graduated from UC Berkeley with a double major in Political Science and Latin American Studies. His undergraduate studies helped Oscar learn how U.S. immigration policy affects immigrants on a daily basis. His understanding was furthered through his vast, hands-on experience in some of the Bay Area’s most impoverished neighborhoods. As a volunteer with the the Central American Refugee Committee, Oscar worked with low-income immigrants seeking food, housing, jobs, and legal aid. Since then, Oscar has established a computer lab for the Fruitvale community in Oakland, organized humanitarian relief efforts in El Salvador, and translated for immigrants and refugees regarding important legal matters.

Today, Oscar is pursuing a dual master's degree in Public Administration and Urban and Regional Planning at San Jose State University. Oscar is excited to develop the necessary analytical, ethical, and organizational skills to continue his work in the community, and his graduate studies afford him the chance to work on critical issues such as urban growth, environmental planning, transportation, and land use in an administrative setting. Oscar's dedication to his community is depicted by his professor who says, "I observe that Mr. Ortiz has a strong sense of community, both in his sense of pride in his Hispanic heritage and as an individual who reaches across ethnic and cultural boundaries to cultivate relationships that reflect an expansive personality."


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