We have named seven fellowship winners who will each receive a new iMac laptop computer plus training in the use of Google docs. They are a special group of students and to tell you the truth we could easily have named 20 winners. When you add these seven students to the five students from the U.C. Berkeley Equity Scholarship program, we will be awarding a total of 12 computers to deserving students. Below is some brief information about each one: 2013 Andrew Fluegleman Foundation Fellowship Winners Michael Pham “I have overcome significant challenges in order to change the way society thinks about disabled people by proving to them that I am just like them, and I am capable of doing anything with my life.” Final Grade Point Average: 4.03 College or University: University of California, Berkeley Ambition: to work in Public Health as an orthopedic surgeon High School: Jesse Bethel High School, Vallejo, California Michael has paraplegia cerebral palsy but you would never know this the list of his accomplishments. He took Advanced Placement Classes to change the minds of students, teachers, and counselors regarding a disabled student. When he was 6-years-old he underwent 6 major surgeries which allowed him to walk, “but in a different way than other people.” Wants to be an “inspiration speaker” to show people that a disabled people can be anything they set their minds to as long as they have the drive, determination, and work ethic. Wants to be the 1st disabled Student President at UC Berkeley. Was the Ineract Club president in high school where he won two awards for being “The Most Amazing, Active, and Motivational President,” and “Most Enthusiastic Interactor.” Kerby Lynch As an intern for Congresswoman Barbara Lee, “I learned that she uses her power in politics to give back to communities in need. Inspired by her effective community organizing skills, I realized that I can be the same advocate for my family and my community’s health problems.” Final Grade Point Average: 3.56 College or University: University of California, Berkeley Ambition: Community Organizer High School: Oakland School for the Arts Note: Kerby has lined up an internship with California Attorney General Kamala Harris for next Spring, 2014. Grew up in the polluted city of Richmond where his family’s “constant coughing made me indignant.” His frustration with the unfairness of Richmond and the carelessness of the Chevron Corporation turned into passion to initiate change. Came to the realization that “minority communities are most negatively affected and neglected in America’s political system.” Working for Congresswoman Barbara Lee he organized community events to empower and inform minority citizens about their voices in politics. Plans to utilize social media technology to mobilize people. Kharima Mohamed “I am even blessed to have experienced the bad times because it is what made me a stronger person and got me to better things, goals, and accomplishments!” Final Grade Point Average: 4.0 College or University: Laney Community College (want to transfer to UC Berkeley after two years) Ambition: Social Worker with Master’s in Sociology. She wants to “become an agent of social change.” High School: Skyline High School, Oakland Is from an Arabic speaking family, where her father works 13 hours every day and her mother cannot speak English; “therefore I have always needed to be my own advocate in academic endeavors.” Spends a great deal of time with her grandfather who has Alzheimer’s. Became her grandfather’s primary caregiver. “I didn’t want to just be there for him; I wanted to teach him. I wrote down things he would need to do and he would check them off once he remembered. He was able to follow the list and he made a lot of progress. He still struggles here and there but we manage.” Her experience with her grandfather led her to have faith in herself. She ate healthier, made a schedule for herself to “enjoy life, manage school, and to love myself.” Very active in organizations including, ASB Secretary, Vice President of the Eco Club, and the Vice President of the Green Academy Leadership Program. Norris Cooper “I plan to start at Non-Profit in the Bay Area to introduce low income and minority students to career fields involving math, science, engineering and technology (STEM).” Final Grade Point Average: 3.68 College or University: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Ambition: Degree in Architectural Engineering High School: Skyline High School, Oakland Working at a moving and storage company this summer to save money for college. Secretary for the Interact community service club where he’s learned to pay attention to detail, precise scheduling and strong communication skills. Community is very important to him. Has a chaotic family life. Daniela Armenta “Experiencing the life of an undocumented student has made me stronger and has taught me that no matter what, I always need to push through it and dig deeper to get to where you want to be, where you can help others do the same.” Final Grade Point Average: 4.0 College or University: San Francisco State University Ambition: PhD in Cultural Anthropology High School: Castlemont High School, Oakland Involved with violence prevention programs, leadership development groups, youth engagement teams and cultural change activities including “Kids First: REAL HARD. She loves East Oakland and her dream is to become a cultural anthropologist “in order to come back and give these people the culture that they have lost.” Moved 8 times in 13 years and loves Castlemont High School where she feels like her opinion and voice matters and this is “something I have longed for for so long.” Carmen Zheng “By studying Astrophysics in college, I want to be a role model for youth who, like me, would never have dreamed that observing the sky could be an occupation, and hold a relationship with them similar to what my Techbridge coordinators had with me.” Final Grade Point Average: 4.0 College or University: University of California, Berkeley Ambition: Double major in Astrophysics and Computer Science High School: Oakland Technical High School Interest in astronomy began as a child, “After a quiet dinner with Grandpa, I would run to the window and press my cheeks against the metal bars, gazing past the blinking neon glow of the liquor store across the dimly lit street and patiently wait for the first stars to appear.” Was a caregiver for her grandfather. Joined Techbridge, an after-school program that encourages girls to pursue careers in science and technology. Her Techbridge coordinators inspired her to follow a career path based on what she’s most interested in, not on the income potential. Wants to focus on heliophysics, studying more efficient ways to harvest the sun’s energy. Plans to launch an online blog and forum for younger students that will discuss potential STEM careers and introduce more obscure research positions many teens know little about. Allison Santiago Final Grade Point Average: 3.2 College or University: San Francisco State University Ambition: Film maker High School: MetWest High School, Oakland “Although my family struggled, I learned great lessons that have taught me to appreciate every blessing from food, technology, and even things as simple as a bed.” Raised with her sister in a single family household. Her mom worked at multiple jobs including night cleaning at a bank and even then “it was barely enough to provide us with dinner.” She is a talented filmmaker who has 8 short films on YouTube. For her Senior Thesis Project she produced a film for the East Bay Youth Development Center. Very involved with community organizations and committed to social justice. Works part time to save money for college. From her teacher: “She is humble and kind. She thanks those who have helped her. She will constantly give back to her community throughout her life and she learns from her mistakes.” Recipients of the UC Berkeley 2013 Equity Scholarship Bryanna Davis School Year: Freshman Major: Undeclared Hometown: Oakland Ethnicity: African American GPA: 4.25 Background: I have noticed that students often times do not take pride in their culture because they feel the need to be someone they are not. Many people want to fully absorb all that America has to offer, which is great, unless it comes at the cost of losing the culture that makes everyone special. Self-image is a problem that is affecting a huge number of girls today in society and since I attend an all-girls school, that issue has become prominent. Seeing that as a problem, I decided to become the president of the Black Student Union, which is a cultural club that encourages students to embrace their culture and the beauty which lies within it. Yadira Gallegos School Year: Freshman Major: Psychology Hometown: Norwalk Ethnicity: Chicano Latino GPA: 4.72 Background: At my high school we have a program called the Matador Scholar Academy. This academy is dedicated to bringing higher education to La Mirada High School. My goal is to ultimately help kids excel in school by taking advantage of the advanced classes that my academy offers. I aim to do my finest in the Matador Scholar Academy as a leader since I want to represent MSA in the best way possible. I feel that I can use the excellent leadership skills from being a representative of the Matador Scholar Academy in order to become a great ambassador for not only Cal, but the Equity Scholarship as well. Carolina Gould School Year: Freshman Major: Astrophysics Hometown: Alpine Ethnicity: American Indian/Chicano Latino GPA: 4.52 Background: My hope is one day the whole world will be an environmentally conscious, non-discriminatory, friendly, wonderful place that flourishes on creativity and the dreams of those who believe in the capability of humanity to change for the better. And although every big idea has to start with one person, it takes the support of many to make a lasting change. I will act as the bridge, the branch, the connecting tissue to join together all areas of change, between the environmentalists and the artists, the old and the young, the literate and the illiterate, the confident and the unconfident. Everyone knows that the best place to change the world is at UC Berkeley. If no one else is going to do it, then that one person is going to have to be me. Veronica Njuguna School Year: Freshman Major: Cell & Developmental Biology Hometown: Hayward Ethnicity: African American GPA: 4.18 Other: My high school, Impact Academy, is a really diverse and accepting school. It is a school where we are taught that ethnicity, race, and income are not what determine whether you go to college; collaboration, hard work, and critical thinking determine this. Over the past four years I have met some amazing people who have taught me so much about life. Most of them come from really poor neighborhoods yet, because the teachers here believe in them and are willing to work with them, they are able to succeed. “When someone believes in you, you can do anything”, this is what my mom always tells me. Jenny Pelagio Castillo School Year: Freshman Major: Undeclared Hometown: Salinas Ethnicity: Chicano Latino GPA: 4.31 Other: Being an AB540 student, I felt that my efforts in school were useless because I would not be able to attend college, however, fortunately I met people who told me I was wrong and encouraged me to continue developing my potential. This country is very diverse so it is important to feel comfortable interacting with people of various ethnic backgrounds. It is the way life is going to be, and that is what I love about Berkeley. I can meet and learn from people of various cultures, practically from anywhere without having to travel out of Berkeley.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 01:20:12 +0000
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