EPAAF SCHOLAR UPDATES

March 2024

EPAAF is thrilled to highlight some incredible updates from our 2024 scholars. Their achievements and unwavering dedication to their educational pursuits are truly remarkable.

Esmeralda P., UCLA

UC After an incredible summer participating in UC Davis’ Prep Medico Program, created to prepare Latinx students for the medical field, Esme completed a stellar fall quarter at UCLA, achieving a 3.5 GPA! Esme has shared how proud she is of her personal growth in developing better study habits and balancing her academics and social life, which has resulted in academic success and stronger relationships. In the upcoming year, Esme wants to continue to become more involved with her UCLA community through various clubs, including Hermanas Unidas, as well as being more intentional about networking. In her own words, “Thank you so much, there are only so many thank yous I can say and yet I feel it still will not be enough to express the amount of gratitude I hold…I would not have the opportunities I have had thus far without y'all.”

Angel T., Cal State Fullerton

Angel had a strong first semester at Cal State Fullerton after transferring from Foothill College. He’s expressed how proud he is of the smooth transition he was able to make to a 4-year university with the help of EPAAF and of developing great time management skills to balance his classes and coursework. In the new term, Angel is looking forward to spending more time on campus, especially making use of the library and its resources. EPAAF staff checked in on Angel regularly to ensure he was adjusting well, and it worked out perfectly that Valeria, the general CSU Peer Leader, is also at Fullerton because she was able to meet with him more often to check in on how he was doing and be a supportive friend.

Ingrid R., UC Davis

At UC Davis, Ingrid wrapped up her quarter with a 3.18 GPA and expressed feeling proud about being able to balance her academic and social life! One of her highlights was her welding class where she got to be more hands-on and make a mini grill. In the new year, she is looking forward to getting more involved on campus and possibly taking horse-riding lessons (very Davis!). It has been a joy getting to see Ingrid make the most of her college experience thus far, and we can’t wait to witness what she continues to achieve!

Christina W., CSU East Bay

With a term GPA of 3.58 and 6 classes, Christina had a stellar first semester at CSU East Bay since transferring from Chabot College! Although she admits it was tough balancing her classes with her part-time job, Christina feels proud of her perseverance through the transition into East Bay and is grateful for the extra financial support she received this year to help her have a strong start. Her first semester at East Bay also helped her realize that the Video and Animation concentration available through East Bay’s Art Department is more aligned with her interests and goals, as opposed to Graphic Design, which is the closest she could get at Chabot College. She is happy to have the opportunity to study what she is passionate about and has switched her concentration!

Leo G., UC Merced

After an initially challenging first year at UC Merced, Leo was facing academic dismissal. Instead of giving up, he successfully appealed the decision and was able to return to UC Merced this year. Thanks to his tenacity and additional support from the EPAAF team, Leo had an incredibly strong start to his sophomore year, achieving straight As with a 3.9 GPA and making the Dean’s Honor List this fall semester! The adjustment to college is difficult, especially for first-generation students, but Leo did not let that stop him! His commitment to learning from his first-year experiences and dedication to doing better is inspiring! We are looking forward to continuing to support Leo and seeing him continue to grow and succeed!