Congratulations 2024 PFLAG SDC Scholarship Recipients!
![PFLAG Scholarship-Full Group Photo – IMG_2578-crop](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PFLAG-Scholarship-Full-Group-Photo-IMG_2578-crop.jpg)
![Athena](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Athena.jpg)
Mary Wagner Memorial Scholarship
Donor: Marilyn & Art Carpenter
Athena Bernheim | she/her
Athena Bernheim is a part of the class of 2024 at High Tech High North County. While in high school, she taught teenagers financial literacy to prepare them to become financially- functioning adults. Among other activities, she volunteered teaching science at local summer camps. Athena will be pursuing a degree in economics at either UC Berkeley or Connecticut College. She is very excited to get to go to college. Eventually, she wants to pursue a career at a non-profit or with the government.
![Jarod](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jarod.jpg)
John Bessemer Memorial Scholarship
Donors: PFLAG San Diego County, Scott Bernard
Jarod Yun | he/him
Jarod will be attending Southern California University of Health Sciences’ Physician Assistant Program. Through his volunteer work with The Trevor Project, Jarod discovered his passion for working with underserved communities. Upon graduating, he plans to go into Primary Care as this will provide opportunities to help the LGBTQIA+ community and other underserved populations. As a future PA, Jarod hopes to be able to bridge the gap in healthcare disparities and provide a safe and inclusive environment for his patients.
![Sada](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sada.jpg)
Rob Benzon Memorial Scholarship
Donor: Rob Benzon/Dan Ferbal Foundation
Sada Cuzick | she/her
Sada is planning to study psychology as an incoming freshman at the University of California, Santa Cruz in fall 2024. She plans to research alternative therapies for treatment-resistant mental illness while also promoting queer liberty on campus. Sada is humbled to receive this scholarship from the Rob Benzon/Dan Ferbal Foundation and is grateful for the educational opportunity.
![Chelsea](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Chelsea.jpg)
Stephen G. Bowersox Memorial Scholarship
Donors: Jim & Donna Bowersox
Chelsea Long | she/her
Chelsea is a graduating senior from Mission Bay High School and an incoming freshman at Brown University, where she plans to study English. In high school, she has advocated for the LGBTQ+ community by speaking at district events, leading her high school GSA, and working as a student ambassador on a $10,000 It Gets Better Project grant. She recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a project about LGBTQ+ history that reached over 100 students at several San Diego schools. In the future, she wants to continue highlighting diverse perspectives and making the world a safer place for everyone.
![Abigail](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Abigail.jpg)
Raytheon RAYPRIDE & NXGEN STEM Scholarship
Donor: Raytheon RAYPRIDE & NXGEN
Abigail Beulke | she/her
From a young age, I have been deeply passionate about understanding how the world works, which has led me to dream of majoring in mechanical engineering. I have always been willing to push, learn, and fail to pursue my dream in engineering, and I have taken many opportunities that have crossed my way, both in and out of school. From years of after-school programming classes to co-current enrollment in local community colleges since my sophomore year, I have taken charge of my education. I am excited to be majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona starting in the Fall of 2024.
![Natalie](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Natalie.jpg)
Raytheon RAYPRIDE & NXGEN STEM Scholarship
Donor: Raytheon RAYPRIDE & NXGEN
Natalie Scott | she/her
Hello my name is Natalie Scott, and I am a part of the 2024 graduating class at El Cajon Valley High School. I will be attending UC Berkeley where I will be studying engineering. I look forward to making a difference in the world by being an engineer, specifically in the area of climate change. I also plan to be involved in clubs working on building an LGBTQIA+ community and clubs working to support Women in STEM during my time at UC Berkeley. Some things that bring me joy are swimming, the beach, and welding.
![Brayden](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Brayden.jpg)
Kendall Family Memorial Scholarship
Donors: Terrie Vorono & Lonnie Brunini
Brayden Pape | they/he/she
My name is Brayden Pape, and I’m a senior at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa. I’m passionate about equity and social justice. I’m the founder and CEO of a student-run 501(c)(3) unincorporated nonprofit association called the PATH Interscholastic Leadership Team or “PILT” that provides San Diego County students with opportunities to help eliminate homelessness and hunger. As a student board member on the San Diego County Board of Education in my junior year, I successfully advocated for eligible high school athletes to receive free or low-cost physical exams so that family finances don’t stand in the way of their athletic participation. As for the future, I hope to become a clinical child psychologist. I will be attending a 4-year university this fall to major in psychology with a specialization in developmental psychology. I would like to thank my mentors for guidance, my high school for supporting my various initiatives, and my parents for letting me be my true self.
![Derrick](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Derrick.jpg)
M. Lynne Austin Memorial Scholarship
Donors: Ray & Jan Aller
Derrick Herrera | he/him
I am a Graduate of SDSU with Degrees in Political Science, American Indian Studies, and International Security. I am pursuing my Master of Arts in Political Science this Fall– emphasizing Ethnic & Immigration Politics. At SDSU, I have taken many roles in serving my community, and I now serve as the vice president of external relations. Regarding my disciplines, I want to work towards a career in Tribal Law and aspire to serve my communities the way they have done so for me.
![Bea](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Bea.jpg)
Qualcomm STEM Scholarship
Donor: Qualcomm eQuality LGBTQ Employee Network
Bea Colobong | she/her
My name is Bea and I was born in the Philippines! I came to California as a young girl and taught myself English through reading books and watching movies. In high school, I discovered my love for volunteering, especially through sustainability related activities. I am currently a senior in high school and plan to major in mechanical engineering. I’m passionate about environmental awareness and supporting women in STEM. As a future mechanical engineer, I hope to focus on renewable energy systems and alternative materials. I plan to enter UCSD in the fall, and I am super excited for my upcoming classes! I love challenging myself, meeting new people, and expanding my knowledge.
![Marion](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Marion.jpg)
Qualcomm STEM Scholarship
Donor: Qualcomm eQuality LGBTQ Employee Network
Marion Demailly | she/her
Marion is currently working as a critical care nurse at UC San Diego Health and will be pursuing a Master of Public Health in Population and Family Health at Columbia Mailman in New York in the fall. Marion is passionate about health equity and access, especially in intersectional LGBT populations such as LGBT refugee/immigrant communities and incarcerated LGBT populations. Marion plans to do community health work and research in these areas throughout the MPH program and after graduating. The LGBT community has made her the person she is today and she is so grateful for the opportunity to support her community through public health.
![Hisami](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hisami.jpg)
Daniel J. Ferbal Memorial Scholarship
Donor: Rob Benzon/Dan Ferbal Foundation
Hisami Oliva | she/her
Hisami is a graduating senior at High Tech High Media Arts, planning to study legal and environmental studies at Williams College in the fall. She is a strong advocate for intersectional causes and believes more democratized higher education to be a focal component of increasing gender equity. She is so grateful to be receiving this scholarship!
![Kiera](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kiera.jpg)
Gary A. Marcus Scholarship for the Fine and Applied Arts
Donor: Gary Marcus
Kiera Feighan-Patrizi | she/her
Kiera is a 4th year Film and Media Studies major at UC Santa Barbara. In her work as a filmmaker, she hopes to create meaningful stories that will have a positive impact on our community. Last summer, she was a camera operator and head editor for a documentary on domoic acid with the Coastal Media Project, and it was screened in multiple film festivals including NaturTrack Film Festival and Montecito Student Film Festival. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue her career as a director and screenwriter. She is currently working on a women’s climbing documentary with the Carsey Wolf Center at UCSB as a part of their GreenScreen environmental film program.
![Angel](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Angel.jpg)
Bill Hanson Community College Scholarship
Donor: Bill Hanson
Angel Heute | he/him/they
Angel Huete is a 25-year-old student at Cuyamaca Community College, where he is pursuing a major in public health with the goal of becoming a physician assistant. As a first-generation student, Angel earned an Associate Degree in Science Pre-nursing at Fullerton College, aiming to gain health-related experience and explore various healthcare careers. With experience in helping people at a food bank in the Post-COVID pandemic, and giving companionship to elderly people without families, he is passionate to continue helping his community through health education, PreP awareness and immigrants who need help finding resources.
![Jade](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jade.jpg)
Bill Hanson Community College Scholarship
Donor: Bill Hanson
Jade MacEoghain | they/them/theirs
Jade is a proud first-generation community college alum who graduated summa cum laude with dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Anthropology and English from Arizona State University in Spring 2024. They work in a public library and have been a community college writing tutor for six years, supporting first-year and sophomore English and Literature classrooms. Jade serves on their community college’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board and the library’s Access and Equity Alliance. At ASU, they were President and VP of Communications for the university’s only online LGBTQIA+ student club and ran a Queer Book Club. In 2023, they helped develop Carlsbad Library’s first-ever Pride program. Jade is a published writer and has presented at 15+ research conferences. They will begin their Master’s program this Fall in Literature & Writing Studies. In their free time, they enjoy creating multimedia art, reading and writing, baking desserts, and being a cat parent.
![Julien](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Julien.jpg)
Personal Achievement Scholarship
Donor: Anonymous
Julian Lopez | he/they
Julian is a passionate first-generation student pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at San Diego State University, building on a Bachelor’s in Criminology, Law, and Society from UC Irvine. Currently, Julian works at the San Diego LGBT Community Center’s housing department and interns as a therapist at Stepping Stone of San Diego. Post-graduation, Julian aims to become a licensed clinical social worker, focusing on mental health in LGBTQ and communities of color. With a commitment to social justice and equity, Julian is dedicated to serving and advocating for marginalized communities, driven by personal experiences and a desire to make a meaningful impact.
![Thuy](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Thuy.jpg)
Personal Achievement Scholarship
Donor: Anonymous
Thuy Hong Phan | she/her
I am a first-generation graduate student who is currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at San Diego State University. My family and I immigrated to the United States from Vietnam through a family sponsorship program due to my father’s family being war refugees. Growing up in migrant communities, I have personally witnessed the systemic barriers and lack of equitable access to resources and support. In my undergraduate years at the University of California, San Diego, I developed a passion for community-based interventions and social justice, which led to my decision to double major in International Relations and Sociology, with a specialization in Social Inequality. Now as a graduate student and young professional, I strive to obtain my Credential in Pupil Personnel Services and Licensure in Clinical Social Work in hopes of fostering healing, empowerment, and advocacy among marginalized populations.
![Kingston](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kingston.jpg)
Jeffrey D. Shorn + Charles S. Kaminski Scholarship
Donor: Charles Kaminski
Kingston Tran | they/them
Kingston Tran is a Doctorate Student of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine Health Sciences in San Marcos. They are a proud first-generation college student with a B.S. in Human Biology from UC San Diego. Kingston will be the first in their family to pursue a doctorate. They have volunteered for local nonprofit organizations such as Viet Voices and TransFamily Support Services. As a child of Vietnamese refugees, they are passionate about being a leader and helping the queer and trans Asian American community in San Diego.
![Roberto](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Roberto.jpg)
Jeffrey D. Shorn + Charles S. Kaminski Scholarship
Donor: Charles Kaminski
Roberto Hernandez Rodriguez | he/him
Roberto Hernández Rodríguez is currently pursuing an M.A. of International Affairs at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego. Originally from Tijuana (México) and as a “gay transfronterizo”, he is deeply interested in exploring the political, economic and social dynamics of his cross-border culture. Roberto holds a B.A. in International Relations from El Colegio de México, a premier social science research institution in Latin America. His current academic focus is on economic development and managing international public policy projects, aimed at bridging the socio-economic divides between the Global North and the Global South. This summer, Roberto will intern at UNESCO’s world headquarters in Paris (France), contributing to the unit focused on the cultural and historical heritage of Latin America and the Caribbean region.
![Lucy](https://pflagsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lucy.jpg)
Trischman Family Scholarship
Donor: Trischman Family
Lucy Shen | she/her
Lucy will be graduating from Westview High School, and will be studying biomedical engineering at Columbia University’s School of Engineering in the fall on a pre-med track. Just as she helped create diversity in her school’s robotics program via the diversity committee and outreach efforts by recruiting students of different ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and other underrepresented backgrounds in STEM to join, she hopes to use this experience to continue promoting diversity and inclusiveness on her college campus and beyond as a way of giving back to the community.