Featured Fund
Chicano Latino Alumni Endowed Scholarship
Chicano Latino Alumni (CLA) is proud to celebrate the academic achievements of UCR students and is committed to supporting future generations through scholarships.
CLA has established an endowed scholarship program to ensure assistance for our students in perpetuity. We have reached 40% of our goal of $25,000 and are asking for your help. By making a gift this month, your contribution will help us reach 50% by March 31!
All donations to the endowment are tax-deductible and will make a difference in the lives of our students!
2019-2020 Freshmen Scholars
Gelyca Arce, Comparative Literature
Riverside County Region
Hometown: Moreno Valley
Gelyca is currently attending UCR along with her sister; both of their parents are UCR graduates. She appreciates the many opportunities the university has provided for her family. Gelyca has explored a range of studies and activities at UCR, including the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program. She hopes to become a teacher and an impactful leader in her community.
Sydney Freeman, Education, Society, and Human Development
Northern California Region
Hometown: San Mateo
Sydney's work with children through various Girl Scout programs inspired her to pursue a teaching career. She is committed to developing creative ways of engaging her future students. As the daughter of an alumnus, Sydney feels a deep connection to UCR and the community and looks forward to sharing her leadership skills on and off-campus.
Darla Garcia, Biology
Inland Empire Region
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga
Darla is passionate about a future in the medical field and has taken advantage of volunteer opportunities in her community, such as the San Antonio Regional Hospital Junior Volunteer program. She looks forward to gaining the full college experience and joining one or more of the student organizations on campus.
Anthony Ghali, Biology
Orange County Region
Hometown: Anaheim
Anthony has a diverse range of interests; his strong work ethic and interest in biology are what brought him to UC Riverside. He enjoys service work and is currently volunteering to positively impact the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Southern California.
Frank Lopez, Electrical Engineering
San Gabriel Valley
Hometown: Whittier
Frank was inspired to apply to UCR after speaking with an enthusiastic alumna and decided to pursue an education in engineering. He is involved in his community, works with children at his church, and makes himself available to listen and be a positive influence in the lives of others.
Sneha Padmanaban, Neuroscience
San Diego Region
Hometown: San Diego
As a neuroscience major, Sneha's work ethic and time management skills bring balance to her academic and personal life. She plans to volunteer with programs on campus and in the medical field and ultimately become a health professional supporting diverse communities.
Emma Rogers, Chemical Engineering
San Bernardino Region
Hometown: Redland
Emma’s concern for the future of air quality has fueled her desire to pursue an education in science and engineering. Although majoring in the sciences, she considers herself a creative person looking for solutions to problems that impact our daily lives.
Syreze Sky San Andres, Neuroscience
Los Angeles Region
Hometown: Burbank
Syreze Sky hopes to pursue a career as a pediatrician following her studies. She has a particular interest in education reform so that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder have more access and inclusion in the future. Syreze Sky is also an advocate for mental health awareness.
Tatyanna Shanklin, Biology
Riverside City Region
Hometown: Riverside
As a first-generation student and African American of Hispanic descent, Tatyanna is determined to excel in her chosen field of biology. She chose UCR because of the many opportunities for students in STEM fields and the sense of community created by the campus’ cultural programs.
2019-2020 Sher-Right Scholars
Marina Joseph, Biology
Hometown: Fresno
Marina is studying biology and aspires to work with underserved populations as a medical professional. She is a member of the Mini Medical School at the UCR School of Medicine, a student-run program that expands access to professionally approved medical and health-related information to help bridge health disparities. Marina founded her own non-profit, Unheard Cries, with the mission to reduce poverty in the Middle East.
Kassandra Salinas, Anthropology
Hometown: Covina
Kassandra is a third-year psychology major with a passion for helping others. She had an undergraduate research opportunity with the Adversity and Adaptation lab, which documents the lives of young people and how hardships impact their ability to develop as an adult. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Kassandra hopes to earn a master’s degree in social work.
Nathan Sapong, Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Menifee
Nathan is the recipient of multiple alumni scholarship awards. He is gaining experience in his field of mechanical engineering through an internship with Sierra Aluminum, a division of Samuel. And, he previously worked as a volunteer research assistant for the Emissions and Fuels Research Lab at the Center for Environmental Research & Technology (CE-CERT).
2019-2020 Brithinee Scholars
Kashmaila Ali, Biology
Hometown: Rialto
Kashmaila is Pakistani-American and a triplet, attending UCR alongside her sisters. She is a first-generation college student and aspires to be a physician in the Inland Empire. Kashmaila volunteers with several organizations including, Women on the Move Network, whose mission is to promote the empowerment of girls and young women.
Thomas Henningson, Computer Science
Hometown: Temecula
Thomas is pursuing a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science. His passion arose at age 15 after building his first computer. Thomas also has a heart for his community, having worked with young children and a diverse group of parents through the Bright Horizons program in Minneapolis.
Samantha Park, Creative Writing
Hometown: Fresno
As an aspiring poet, author, and screenwriter, Samantha aims to advocate for persons with mental health issues and survivors of sexual assault. She is a writer for Her Campus, an online magazine written by and focused on empowering college women.
Nathan Sapong, Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Menifee
Nathan is committed to making a difference in the sciences. He is a University Honors student and treasurer-in-training for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Nathan plans to pursue a master’s of science in mechanical engineering through the BS+MS program.
2019-2020 Transfer Scholars
Rachel Abelgas, Sociology
Hometown: Murrieta
Rachel's aspirations include obtaining a master's degree in sociology and a career as a school counselor. Originally from the Philippines, she is passionate about sharing her experience, promoting self-confidence, and motivating others to pursue their dreams, regardless of their background.
Tera Hackett, Applied Mathematics
Hometown: Pomona
With a passion for the outdoors and mathematics, Tera was excited to learn about UCR’s applied mathematics major, which provides opportunities to explore the intersection of mathematics and the environment. She demonstrates her enthusiasm for helping others as a math tutor and through her volunteer work with various environmental organizations in the Inland Empire.
Sommer Rowell, Biochemistry
Hometown: Apple Valley
Sommer is a biochemistry major with an emphasis in medical sciences and minor in Spanish. She hopes to obtain an MD and Ph.D., and practice here in the Inland Empire to meet the needs of the underserved community. Sommer has participated in multiple community service projects, including the UCR School of Medicine’s Future Physician Leaders program..
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Every gift is essential to sustaining the university’s ability to shape the lives of future Highlanders and continue our substantial impact on California’s economy.