SDG&E Inspiring Future Leaders
STEM Scholarship Recipients
We’re excited to announce the 2023 SDG&E Inspiring Future Leaders STEM Scholarship recipients!
Join us in celebrating the first cohort of scholarship winners! Ten students (high school senior, recent graduate or current undergraduate) will each receive a $10,000 scholarship to pursue their dreams in a planned field of study in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The scholarship is renewable for an additional three years as long as the student maintains program eligibility requirements. SDG&E is committed to increasing women and BIPOC representation in STEM, and we look forward to following the journeys of these exceptional future leaders. Congratulations to the scholarship recipients!
Meet Our Newest Scholars
JC Alvarez
University: University of Southern California
Planned Major: Finance/Data Science
“I see attending and graduating from college as a means to make my parents proud and a tribute to their sacrifices. It is also an opportunity to explore my passions, expand my horizons, and make a meaningful impact in the world.”
Gizelle Flores
University: UC Berkeley
Planned Major: Applied Physics and Engineering
“It is important for me to be a part of the STEM field as a Hispanic woman, for we are facing inequalities in this field. Although there aren’t many of us, the number is increasing each year, and I love that I am a part of that growth. I encourage others to explore the options in the STEM field. Even though it is one of the hardest fields, it is also one of the most rewarding.”
Alexis Garcia
University: UC San Diego
Planned Major: Biology
“Through the skillset I’ll gain from a college education, I want to contribute to initiatives that uncover mechanisms of disease, and particularly ones that disproportionately affect people of color. I plan to apply to graduate programs further develop as a scientist and model my career around designing solutions to multifaceted healthcare disparities and advocating for healthcare equity as part of long-term patient outcomes.”
Diana Garcia
University: UCLA
Planned Major: Biochemistry
“I am motivated to use my education and scientific skills to improve the quality of human life and make a positive impact on my community. I plan to be an example that one’s family background, financial status, or ethnicity does not define how far you get in life. This scholarship is not solely an investment in my education but also to future generations of Latinas and Latinos who aspire for a career in the STEM field. We belong!”
Chomnapp Khoth
University: UC Berkeley
Planned Major: Civil Engineering
“Witnessing the lack of parking structures, cracked roads, and poor maintenance of buildings within my neighborhood, made me determined to be a catalyst for change. Pursuing civil engineering will allow me to make beneficial and tangible changes in my community.
Rudy Mercado
University: CSU Fullerton
Planned Major: Civil Engineering
“People may attach a negative connotation to being low income, but for me it taught me the importance of the little things in life and learning to appreciate what I have. I appreciate the things my parents have sacrificed for me. It’s what drives me to do the best that I can as I work towards my bachelor’s degree.”
Chloe Moya
University: Barnard College
Planned Major: Neuroscience & Art History
“I grew up constantly moving around the San Diego area with my family. The diversity I’ve experienced, having lived in many different places, and subsequently understanding a multitude of perspectives, is one of my greatest strengths. It has simultaneously procured an intense understanding of those battling housing insecurity and a passion for uplifting educational equity.”
Savannah (Annie) Riley
University: CSU Long Beach
Planned Major: Marine Science
“My goal after graduating college and hopefully earning my PhD, is to devote my life to marine and coastal conservation and research so that future generations will experience this wondrous part of the world.”
Jacqueline Salinas
University: Columbia University
Planned Major: Mechanical Engineering
“STEM has always piqued my interest, even at a young age. It began when I helped my dad disassemble electronics. Seeing the wires and chips sparked my curiosity, and my passion for engineering has grown and has motivated me to join several STEM-oriented programs. My aspiration to become a robotics engineer came from realizing how amazing technology is and how it is truly our future.”
Daniel Bayliss
University: Boston University
Planned Major: Civil Engineering