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Introducing the Class of 2030: Meet Our New Scholar Cohort

ScholarMatch
September 4, 2026
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The Class of 2030 is here, and we couldn’t be more proud of these young people. Every year, we have the pleasure of welcoming a new cohort of trailblazing scholars from across the country who are the first in their family to attend college and begin this exciting new chapter. 

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This year, we’re thrilled to welcome 277 scholars into our Scholars Program, ScholarMatch’s flagship college success program, as they embark on their college journeys. 

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These scholars come from California and all over the country, with many representing the Los Angeles area through our LA Scholars Program—a subset of our flagship program, now entering its second year. The LA Scholars Program was designed to specifically support first-generation students from the Southeast Los Angeles area, including communities such as Lynwood, Cudahy, Huntington Park, and South Gate, where less than 10% of adults over 25 hold a bachelor’s degree. 

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Through our program, these students will receive individualized support throughout their entire college experience, with an emphasis on one-on-one and group advising, career mentoring, and flexible financial support through college graduation. 

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‍A big Welcome to the Family in Los Angeles

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At our annual Welcome to the Family ceremony, scholars met their peers and advisors through a series of activities and learned more about our college success program.

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This summer, we hosted three Welcome to the Family events, including two virtual gatherings for students outside of California and an in-person celebration at Clara Turner Hall in the City of Cudahy. 

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LA scholars attended the event with family members, making it a special occasion for students and parents alike. Cynthia Gonzalez, Ed.D., mayor of Cudahy, kicked off the event by welcoming scholars and offering words of encouragement to help make the transition to college a little smoother.

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Pictured above: Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez, Ed.D., speaks to scholars at the Welcome to the Family event 

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Students also heard from a panel of current ScholarMatch scholars who shared their college experiences and advice for the journey ahead, including Nana B., a third-year student at Yale University; David A., a second-year student at UCLA; and Steven D., a second-year student at El Camino College. 

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The event also offered a transition-to-college workshop for parents, focused on supporting students as they navigate this major milestone. It was a heartwarming day filled with community, support, and hope for the future as our scholars begin this exciting chapter at ScholarMatch—and in college!

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Pictured above: Los Angeles scholars meet their peers at the Welcome to the Family event 

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Meet the Class of 2030 below:

  • Alejandro V. - University of North Carolina - Charlotte - Mechanical Engineering
  • Anel A. - University of Utah - Nursing
  • Anthony T. - Pima Medical Institute - Undecided
  • Camden P. - Gateway Community College - Medical Sciences
  • Cee Cee B. - City College of San Francisco - Education
  • Chantel W. - Make School - Nursing
  • Cory B. - Pima Community College - Radiologic Technology/Medical Imaging
  • Davi C. - National Louis University - Nursing
  • Dillon P. - Missouri State University - Undecided
  • Emelia A. - CSU - East Bay - Business Administration
  • Hope R. - Salt Lake Community College - Communications
  • Janina H. - Fullerton Community College - Accounting
  • Jayla D. - Normandale Community College - Public Health
  • Kamryn F. - Kennesaw State University - Architecture & Design
  • Marina M. - CSU - Fullerton - Accounting, Business Management, or Business Administration
  • Maritza C. - West Coast University - Nursing
  • Marwah S. - Highline College - Business Management or Business Administration
  • Megan M. - Pima Community College - Pre-Law
  • Melvin A. - Montgomery College - Computer Science
  • Miranda C. - University of Arizona - Nursing
  • Neph E. - Salem State University - Psychology
  • Rana M. - Georgia State University - Marketing, Undecided
  • Raven M. - Montgomery College - Nursing
  • Rosa M. - Estrella Mountain Community College - Nursing
  • Shareea G. - South Suburban College - Radiologic Technology/Medical Imaging
  • Kean O. - Johnson County Community College - Art & Design
  • Aaliyah A. - UC Riverside - Nursing
  • Adrian L. - CSU - Long Beach - Electrical Engineering
  • Adrian M. - CSU - Long Beach - Criminal Justice
  • Adriana A. - UC San Diego - Public Health Sciences
  • Aisha R. - CSU - Long Beach - Civil Engineering
  • Alan C. - CSU - Fullerton - Computer Science
  • Alejandra B. - Middlebury College - Neuroscience
  • D'Alessandro M. - CSU - Los Angeles - Accounting
  • Aleks R. - CSU - Fullerton - Nutrition Science
  • Alexa H. - West Los Angeles Community College - Public Health Sciences, Pre-Med
  • Alexander L. - CSU - Long Beach - Aerospace Engineering
  • Alexis G. - CSU - Northridge - Radiologic Technology/Medical Imaging
  • Allison B. - UC Riverside - Cellular/ Molecular
  • Allison P. - Boston College - Nursing
  • Alondra M. - Humboldt State University - Global Studies
  • Amaury C. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Electrical Engineering
  • Amy J. - UC Riverside - Biochemistry
  • Ana L. - CSU - Los Angeles - Criminal Justice
  • Anahi G. - CSU - Long Beach - Biomedical Engineering, Global Studies
  • Andrew R. - Humboldt State University - Mechanical Engineering, Criminal Justice
  • Andromeda L. - East Los Angeles College - Political Science
  • Andy S. - Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo - Electrical Engineering
  • Angel H. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Criminology
  • Angel Lopez Sotelo - CSU - Dominguez Hills - Business Economics
  • Angel S. - Dartmouth College - Biological Sciences, Education, Public Health
  • Angie Z. - CSU - Los Angeles - Biology, Undecided
  • Anna Karen R. - UC Merced - Political Science, Sociology
  • Anthony L. - CSU - Los Angeles - Psychology
  • Anthony O. - University of Southern California - Mechanical Engineering
  • April M. - Cypress College - Nursing
  • Arianna C. - East Los Angeles College - Psychology/Biology
  • Ariel S. - CSU - Fullerton - Communications
  • Ariela M. - UC Berkeley - Business Administration, Philosophy
  • Arlett G. - CSU - Fullerton - Nursing
  • Auggie A. - UC Irvine - Public Health Sciences, Biological Sciences
  • Aziel M. - Santa Monica Community College - Zoology
  • Azucena G. - CSU - Los Angeles - Child Development
  • Azul Z. - UC Merced - Biological Sciences
  • Belen B. - CSU - Fullerton - Business
  • Belen C. - Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo - Animal Science
  • Belinda A. - UC Santa Barbara - Biological Sciences
  • Brenda G. - CSU - Los Angeles - Public Health
  • Brenda H. - UC Riverside - Biology
  • Briana Z. - UC Irvine - Environmental Engineering
  • Brianna G. - UC Irvine - Aerospace Engineering
  • Brianna M. - CSU - Fullerton - Biological sciences
  • Bridget A.l - East Los Angeles College - History
  • Brisa A. - UC Riverside - Neuroscience
  • Bryan C. - UC Santa Barbara - Economics
  • Bryanna T. - UC Irvine - Psychology
  • Camila C. - University of Southern California - Undecided
  • Celine O. - Rio Hondo College - Biological Sciences
  • Chelsey M. - CSU - Long Beach - Criminology, Forensic Science
  • Chris S. - Bowdoin College - Political Science, Pre-Law, Criminology, Criminal Justice, International Relations, International Business, Business, Business Economics, Economics, Accounting, Latin American Studies
  • Christopher A. - UC Riverside - Biology
  • Cris C. - CSU - Los Angeles - Child Development
  • Daira M. - CSU - Long Beach - Undecided
  • Daisy G. - CSU - Los Angeles - Psychology
  • Danelly A. - CSU - Long Beach - Business Management or Business Administration
  • Daniel C. - UC Irvine - Business Administration
  • Daniel H. - UC Riverside - Psychology
  • Daniela G. - UC Irvine - Biological Sciences
  • Daniela R. - UC Berkeley - Bioengineering
  • Danna Z. - UC Irvine - Business Administration
  • Daya U. - East Los Angeles College - Psychology
  • Dayanara R. - CSU - Los Angeles - Child Development
  • Dennise H. - CSU - Long Beach - Political Science
  • Desiray O. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Computer Science
  • Destiny C. - UC Riverside - Political Science
  • Destiny F. - CSU - Los Angeles - Business Management and Administration
  • Diana J. - UC Riverside - Linguistics
  • Diego S. - UC Berkeley - Neuroscience
  • Edgar M. - CSU - Los Angeles - Business
  • Elias C. - UC Irvine - Public Health Sciences
  • Eliseo C. - CSU - Fullerton - Political Science
  • Elizabeth G. - CSU - Fullerton - Psychology
  • Emairany G. - CSU - Los Angeles - Education
  • Emily F. - CSU - Long Beach - Chicano Studies
  • Emily N. - UC Irvine - Pre-Pharmacy
  • Emily S. - CSU - Long Beach - Social Work
  • Emmanuel R. - CSU - Los Angeles - Public Health
  • Enrique F. - Yale University - Economics
  • Erik O. - CSU - Long Beach - Biology
  • Esme C. - UC Davis - Molecular Biology
  • Esmeralda B. - CSU - Long Beach - History
  • Esteban Z. - Santa Monica Community College - Earth and Environmental Science / Science Education
  • Ethan D. - CSU - Dominguez Hills - Film Media Studies
  • Everardo A. - CSU - Fullerton - International Business
  • Fabian E. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Civil Engineering
  • Fatima G. - East Los Angeles College - Nursing
  • Fatima N. - UC Davis - Undecided
  • Fatima O. - CSU - Dominguez Hills - Microbiology
  • Francisco C. - UC Los Angeles - Mathematics
  • Francisco Emmanuel C. - UC Davis - Business
  • Francisco M. - UC Los Angeles - Neuroscience
  • Gabriela Margarita F. - Cerritos Community College - Psychology
  • Gael R. - CSU - Long Beach - Computer Engineering
  • Genesis L. - UC Merced - Molecular Biology
  • Geomar B. - UC Davis - Civil Engineering
  • George C. - CSU - Los Angeles - Political Science
  • Gianna A. - Cerritos Community College - Sociology
  • Gisselle R. - CSU - Fullerton - Political Science
  • Gustavo S. - UC Irvine - Games & Playable Media
  • Hailey D. - Santa Monica Community College - Nursing
  • Hailey I. - East Los Angeles College - Physiology, Biology
  • Hawraa C. - UC Los Angeles - Physiology
  • Hillary C. - Cerritos Community College - Nursing
  • Irene G. - Cerritos Community College - Biochemistry and Biophysics
  • Isis F. - CSU - Dominguez Hills - Psychology
  • Israel Ferrel - UC Santa Barbara - Undecided
  • Jackie R. - UC Davis - Cellular Biology
  • Jacky A. - UC Santa Barbara - Biology
  • Jacob P. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Undecided
  • Jacqueline M. - UC Irvine - English
  • Jaime B. - University of Southern California - Public Health Sciences
  • Jasmin L. - CSU - Fullerton - Undecided
  • Jasmin P. - Los Angeles Trade Tech Community College - Animation
  • Jayden S. - CSU - Fullerton - Mechanical Engineering
  • Jazmine G. - Cypress College - Health Sciences
  • Jennifer C. - Santa Monica Community College - Biology
  • Jennifer Z. - CSU - Dominguez Hills - Political Science, Pre-Law
  • Jesse L. - UC Riverside - Public Policy
  • Jocelyn M. - UC Irvine - Biological Sciences
  • Jose A. - Santa Monica Community College - Political Science
  • José Manuel M. - Santa Monica Community College - Nursing, Nursing, Nursing, Nursing
  • Joselyn G. - University of Southern California - International Relations
  • Katherine G. - UC Los Angeles - Mechanical Engineering
  • Katherine M. - UC Merced - Environmental, Political Science
  • Layla P. - Bryn Mawr College - Psychology
  • Leo P. - East Los Angeles College - Computer Science
  • Logan W. - California College of the Arts - Art & Design, Games & Playable Media, Video Game Design, English, Theatre
  • Lulú C. - CSU - Northridge - Psychology
  • Lydia P. - CSU - Long Beach - Molecular Biology
  • Marcos L. - East Los Angeles College - Nursing
  • Marcos S. - Yale University - Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
  • Mareno B. - Rio Hondo College - Psychology
  • Mares M. - UC Riverside - Psychology
  • Maria A. - CSU - San Bernardino - Nursing
  • Mariana J. - CSU - Long Beach - Marine Biology
  • Marianna G. - University of Southern California - Undecided
  • Mariela M. - UC San Diego - Spanish
  • Mariela M. - UC Riverside - Business Administration
  • Mariely C. - UC Santa Barbara - Biology
  • Mario F. - CSU - Long Beach - Civil Engineering
  • Markus L. - Amherst College - Undecided
  • Marlene Z. - UC Berkeley - Physics, Data Science
  • Martin G. - CSU - Long Beach - Dance
  • Matthew R. - Denison University - Biology
  • Mattox G. - Woodbury University - Digital Animation, Culinary Arts, Business Administration
  • Melanie B. - CSU - Northridge - Psychology
  • Melanie Geraldine C. - CSU - Los Angeles - Nursing
  • Melirose M. - CSU - Fullerton - Psychology
  • Melissa A. - UC Los Angeles - Political Science
  • Melissa C. - East Los Angeles College - Biology
  • Mellanie S. - Los Angeles City College - Political Science
  • Mersse A. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Biology
  • Mia G. - Loyola Marymount University - Psychology
  • Mia O. - CSU - Fullerton - Sociology
  • Mike G. - CSU - Los Angeles - Kinesiology
  • Naomi C. - New York University - Neuroscience
  • Nicolas R. - CSU - Los Angeles - Film Media Studies
  • Nicole L. - UC Santa Barbara - Biology
  • Noe F. - Los Angeles City College - Psychology
  • Oliver C. - CSU - Fullerton - Mechanical Engineering
  • Oscar G. - UC Santa Barbara - Political Science
  • Oscar R. - Santa Monica Community College - Mechanical Engineering
  • Oscar R. - East Los Angeles College - Art & Design
  • Osvaldo A. - CSU - Fullerton - Marketing
  • Paola M. - UC Los Angeles - Public Health Sciences
  • Pedro L. - UC Davis - Undecided
  • Quincy B. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Psychology
  • Rachel O. - UC San Diego - Psychology/Biology
  • Raniyah W. - CSU- Sacramento - Health Sciences, Nursing
  • Reece N. - CSU- Sacramento - Nursing
  • Ricky V. - Humboldt State University - Undecided
  • Robert M. - UC Los Angeles - Physics, Electrical Engineering
  • Roger D. - UC Berkeley - Environmental Engineering
  • Ruben R. - East Los Angeles College - Kinesiology
  • Ruby S. - UC Los Angeles - Biology
  • Ryan R. - UC Irvine - Political Science
  • Safira C. - Cerritos Community College - Undecided
  • Samantha C. - East Los Angeles College - Child Development
  • Samantha Q. - University of Southern California - Public Health Sciences
  • Samantha T. - Mount Saint Mary's University - Nursing
  • Samuel E. - East Los Angeles College - Software Engineering
  • Sarah C. - CSU - Los Angeles - Biology, Animal Science
  • Sarai R. - CSU - Los Angeles - Criminology
  • Scarlet T. - UC Merced - Public Health
  • Sebby N. - UC Riverside - Business
  • Sergio R. - CSU - Los Angeles - Mechanical Engineering
  • Shayla G. - CSU - Northridge - Radiologic Technology/Medical Imaging
  • Shelley A. - UC Santa Barbara - Neuroscience, Biopsychology
  • Shelssy V. - UC Davis - Genetics
  • Sofia A. - East Los Angeles College - Art & Design
  • Sofia P. - CSU - Long Beach - English, Education, Linguistics
  • Sonny L. - Santa Clara University - Undecided
  • Stephanie C. - UC Irvine - Undecided
  • Stephanie G. - UC Irvine - Psychology
  • Stephanie S. - UC Berkeley - Political Science, Business Administration, Psychology
  • Steven L. - Swarthmore College - Neuroscience
  • Steven Q. - UC Irvine - Undecided
  • Susan C. - Swarthmore College - Biology, Political Science
  • Susana G. - UC Merced - Chemistry
  • Terry M. - East Los Angeles College - Education
  • Thomas M. - UC Merced - Spanish
  • Valentina B. - Cal Poly - Pomona - Engineering
  • Valeria G. - CSU - Long Beach - Biological sciences
  • Valerie C. - CSU - Long Beach - Kinesiology
  • Valerie C. - UC Los Angeles - Biology
  • Valerie A. - CSU - Long Beach - Marketing and Advertising
  • Valerie J. - UC Riverside - Business Economics
  • Valerie Y. - Cerritos Community College - Pre-Law
  • Vanessa G. - Santa Monica Community College - Nursing
  • Vanessa R. - Santa Monica Community College - Criminology, Photography
  • Victoria G. - University of Southern California - Journalism
  • Wendy O. - UC Santa Barbara - Biology
  • Wendy G. - UC Irvine - Public Health
  • Xiomaralee R. - Santa Monica Community College - Nursing
  • Yahaira H. - CSU - Northridge - Radiologic Technology/Medical Imaging
  • Yandel B. - UC Santa Barbara - Biology
  • Yara G. - East Los Angeles College - Public Policy, Pre-Law, Business Administration
  • Yaretzi M. - CSU - Northridge - Radiologic Technology/Medical Imaging
  • Yaretzi R. - CSU - Northridge - Fashion Design
  • Yonaikel T. - East Los Angeles College - Architecture & Design
  • Yoni M. - Santa Monica Community College - Computer Science
  • Yuhyar I. - UC Riverside - Business
  • Z M. - Los Angeles Trade Tech Community College - Business
  • Zaynab R. - East Los Angeles College - Biology
  • Zoe G. - UC Riverside - Biology
  • Angel F. - UC San Diego - Business Economics, Cognitive Science
  • Cynna T. - Cornell University - Data Science, Economics
  • Emily N. - UC Davis - Biological Sciences
  • Geizel T. - UC Davis - Accounting, Psychology, Forensic Science/ Criminology, Undecided
  • Grace L. - UC Santa Cruz - Psychology
  • Jian J. - College of San Mateo - Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
  • Johnny Z. - UC Los Angeles - Human Biology
  • Juan C. - Princeton University - Computer Science, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science
  • Julian C. - Princeton University - Undecided
  • Kailyn S. - Dominican University of California - Nursing
  • Max T. - UC Berkeley - Public Policy, Economics
  • Terry X. - CSU - Long Beach - Finance
  • Vicky W. - UC Davis - Human Biology
  • Camila F. - Stanford University - Human Biology
  • Daisy H. - Texas State University - Business Administration
  • Mahi P. - University of Florida - Finance
  • Naisha S. - Davidson College - Economics, Political Science, Pre-Law
  • Rose L. - Palm Beach State College - Business Administration

It takes a village to make college possible

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Our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of scholarship partners and other longtime supporters who share our commitment to investing in the next generation of community leaders. With their support, we are transforming the higher education landscape and making it more accessible for first-generation students.

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‍We are deeply grateful for the support of our scholarship partners, including:

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We want to extend a special thank you and a warm welcome to the Bridge Investment Group for trusting ScholarMatch with their Bridge Scholars Program. We are honored to welcome the Bridge scholars into our college success program and look forward to a longstanding, successful partnership.

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We’re actively seeking community partners, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic allies to help us grow and sustain our programs so we can support more first-generation students on their road to higher education. If you would like to learn more about our work, contact us at generosity@scholarmatch.org or fill out our interest form on our website.

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