Alissa Tokumoto

Cornell University
UPS

I got accepted as a transfer student to Cornell University’s Agriculture and Life Sciences School for my second year of college as a TO, where I plan to pursue my degree in agricultural science and minor in business. Needing to complete my first-year credits at another institution, the USPAACC scholarship helped cover my tuition for my first year before being able to complete my transfer process to my dream school. In my first year institution, while also making my studies my priority, I am an active participant in all kinds of campus activities and societies. Thanks to such active participation I was able to attend the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia earlier this month. Although it is not common for first-year college students to be able to attend this conference, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to be one of the few in the whole conference to attend.

Here I was able to grow professionally, speak with many recruiters from different companies and get interviews for summer internships. After this event and after going through multiple interviews, I will get a paid internship this summer as a first-year college student.

I joined the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) and The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) on campus since I am both Asian and Latina. This week, I was invited to speak for the AAPI Event “Our voices” as part of the panel to celebrate Asian heritage and diversity on campus. I am very happy with how involved in campus life I am since it allowed me to meet so many people, make friends, and get so many opportunities like attending the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers National Conference and The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers National Conference next month.

Ever since I attended USPAACC Business Conference I understood how important and useful attending conferences and exposing myself to be proactive. I learned how essential constantly putting myself out there and looking for opportunities can be. Networking, learning about people’s success stories, attending workshops, constantly trying to learn more, etc. Getting exposure at a conference like USPAACC had a lasting impact on me and my view on self-improvement even now in college.

Izzy Alvarez

Eastern Washington University
CVS

After receiving the USPAACC’s CelebrASIAN scholarship, an enormous weight was lifted off my shoulders as I felt my struggles as an Asian American were not only seen and heard, but also valued. With the money from the scholarship, I was able to invest in my educational goal of becoming a high school teacher and giving back to my community. Because of this scholarship, I can fully pay for my college education and I was even able to acquire further education and certifications due to your generosity. I will graduate with a major in Secondary English Education with an endorsement in English as a Second Language and a certificate to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages. I will be certified and endorsed in English as a Second Language by the end of March of 2023. Currently, I am designing curriculum and teaching English to a group of foreign exchange students from Asia. I count it as my biggest joy to be a part of their journey as they learn English and become integral members of our community.

In the Spring of 2023, I will be formally admitted into Eastern Washington University’s Education program where I will begin nine months of student teaching at one of the high schools in my city. In March of 2024, I plan to graduate summa cum laude and begin my lifelong journey to help others grow academically, thrive in the face of difficulty, and give back to the communities that supported them. After college, I plan on attaining my master’s in education so I can better serve refugee and immigrant communities.

Thank you for investing in me and giving me the chance to invest in the future generations.

Joyce Li

UCLA
Denny's

Since receiving the scholarship, I already achieved many goals academically and career-wise. Relieving some of my financial burden allowed me to focus more on my studies. In my time at UCLA, I consistently remained on the Dean’s List. In addition to psychology courses, I pursued more knowledge in my other interests through parasitology, dance, biomedical research, and financial accounting classes. During my freshman year, I secured two internships. The first was a real estate internship through Project Destined on team Eastdil LA. We won second place nationally for our residential real estate presentation and financial analysis. My second internship,which I am currently participating in, is for an angel investment fund that specializes in startups within the healthcare, life science, or biotech field. Without the help of USPAACC, I would not be as successful as I am now at UCLA. Thank you for your support.

Mariam Majeed

University of Michigan
Dayblink

I’m currently halfway through my Junior year as a Business major at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. I’m taking core courses in Business Law and Ethics, Behavioral Theory in Management, Operations Management, Business Communication, as well as electives in Asian studies and Institutional Humanities. This past summer, I interned full-time at a creative advertising agency as an Account Coordinator Intern, while simultaneously working part-time on a consultancy basis with a community nonprofit. I’m hoping to continue exploring my interests in Branding and Communications, as well as Consulting, career-wise.

On campus, I’ve joined a social entrepreneurship consulting club, Enactus, as well as the BBA DEI committee, as I continue to further my educational interests through social impact. I am still an active member of the Muslim Business Student Association, Muslim Student Association, and Michigan Business Women organizations. I am currently preparing for a semester abroad come January 2023 where I will be attending the Bayes Business School at City, University of London.