AHSIE 2020 Scholarship Recipients

Enrique Baranda

Associate of Science for Transfer in Business Administration

Mt. San Jacinto College

Enrique Baranda, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, is a first-generation community college Latino student and a proud son of immigrant parents. He has been a leader and participant for the First-Year Experience Program, the Puente Program, Phi Theta Kappa Honor’s Society, Honors Enrichment Program, works as a Student Mentor for the Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS), and volunteers at MSJC’s food pantry. Enrique has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his time at Mt. San Jacinto Community College and will graduate in Spring of 2021 with his Associates of Science for Transfer degree in Business Administration. Enrique’s attendance to the Latinos in Finance conference, made him aware of the importance and need of underrepresented individuals in executive boards and began to see MSJC’s need for more underrepresented and diverse faculty and staff. His future educational goal is to pursue a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling, come back to his humble community and become a Puente Counselor. Well aware that till this day, there is only 1% of Latinos who have a doctorate degree, Enrique would later like to pursue his Doctorate Degree in the Educational Leadership Program at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Estefania Villicana-Albanil

Associate of Arts in Sociology and Social Sciences & Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts in Psychology

Hartnell College

Estefania Villicana-Albanil is a first-generation Chicana who is working towards becoming a professional educator at underrepresented schools. She is currently attending Hartnell College in Salinas, California. Estefania plans to obtain her teaching credential and strive to help others achieve their own goals. Her passion for traveling has also inspired her to some day be able to teach English in foreign countries. Estefania is a determined and dedicated advocate who believes in the importance of getting a higher education to be able to better support those who come from underrepresented backgrounds.

Maria Soto

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a minor in History

Heritage University

Maria Soto is a first-generation senior studying Social Work and History at Heritage University in Toppenish, WA. Maria comes from a humble, hardworking family of six that migrated to Washington State fifteen years ago. As a DACA recipient and DREAMer, she hopes to use her education to aid the effort of bettering the working conditions of Yakima Valley farmworkers in Washington state. In addition, Maria grew up working every summer since the age of fourteen in the agricultural fields of the Yakima Valley. Field work showed her what hard work, discipline and dedication looked like. As a first-generation undocumented student, it was difficult for Maria to navigate the college system but through the help of her mentors and hard work, she was able to continue her journey of higher education. Additionally, Maria’s passion for advocacy allowed her to develop leadership skills by involving herself through several organizations including, Student Government Association, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., and popUPjustice LLC. Her goal is to aid her community by using the skills and knowledge that she has gained throughout her undergraduate educational career.

Belén Torres

Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages with a minor in Spanish

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Belén Torres is a first generation undergraduate student born and raised in San Jose, California currently living in Aurora, Colorado and attending Metropolitan State University of Denver. This is her third year as an Art Instructor working with Aurora Housing Authority supporting students K-12 in the annual art program for National Association of Redevelopment Officials. Belén is an active member of her community assisting the local senior citizens at Fletcher Gardens as a volunteer community translator. She is majoring in Modern Languages - Spanish and minoring in Translation Studies. Her expected graduation date is August 2020. Her aspiration is to use her art and translation skills to empower and encourage others to attain their goals.

Andrea Cortés

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Andrea Cortés is a PhD student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies department at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Andrea immigrated from Mexico at the age of 13 and spent her summers working on the fields to help support her family. As the oldest of 6, she lived with her family in seasonal migrant housing where she used to live for 8 months and then migrate for 4 months to Michoacán, Mexico. Throughout her academic and professional career, she has worked with first generation migrant students at a Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s) and helped with the development and implementation of various programs to support this population throughout their journey in graduate education. Andrea loves to travel and learn about new cultures. She is an avid runner, hiker, and loves to read literatura Latina. Andrea aspires to facilitate pathways for underrepresented students like herself through research, teaching, and service as faculty at an HSI-designated university. She has experienced the benefits of attending an HSI and is aware of the gaps educators should work to minimize. This has sparked her interest in continuing to research these institutions and the effect they have on the student of color population and their pursuit of higher education; specifically, their aspirations to earn post-baccalaureate degrees and join the professoriate.

Ana Guerrero

Doctor of Education in Educational Studies

University of California at Santa Barbara

Ana Y. Guerrero was born in Mexico City and raised in Goleta, CA. She is a doctoral candidate in the UCSB Department of Education with an emphasis in Culture and Development. Her research examines Latinx students' college and career aspirations development using a longitudinal multiple-case study design. She received her B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley and her M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Culture and Development from UC Santa Barbara. Currently, Ana is the Graduate Student Mentor for the ONDAS Student Center as part of the Title V grant to UCSB as an HSI, and a TA for the Education 118 course, The Research University and the Transfer Student Experience. Her interests include Latinx academic and career identity development, Hispanic Serving Institutions, campus environment, and general first-generation college student concerns in higher education. In the near future, she hopes to become a professor or work in student affairs to help inform and develop programs and resources for underrepresented students to thrive in higher education. In her free time, Ana enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and dog, Myla.