2025 NASA Launch Into Higher Education
The Fundraising Committee at NEW Academy of Science and Arts takes pleasure in announcing one $1,000
scholarship for a NASA alumni currently in 12th grade and pursuing post-secondary education. Our goal is to promote
the importance of higher education and plant the seed in the imagination of our current and former students to dream
big, to help them understand that their efforts will bare fruit, and to encourage them to continue their education.
Scholarship applications are available at the main office located in our Loma campus and online at www.newnasa.org. All NASA alumni who have been admitted to AND have enrolled in an institution of higher learning for Summer or Fall 2025 are welcome to apply. To be considered for a scholarship, students must complete/gather the following prerequisites and submit them to the main office located in our Loma campus no later than Friday, May 16th 2025.
1. Application form [Download the Scholarship Application Form Here]
2. An essay responding to the following question: How will higher education positively affect yourself, your family, and community?
3. Copy of most recent high school transcript
4. Proof of enrollment at an institution of higher learning
5. Two letters of recommendation (Note: One letter must be from a current or former teacher. The second letter may
come from another community member, such as coach, church leader, after-school instructor, school staff member,etc.)
After reviewing applications and accompanying documents, the committee will select candidates to be interviewed and then select one student to receive a scholarship award. Interviews will occur in the week of May 26th, we will communicate interview times via email. The scholarship recipient will be recognized at the NASA 5th grade culminating ceremony on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, starting at 9:00 a.m. Funds will be released to the students at this time; therefore, the winner must be present to share a few words with our NASA class of 2025. Again, it is our hope to instill the value of higher education in our former students as well as current students, even at this early age. We believe in their efforts and wish to encourage them as they move forward in their education.
Past Scholarship Winners
Bryan Hernandez
I graduated high school with a weighted GPA of 4.2 and was the recipient of the Posse Scholarship which is a full-tuition scholarship that took me to Pennsylvania. I stuck to the course throughout Covid and recently graduated in May 2023. During my college career I got to accomplish things beyond my wildest dreams. The summer after my sophomore year I interned for Bloomberg L.P. in their headquarters in New York City. The following semester I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark where I was able to intern and travel Europe. Spring semester of my junior year I interned in commercial real estate with JLL through a program called Project Destined. I also joined a fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, and got inducted into a secret honors society at my school known as The Order of the Scroll in Key. The summer following my junior year I returned to New York to intern with J.P. Morgan which is where I am working today full-time. During my time in school I also served in philanthropic events through clubs and my fraternity. I was the proud president of the Latin American and Caribbean Club which gave me a platform to create events and reach more people. I am happy to give back in any way that I can. I can never forget the $1,000 scholarship that NASA provided me with as well, it went a long way to cover my college expenses.
Neve Briones
My mom raised me all by herself at 16 years old, and the only reason I got the opportunity to go to NASA was because we lived at La Posada right next door. But, in my time there I was able to grow a lot academically. I can remember achieving the Principal’s award, which was a very big deal for my mom. Teachers like Dr. Jackson is what makes the difference, her support and encouragement is a part of my success until this day. She is the only teacher I remember having at NASA, and she has always been my favorite. After high school, I went to California State University, East Bay where I learned a lot about what pathway I wanted to take, and what drives me. I changed my majors, and ended up getting a bachelor’s degree in Child Development at California State University, Los Angeles. Now, I am currently working on my master’s degree at CSULA in Child Development as well. I am inspired to learn and research in depth about ways in which we can support low-income families to be resilient. I am also a graduate assistant for a professor at CSULA.
Diana Sarabia Briseno
Diana is a first-generation, DACA student who graduated from our program in 2011. She was one of the first recipients of the NASA scholarship in 2017, which helped her attend UCSC. The scholarship provided her with much-needed financial assistance, enabling her to focus on her studies. Diana grew up in Los Angeles, where she was exposed to the many challenges faced by her community. She witnessed firsthand the lack of resources and opportunities available to many people, and she knew that she wanted to help make a difference. Diana’s passion for helping her community was further fueled by her Mexican heritage. She learned about the importance of community and family, and she knew that she wanted to give back to the community that had given her so much. Diana is now a college advisor in a joint position with Oakes and Rachel Carson Colleges at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a first-generation, DACA student who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She enhances knowledge and understanding by sharing information, resources, and learned experiences with students. She also works as a consultant with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB), a community-based consulting firm that is dedicated to empowering diverse leaders to use their voices for systemic change. Diana is a passionate advocate for students and her community, and she is a strong believer in the power of education to transform lives.
