Alumni Stories That Inspire
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.