May 15, 2024
Mesa College Students Honored with Thousands in Prestigious Community Scholarships
Student Husna Ayoubi won the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship,
worth up to $165,000
By Emma Rodriguez
Since March, Mesa students have won prestigious scholarship awards to fund their educational
endeavors for the 2024-25 school year and beyond. Mesa student Husna Ayoubi was chosen
to be one 60 community college students selected to receive the Cooke Undergraduate
Transfer Scholarship, a highly competitive award that can reach as much as $55,000
each year by financing all or a portion of educational costs, including tuition, room
and board, books and required fees. Additionally, students won awards from organizations
including the California Law Pathways program, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation,
and the Coco-Cola Foundation.
From Afghanistan, Husna speaks five languages and volunteers extensively on campus
and in the community. She is a cognitive science major, has already finished the Medical
Assistant Program and recently completed a medical assistant externship at the Palm
Care Cardiology Urgent Care Center in El Cajon.
Among her notable achievements, Husna served as an interpreter at Fort Bliss, Texas,
Afghan refugee camp clinic and also has tutored English language learners in the Cajon
Valley Union School District. And, as a Mesa College Associated Student Government
student senator, she led the implementation of Mesa’s first Teacher Appreciation and
Recognition week.
This Spring, Husna and her fellow Mesa student, Aylin Din Parast Saleh, were named
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) 2024 All-California Academic Honor Roll Students. The students
selected for PTK Honor Roll represent some of the best of the 2 million students enrolled
in California's 116 community colleges.
Ella Jaravata is another outstanding Mesa student to have won honors. As a Mesa political
science major who hopes to study Environmental Law, she won the Cal LAW Pathways Outstanding
Student Scholarship, awarded based on student scholarship, participation, and goals
to give back to their community in the area of law to assist young, aspiring lawyers
in their education.
“Being a recipient of the Pathway to Law scholarship for community college students was
a great privilege and honor.” Says Jaravata. “I am grateful for the financial and
community support it will provide me on my journey beyond San Diego Mesa College and
into Law School… and I hope to use my voice to advocate for others in the field of
Environmental Law.”
Andrea Calles-Virgen is a current Vet Tech student at Mesa who won the American Veterinary
Medical Foundation (AVMF) and Merck Animal Health Scholarship for $2,000. This scholarship
supports one “exceptional veterinary student” attending school in the United States
and Puerto Rico.
And, several Mesa students have received the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship, awarded by
the San Diego Indian American Society. The award recognizes students who have exemplified
Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to truth, non-violence, equality for all, compassion,
and kindness. Natalie Cervantes, Alexandra Laramore, and Jianina Montealto all won
the award.
About Mesa San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited, comprehensive college committed to equity
and excellence. We honor our diverse community of students, faculty, professional
staff, and administrators who collaborate to foster scholarship, leadership, access,
and innovation in an inclusive learning environment. By promoting student learning
and achievement that leads to degrees and certificates, transfer, workforce training,
and lifelong learning, we empower our students to reach their educational goals and
shape their future. Among the largest community colleges in California, Mesa serves
approximately 20,000 students per year, 25% of whom are full-time. Mesa offers over
200 associate degree and certificate programs and is one of 15 California community
colleges offering a four-year baccalaureate degree. Mesa ranks as one of San Diego’s
top transfer institutions, is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), an Asian
American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and
a Military Friendly Gold Status School, serving nearly 2,500 active duty, veterans,
and their families. www.sdmesa.edu
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Tags: Phi Theta Kappa, LatestNews, Vet Tech, Jack Kent Cook Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, Scholarships, Cal Law Pathway
