Hilda is currently pursuing a teaching credential to become a high school history teacher and eventually wants to get a master's degree to become a principal. After struggling in school due to a language barrier, Hilda wants to help support students who have a hard time with English in the way teachers showed Hilda support. Without this support, school would have been much more challenging, and Hilda wants to be part of students’ academic growth while helping them navigate any challenges they are facing.

Hilda understands the impact that teachers have beyond the classroom, extending into society and shaping communities and values. It is Hilda’s hope that providing a supportive education will lead students to become active members of their communities and impact those communities in a positive way. 

Delfino: Bringing Emergency Medicine to Marginalized Communities

Delfino is currently studying at a university and wants to go to medical school to become an emergency medical physician that supports rural, disabled, low-income, and marginalized communities. Eventually, Delfino wants to develop a free clinic with comprehensive healthcare tailored to support the needs of underserved communities.

Delfino previously worked as an EMT in a rural community health clinic and witnessed the impact of limited access to medical services for vulnerable populations. Delfino believes in fighting for a more equitable society where everyone can thrive and prosper.

Crystal: Supporting Unhoused Veterans

Crystal is studying social work and wants to support the unhoused population, particularly unhoused Veterans. After finding out a family member was unhoused and living in unsafe conditions, Crystal became dedicated to getting to the root of the issues that cause homelessness.

Crystal is part of a Veterans subcommittee for a coalition ending homelessness and wants to advocate for Veterans who have fought for our country only to end up unhoused. Crystal believes in finding ways to support people who would like the chance to make a different life for themselves. 

Jari: Shifting Inequities in Public Health

Jari is currently studying biology at a university with plans to become a medical doctor and get an advanced degree in public health in order to help change inequities in the healthcare system. Jari also hopes to use education to bridge gaps in the Hispanic/Latino community and wants to study abroad and take on global health issues in foreign countries where access to healthcare is difficult.             

After watching two family members both go through battles with different forms of cancer while being unable to receive quality medical care due to financial hardship, Jari realized how inaccessible healthcare can be, particularly for underrepresented communities. Jari became determined to pursue cancer research and public health to expand access to medical care.

Ava: Advocating for Civil Rights Through Film

 Ava is a community organizer and a published author of the non-fiction book Tomorrow Begins Now: Teen Heroes Who Faced Down Injustice. After navigating her own challenges with disability discrimination, she has become passionate about civil rights and is working toward a degree in political science with plans to become a civil rights lawyer and filmmaker.

Ava wants to use legal advocacy and cinematic storytelling to create meaningful societal change by representing marginalized communities, inspiring empathy, mobilizing collective action, and advocating for policy reform that fosters equity and inclusion. She hopes that by merging these two fields, she can engage audiences on a deeper level and foster awareness and empathy for marginalized communities.

Aaliyah: Using Language to Improve Healthcare 

Aaliyah is a recent high school graduate who will be attending a university to become a radiologist with a minor in Spanish to serve as a bilingual healthcare provider. Aaliyah believes in making healthcare more accessible and one way of doing so is through language. After the challenges Aaliyah’s mother faced as a non-English speaker while trying to advocate for her child in a medical emergency, Aaliyah has observed how important diverse voices in healthcare are.

Aaliyah understands implicit bias and disparities in healthcare and wants to be part of the change in serving as a healthcare professional that Hispanics/Latinos and other marginalized communities can turn to for support during traumatic situations.   

Congratulations to Our 2024 Community Scholars! 

Thank you for understanding the value of education and using that education to better our communities. Self-Help believes in empowering communities, and we strive to create more opportunity for everyone. We are honored to be able to support you on your journeys and are inspired by your dedication to create a better world for everyone.  

It’s Not Too Late to Submit Your 2025 Application