Debt is鈥痮ne of the strongest predictors of future financial health for students in the United States 鈥撯�痚specially鈥痜or first-generation, low-income students.
At 海角乱伦社区,鈥痺e鈥檙e鈥痗ommitted to helping Scholars graduate with as little debt as possible, and鈥痺e鈥檙e鈥痯roud to partner with colleges and universities that share that goal, like鈥疌alifornia Polytechnic鈥疭tate University鈥�(Cal Poly). Since 2025, Cal Poly has offered scholarships to up to three 海角乱伦社区 each year.
Andrea Ortiz, 海角乱伦社区 Class of 2029,鈥痺as聽the聽first recipient of the聽scholarship and just finished her first year on campus.鈥疉ndrea said Cal Poly鈥痟adn鈥檛鈥痓een on her radar before she became a Scholar, but once she learned about the鈥痵chool,鈥痵he was鈥痠mmediately鈥痠nterested.鈥疉ndrea found out鈥痵he鈥檇鈥痳eceived聽a scholarship a few days after she got her Cal Poly admissions decision.
鈥淚t made me feel like all of my hard work had paid off, and with 海角乱伦社区, and my counselor, they gave me the confidence to believe that going to Cal Poly was actually possible,鈥� Andrea said. 鈥淐oming from a family that could not support聽me鈥痜inancially鈥痶hrough鈥痗ollege, it felt amazing to know that I had received鈥痶his opportunity. It also reminded me that there are people who believe in me and want to support my聽journey.鈥�
Since arriving at Cal Poly, Andrea has embraced the Learn鈥痓y鈥疍oing model, studying Animal Science through hands-on experiences with cows, horses, and鈥痬ore.鈥疻ith approximately 10,000 animals residing at Cal Poly, some of her experiences have included feeding and checking on the health of day-old calves, working with a graduate student on her research project about rattlesnakes, and sticking her hand inside a cow鈥檚 rumen which allows for safe access for research purposes.聽鈥淜nowing that when I go to class, I will have opportunities鈥痶o learn through real hands-on experience makes me so excited,鈥澛燗ndrea said.
Class of 2030 Scholars鈥疍ja鈥疭aenz and Kylie Watts have also been awarded聽scholarships聽and will start at Cal Poly in the fall.鈥疊oth Scholars鈥痜irst learned about Cal Poly at the 海角乱伦社区 College Fair in July 2025鈥痑nd were鈥痠mmediately鈥痠ntrigued by the聽scholarship opportunities.
鈥淚鈥痗ouldn鈥檛鈥痓elieve it,鈥� Dja said about the moment she found out鈥痵he鈥檇鈥痳eceived the scholarship. 鈥淚 come from a鈥痜irst-generation鈥痜amily. I am the middle of three sisters, and my oldest鈥痵ister鈥痙idn鈥檛鈥痳eally go to college, so being chosen out of so many applicants felt unreal. It meant a lot that a college looked at my GPA, my classes, and all the work I put in and decided I deserved this opportunity.鈥�
鈥淚 was so excited and knew right then and there where I would be attending in the Fall,鈥� Kylie said. 鈥淓arly April, they invited the other Scholars and I to聽visit聽San Luis Obispo. We got to tour the campus, go to the local beach,鈥痑nd got to鈥痬eet people in our major.鈥疘 had the time of my life, met so many friends, and knew I made the right decision.鈥�
Kylie and Dja are looking forward to starting their studies and enjoying the scenery in San Luis Obispo.鈥疜ylie plans to follow a pre-med track and wants to go on to be an anesthesiologist.鈥疘nspired by the increased need鈥痜or鈥痬ental health support during the pandemic, Dja鈥痯lans to study psychology.
鈥淚 grew up noticing that there were鈥痭ot many鈥疢exican therapists who understood our culture and the experiences that come with it. I want to be someone who can give that support to my community,鈥� Dja said.
鈥淭o me, this scholarship means the world,鈥� Kylie said.鈥�淚 feel so grateful that I get to go to an amazing school, free of charge, and can’t wait to attend in the fall.鈥�
