It’s been an extraordinary year at Southwestern College, filled with rapidly evolving changes and unique challenges for Southwestern College students. What hasn’t changed is the ability of Southwestern College students to meet those challenges and excel in their academic and personal goals.
This year, we again honor 20 students with the Student of Distinction Award, the highest honor a Southwestern College student can receive. Students will receive a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of donors to the Southwestern College Foundation, and be honored at the virtual Student Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 7. The students of distinction will be honored alongside more than 260 Southwestern College students receiving fall and spring semester scholarships.
We honor future nurses, business leaders, engineers, writers, scientists and community leaders. We thank them for representing Southwestern College with excellence and their unwavering commitment to their dreams.
Now, let’s learn more and meet this year’s Student of Distinction Award recipients.
Mara Paulette Alonso
What is your major?
Chemical Engineering.
What is your main educational goal?
My goal is to get a doctorate degree and become an expert in material sciences.
Name some of your life goals.
My life goal is to contribute positively to the environment through scientific projects.
What is your most significant achievement?
Moving to the United States by myself and finding my way through higher education.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award reminds me that as a student, there is much more than taking my classes and that the time I have spent in extracurriculars is worth it. It has helped me shape my leadership skills, grow in my professional development and give back to my community. I’m looking forward to continuing to be involved like this once I transfer to a university.
How would you like others to remember you?
As someone kind and intelligent.
Elayna Bagaporo
What is your major?
Sociology.
What is your main educational goal?
Obtain my associate degree in sociology as well as obtain bachelors of fine arts in theater arts and a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Name some of your life goals.
Become an educator. Stay involved in the Filipino community. Explore the world.
What is your most significant achievement?
My most significant achievement at SWC is being a part of the Bayan Student Organization as well as being an alumni of the Bayan Scholars Learning Community.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
Receiving this award is an incredible honor. Being recognized by the college on one of the highest awards not only demonstrates to others that I am exceptional but proved to me that my hard work and effort at SWC has paid off.
How would you like others to remember you?
I hope that I made an impact on the SWC community with my involvement in BSO and the Bayan Learning Community. I hope that I also am remembered as someone who made an impact in the classroom as well as in my work environment. Thank you all for this opportunity that was given to me with grace and love.
Jessica Bandejas
What is your major?
Nursing.
What is your main educational goal?
My main education goal is to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and furthering my education to become a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics.
Name some of your life goals.
Some of my life goals include becoming a nurse to better the community around me, especially after experiencing a situation like we’re in right now. I also hope to reach people further than my local community, through the power of social media. With that in mind, I hope to proudly represent and strengthen the Filipino community in this world.
What is your most significant achievement?
My most significant achievement was starting a community online through live-streaming, that connects Filipinos and their stories from around the world. With the app Kumu, I’ve created content where Filipinos can share their stories and experiences in hopes that it reaches and influences people going through similar life stories.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award to me means that the sky isn’t the limit. I’ve struggled in believing in myself and what I’m able to achieve, especially within this past year. With this in mind, moving forward, I know that anything I set my mind to I can achieve. I truly believe that statement, and don’t see it as a cliche phrase that people overuse, because it’s the truth!
How would you like others to remember you?
I want others to remember me as a go-getter. Everything that happens in your life has a purpose regardless of the outcome. Every opportunity that comes your way is a risk I encourage everyone to take because the result can only strengthen who you are, nothing less. Walk into every situation with a strong mind and confidence, because you’re always headed in the right direction.
Mia Mae Dacasin
What is your major?
Prep for allied health/liberal arts: emphasis in social behavioral sciences.
What is your main educational goal?
Working towards an associate degree in nursing and transferring to a university to get my bachelor’s of science in nursing.
Name some of your life goals.
I aspire to become either a travel or ICU registered nurse, travel around the world, and be surrounded by my family and lifelong friends.
What is your most significant achievement?
Being able to graduate high school, work towards two associate degrees, and recently getting a job within a span of two years.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award will heavily impact my educational goals in which it will help me continue my educational journey. Education is a big tool and the backbone of who I am and where I want to be for myself and for my community.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would want others to remember my presence as one that is reassuring, kind, and helpful.
Athina Louise Dumaran
What is your major?
Liberal arts, focusing on STEM nursing.
What is your main educational goal?
I aim to graduate and earn a BS and maybe even a master’s degree in nursing. Although, I also want to educate myself in other things like business, because I’d like to think that the possibilities are endless so long as I have an open mind.
Name some of your life goals.
I aim to find the right balance in my life while searching for my right purpose and inspire others to do the same. I strive to achieve my immediate goals which are just finishing my degree at the moment but I also want to remind myself of the bigger picture. In all honesty, nursing is great, but I can’t help but feel as if there is something more that I am called to do which is why I try to use each opportunity I am given every day to reach my main life goal of peace, happiness and contentment.
What is your most significant achievement?
I’d like to say that after everything I have gone through these past few years such as struggling with mental health, and heavy financial burdens, my most significant achievement is gaining self-worth, independence and being able to find a platform such as this to advocate about mental health as well. Given that we are in a pandemic with most being isolated, it’s just right to normalize healthy coping mechanisms and self-care. If you are reading this I just want to remind you that it is okay to choose yourself. You are valid, loved, accepted and I am proud of you. Check out namisandiego.org for the amazing support.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
To be honest, I never expected this award, I am beyond grateful to Professor Chris Vito and Professor Alberto for the wonderful opportunity. This award gave me so much validation and reminded me not to doubt myself and my capabilities as a woman of color. This kind blessing came to me in a time of need which is why I will be using this opportunity to pass it on by using parts of the funds I have received from the scholarship towards helping the homeless in Skid Row LA thru Beauty2theStreetz.org. This organization is run by Shirley Raines along with her friends and family who dedicate their time and kind efforts to helping over 400 homeless individuals. Not only does this organization offer food, but they offer wigs, make-up, showers a lot more basic hygiene services to empower these beautiful souls during a difficult period in their lives. Visit Beauty2thestreetz.org for more information.
How would you like others to remember you?
I’m not so much particular about how I’d like to be remembered. Although, if there’s one thing I could say that I would want someone to remember me by, it would be to take each moment in one step at a time, you’ll get to where you need to be in the right time, that’s a constant reminder for me too haha! Oh, and another thing, be kind! the world needs more of it.
Mari Germono
What is your major?
Nursing
What is your main educational goal?
To be a registered nurse.
Name some of your life goals.
I want to be able to get my bachelors’s degree in nursing and become a registered nurse. I also want to be able to travel around the world and seek adventure.
What is your most significant achievement?
My most significant achievement is seeing students, that I’ve helped, become successful and achieving their goals.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
In the future, when I look back at this moment, I will be reminded that this award represents all the hard work that I’ve put in to become a better leader to other students. I will be reminded to help people and to continue to learn and grow with the people that I work with. This award will for sure boost my morale and drive to continue what I am doing and to better myself every day. Academically, this award will make me strive harder on my studies to be a good role model to my peers and to inspire others to have a goal and accomplish it.
How would you like others to remember you?
I want others to remember me as someone who never says no when it comes to helping others. Someone who’s kind and willing to help and support you throughout the way. I want to be remembered as a positive experience with nothing but love to whoever I crossed paths with.
Rachal Hamilton
What is your major?
Sociology.
What is your main educational goal?
To obtain an interdisciplinary degree in sociology, Black American studies, and environmentalism.
Name some of your life goals.
I want to study from schools all across the world, continue to help my community through mutual aid, open up a cafe, and live a fulfilling and joyous life.
What is your most significant achievement?
Creating my mutual aid, CEAAL (Community, Environmental Justice, Academia, Abolition, Liberation), with my close family and friends.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award shows me that everything thing I am doing is attributing to some good in the world. I will hold this award with great honor and continue to lead my life as a student and contributing member of society with compassion and grace.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would like to be remembered as the queer, proud, Black American girl on the SWC campus that never settled for anything less than true equity.
Alexa Hornedo
What is your major?
Communications.
What is your main educational goal?
Earn my bachelor’s in communications studies.
Name some of your life goals.
Earn a master’s degree in media studies, further develop my dance studies/training, and start a cross-border artistic collective.
What is your most significant achievement?
Attaining my associate degrees in communication studies for transfer and dance (in progress) with honors.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
It is greatly rewarding to be recognized for my efforts as a dedicated student and I hope that this honorable distinction will bolster my academic career down the line.
How would you like others to remember you?
I hope to be remembered as an advocate for equity, a dedicated academic and artist, and a loving friend.
Briana Jauregui
What is your major?
Nanoengineering.
What is your main educational goal?
Since this is my last semester at Southwestern College, my main goal is to maintain my GPA above 3.5 (currently I have a 3.93) and transfer to UC San Diego for fall 2021.
Name some of your life goals.
To travel around the world and capture the essence from each place I go, traveling will help me grow as a human being. Start saving up to buy my first house/apartment and start being independent of my parents. Continue with my education, as I grow things will change and I would like to always keep learning as new technology arrives. Work at NASA or a space company, and why not, someday be able to go to space.
What is your most significant achievement?
During this year I grew up a lot, from being a very introverted person and apart from society, a girl that was always in her room to a girl that started to get connected with people with who I share similar educational goals, such as being part of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and being able to be part of some NASA academies such as L’space and NCAS and soon to start an Internship at Space Micro, this change in my life was my most significant achievement.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This is a motivation to continue doing the hard work that I have done so far, a reminder of the skills and career progression that I already accomplish, and that all this academic work and activities are very worth it because I know it will have an impact in my educational goals. This award will be included in my resume and hopefully will open opportunities to more educational goals, such as internships and academic activities. This award is also an opportunity to rethink everything that I have done and to look at the path I’ve taken and continue in that direction to success.
How would you like others to remember you?
I want to be remembered as a very passionate and determined person who gives the best to fulfill each of my dreams and finish every task that comes along the way.
Cassandra Jordan
What is your major?
Working towards a bachelor’s in graphic design and multimedia and photography with an emphasis in animation.
What is your main educational goal?
I’d love to be an animator one day, working in character design, using my imagination to build people and worlds that inspire others in real life.
Name some of your life goals.
To be happy, to love my career, to be a positive influence for my nephew and Godson so he knows that he can go after whatever passions and dreams he has.
What is your most significant achievement?
Aside from this award, my time as a youth leader at my church was significant to me. I was able to bring young high schoolers closer to God, helping them plant that seed of faith that would help them walk through life with the Lord.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
It will help financially of course, but ultimately fuels my confidence in going after what I want. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of doubt I’ve wrestled with these years questioning if this is my path. But God works through many people and things and this is one of them that tells me, “Yes, this is meant for you and will be yours.”
How would you like others to remember you?
Gosh, I hope to be remembered as a person who was kind, as a person who encouraged others, and as a person of faith despite my shortcomings. I hope my small steps can encourage others to take large leaps towards their own personal happiness.
Shawn Khalifa
What is your major?
Sociology.
What is your main educational goal?
My main educational goal is to earn a Ph.D. so that I can teach at a university or community college.
Name some of your life goals.
Earning a Ph.D., getting released, making my mama happy.
What is your most significant achievement?
Getting out of prison.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
It means the world to me. Remember that song I once was lost and now I’m found? Amazing grace I believe it is. Well, that’s me. I once was lost in a world of drugs, gangs and violence and now I’m found in the world of academia which is providing me with the only future.
How would you like others to remember you?
As the man who tried and tried again until finally, he made it.
Jennyfer Laurent
What is your major?
Accounting.
What is your main educational goal?
My main educational goal is to get my certified public accountant license and eventually acquire a master’s degree in accounting.
Name some of your life goals.
Some of my life goals include traveling, working for one of the big four accounting firms, and teaching financial literacy in countries where it is most essential.
What is your most significant achievement?
My most significant achievement was overcoming my fear of failure to accomplish my educational goals and being confident in my persevering nature. I have faced many challenges on my way here, therefore, receiving this award will serve to remind me to never lose sight of my goals and that everything is as possible as my willingness to make it possible.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
Winning this award would not have been possible without the support of my family from whom I derive my strength, my friends who challenge me to perform better at each stage of my life, and my PTK for whom I have the deepest respect. Besides all worldly accomplishments.
How would you like others to remember you?
I want my family and friends to remember me as someone who is kind and compassionate.
Kiara Mora
What is your major?
Sociology.
What is your main educational goal?
Finishing my undergraduate degree and applying to graduate school to attain my doctorate.
Name some of your life goals.
Becoming an educator on gender identity and sexual orientation with an intersectional lens geared towards all, but primarily queer BIPOC folks. I’d love to develop my own program for young adults and provide resources for those who struggled with coming into their own, much like myself. Also, traveling the world once it’s safe.
What is your most significant achievement?
Applying to a four-year university.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award means all the seeds my family, friends, and teachers planted blossomed into this very moment. I am ever so grateful for our SWC community. I will take all the experiences and lessons learned with me throughout my academic journey.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would like others to remember me as someone who did everything with mucho corazon (a lot of heart).
Ana Paola Olvera
What is your major?
Journalism.
What is your main educational goal?
Earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Name some of your life goals.
My goal is to amplify voices, shine a light on important issues and write about awesome people that are changing the world. I want to learn as much as I can and enjoy life.
What is your most significant achievement?
Getting accepted into SDSU, being the campus editor of The Southwestern College Sun, winning first place in Journalism Association of Community College’s profile feature story category in 2020 and third place in 2021.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
Getting recognized like this makes me feel like I can accomplish my goals. It motivates me to work hard and to believe in myself.
How would you like others to remember you?
As someone who always tries their best. Someone who is empathetic and eager to learn.
Santiago Rodriguez
What is your major?
Physics.
What is your main educational goal?
My main educational goal is to earn a Ph.D.
Name some of your life goals.
To do scientific research, provide meaningful contributions to society, and spread the love for math, science, and the arts.
What is your most significant achievement?
Immigrating from Venezuela and persevering through life challenges. Making my way into higher education and finally transferring next semester.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
Receiving this award inspires me to continue pursuing my educational goals and stepping outside of my comfort zone to develop leadership skills, knowing that my efforts are recognized and awarded.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would like to be remembered as someone who feels a profound love for the universe and is willing to justify it. Also, as someone that you can approach and will do his best to help you.
Anna Lee Sanchez
What is your major?
Sociology
What is your main educational goal?
My main educational goal is to be the first in my family tree to obtain a doctorate and become a part of that very small percentage of women of color who obtain one.
Name some of your life goals.
I am determined to empower my children, women & young girls to follow their dreams, break barriers & not be afraid to start over. I want to create change through education and my story to strengthen and empower our most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, as well as breaking barriers and generational cycles of poverty and lack of education in my family.
What is your most significant achievement?
My most significant achievement thus far is my education and being the first woman in my family to graduate from college, and most importantly my children, they will forever be my greatest accomplishment.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award validates the sweat and tears I have put into my education, all while surviving a pandemic and parenting 5 children. It will forever be a reminder that I am capable of achieving all I set my mind to.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would love for others to remember me as that student who believed in every individual’s power to fulfill their goals and dreams.
Karina Sanchez
What is your major?
Business administration.
What is your main educational goal?
To receive my bachelor’s in business administration from a four-year university.
Name some of your life goals.
My career goal is to own a business and become a chief executive officer. A life goal of mine is to study abroad in a foreign country and have the luxury to travel to new places. A personal goal of mine is to become fluent in Mandarin and learn more about different cultures.
What is your most significant achievement?
My biggest achievement has been my pursuit of education. Through continued hard work I have achieved multiple accomplishments in my educational journey as being included in the President’s List, being an honored officer of multiple campus organizations, and being a student pursuing the honors program.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
This award signifies an accomplishment of my hard work at Southwestern college and in my educational journey. It will give me the opportunity to apply myself to new challenges. This award represents my success in my work and involvement efforts at Southwestern College.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would like others to remember me as kind and truthful. I would like to be described as passionate, dedicated, and inspiring.
Ricardo Suarez
What is your major?
Mathematics-computer science
What is your main educational goal?
My main education goal is to earn my master’s degree while enjoying the journey alongside my classmates.
Name some of your life goals.
My initial motivation to return to school was to pursue my dream of making video games for children. However, since returning to school, I discovered a love for teaching and would also like to one day be a professor.
What is your most significant achievement?
My most significant achievement came in how I built up a Discord server in reaction to one of the hardest times to be a student. What started as a small study group of five friends grew into a community of about 600 students dedicated to furthering their education during this difficult time.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
As a person that didn’t perform as well as he could in high school and subsequently took an extended hiatus from school, this award is a reminder that no matter who you are, anything is possible if you give it your all. Two years ago, I would never have believed it possible for me to receive an award like this. With this award, I plan to continue studying and continue to pursue a career in teaching.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would like others to remember me as someone who never gave up despite the hardships that reality brings. Some things are out of my control but one thing I do have control over is how I choose to respond to those things.
Nathan Torres
What is your major?
Psychology.
What is your main educational goal?
My main educational goal is to pursue higher education and earn a Master’s degree, or a Ph.D., in psychology.
Name some of your life goals.
My life goals are ever-changing however, I do dream of being able to help any and all individuals who do not yet have the skills, tools, or utilities to help themselves. I plan on making positive differences in people’s lives by pushing them to strive for the better and by guiding them towards the life they want. I also plan on creating a future that my family was unable to receive. I want to build a better life for my family, my friends, and for the communities around me. Overall, I want to create and bring inclusion, and equity wherever I go because I want to give everyone the opportunity to succeed that I have been lucky enough to receive.
What is your most significant achievement?
The achievement I am most proud of is being able to work towards my goal of pursuing higher education even when I did not have the support or resources for it. Being a first-generation college student has not been easy however, I have been given opportunities that I will forever be grateful for. I have created lifelong friendships, and have found communities that continue to motivate me to strive for the best in myself and in others. There is no achievement more significant in my life than being able to move forward surrounded by people who care about me and who I care for.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
There are many reasons that come to mind when thinking about the significance this award has for me however, grateful is the word that resonates with me the most. I cannot thank my professors and advisors enough for recognizing the amount of dedication, physical and personal work I went through in order to get to where I am today. This award serves as a reminder that I can achieve anything I want as long as I put in the work. Furthermore, this award will impact my future by providing me with the support to be able to continue pursuing higher education.
How would you like others to remember you?
I would like to be remembered as a genuine and compassionate person who did whatever they could to help others. Although I think being remembered for an award is a good accomplishment, I would much rather prefer to be remembered as someone who was there to support others regardless of the responsibilities I had in my life.
Gian
Marco Zuno
What is your major?
Recording arts and technology.
What is your main educational goal?
To be a recording engineer and music composer
Name some of your life goals.
To be able to help my fellow students, as I was helped by very special people in my life.
What is your most significant achievement?
Being able to overcome mental illness and succeed in my education, as well as being able to help students with scholarship opportunities. they would not have had.
What does receiving this award mean to you and how will it impact your future?
It means the world really, It inspires me to keep going in my educational journey and to keep helping the community.
How would you like others to remember you?
As the student that always wanted to help.
