“10,000 Degrees doesn’t just help students get into college, it walks with them through the entire journey. They understand the responsibilities, pressure, and uncertainty first-generation and immigrant students carry—even after being accepted into college—providing consistent guidance, accountability, and a sense of belonging. For me, 10,000 Degrees believes in me even when I struggle to believe in myself.”

Dominican University, 2026
College of Marin, 2024

“Beyond financial support that always arrived at moments of critical need—the 10,000 Degrees relationships I built were the catalyst to my professional success. 10,000 Degrees staff, mentors, and volunteers helped me prepare law school applications, provided emotional support while I studied for the LSAT, and continue to provide career advice. This support goes beyond a nine-to-five commitment; it is a passion that changes lives. It certainly transformed mine.”

10,000 Degrees Alumni Changemaker Semi-Finalist, 2025
Labor & Employment Attorney, Vedder Price (CA) LLP
University of California, Davis School of Law, J.D., 2019
University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Sociology 2012
Santa Rosa Junior College, A.A., Social & Behavioral Science, 2010

“The 10,000 Degrees summer program was the first time I ever set foot on a college campus. Before that, higher education felt abstract and distant. That experience helped me understand the concrete steps required to get to college, gain clarity on how to pay for it, and, just as importantly, showed me that I belonged in those spaces.”

10,000 Degrees Alumni Changemaker Honoree, 2024
Family Medicine Physician, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Family Medicine
   Residency Program, 2025
Rush Medical College, M.D., 2022
Johns Hopkins University, B.A. Biology, 2016

“As a 10,000 Degrees alum, I’ve seen the ripple effect firsthand across families and communities—graduates giving back, strengthening their communities, and leading in meaningful, diverse ways. That is what I aim to do as a filmmaker and educator—mentor emerging talent and amplify underrepresented voices in my own community.”

10,000 Degrees Alumni Changemaker Honoree, 2024
Filmmaker and Educator
San Francisco State University, B.A., 2017