Luciano Zuniga
graduated 2018
UC Berkeley - B.A. Public Health
The month after graduation, Luciano started a new job at The Greenlining Institute as a Summer Associate in Oakland, California. Luciano is one of a cohort of 9 from across the US interested in different sectors including health, environment, diversity and inclusion, energy, and economics. His term will focus on policy project work. He is drafting a memo looking at the healthcare and workforce challenges in the San Joaquin Valley for Boys and Men of Color, including interviewing both healthcare workers and community members.
Luciano shared his gratitude for being the first in his family to go to and graduate college: "[This] has been a long awaited journey. Though there were moments that made me unsure of myself, I was grounded by those around me of my capabilities. Not only will I leave a better scholar, leader, and advocate, my understanding of who I am has progressed in ways I firmly am confident in. Thank you UC Berkeley for challenging me in more ways than I thought possible and for giving me the platform to strive to make a difference in the world. [My graduation] will not only be a testament to my accomplishments but that of sacrifices made long before me and still continue today. To my family, both living and passed, my friends, and communities: we did it!" - Luciano, April 25, 2018
Despite the challenges and losses Luciano has had to bear during his young adult life, there are many things that have kept him on the right path: his education. Luciano graduated with a 4.4 GPA, ranking at the top of his class and received more than a dozen scholarships and college acceptance letters from more than half of the 20 schools he applied to. When his mom was absent from home trying to raise him and his younger sister, his grandmother, who left Chihuahua, Mexico in search for better opportunities when she was a teenager, taught him the importance of appreciating and celebrating his culture and staying focused on his studies." There is a lot of diversity within my family and I have always appreciated it. I live in a house with so many family members that staying focused on my education was sometimes challenging," said Zuniga. Throughout his four years at Florin High School, Zuniga was enrolled in several Advanced Placement courses and over a handful of clubs and organizations including student government, the Latino Success Club, the California Scholarship Federation, the National Honor Society and he was a mathlete-just to name a few. For several of those clubs and organizations, he held leadership roles. "I felt like being in high school was my time to do as much as I could. I wanted to find my passion within things. Giving back to my community and being involved in extracurricular activities was what I needed to get the most out of my high school experience," said Zuniga.
"Once I received this scholarship, the momentum to achieve my goal became realistic,” said scholarship candidate Luciano Zuniga. “Future Sacramento gives me countless opportunities that make getting to college possible. Their belief in me is motivating. Now it is up to me to make sure I utilize everything they have given me."
As high school junior, he was invited to attend a prestigious and expensive leadership camp at San José State. He applied and was accepted but didn't have the means to attend. His high school principal was able to get funding and when he and several other peers attended, he made a shocking realization."It was the first time I felt underprivileged. I was surrounded by students who came from affluent families and grew up privileged. I was a minority student who couldn't afford to be there and don't have a single family member that went to college," said Zuniga. Despite feeling different, Zuniga found the courage to tell his story in front of those at the leadership camp-an experience that helped him accept the challenges he has been faced with in his life: being raised in a single parent home, going to a school where 99 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and where money is often tight. "I think it brought all of us at the leadership camp, together. By them understanding my experiences, helped unite us. I no longer felt different, I felt relieved and happy because I know that what I have experienced is unique and has helped me become who I am today," said Zuniga.
Sindia Maya
Graduated Spring 2019
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a minor in Construction Management
Sindia created an extensive student resume while in college, including student leadership, community service - both locally and abroad, and work experience with paid internships. She is now employed in her field with a civil engineering consulting firm in Sacramento.
Sindia's background:
Sindia Maya is an exemplary student who demonstrates a strong desire to achieve her fullest potential. As a first-generation college student who graduated from a high school with less resources - she had to overcome a great divide of foundational knowledge to catch up to her engineering college classmates. Throughout high school Sindia, enthusiastically prepared for college by remaining very active and challenging herself with rigorous coursework. Sindia served as the flutist band leader, was a member both the swim and tennis teams, and volunteered as tutor with younger children. Sindia grew up in a low-income, immigrant household. Her family is close and supportive, but she experienced substantial challenges of instability and loss. In sixth grade, while eating a meal with her family - her home was destroyed in a gas explosion. The result was the loss of both their home and financial stability. During high school, threat of deportation loomed over her brother and she also suffered the loss of her grandfather after their first and only in person meeting. These obstacles demonstrate Sindia's remarkable perseverance to succeed.
Sindia shared - "I always worked hard in high school because I wanted to be the best person I could be, and I knew I was fighting for an opportunity my parents and two brothers never had...When I entered this program, I got a mentor and for the first time in my life, I had someone other than my family who actually believed in me and what I could do."
Sindia's college experience:
When Sindia was a first year college student, she shared - "This scholarship turns the dream of going to college for first-generation students into a reality. I would not be here at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, one of the greatest engineering schools across the nation, if it were not for Future Foundation of Sacramento."
Sindia Maya will be graduating from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo at the end of Spring, 2019. She is earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Construction Management. Her dedication to developing her education and skills opened the door to full time employment. Kimley Horn, a civil engineering consulting firm in Sacramento, hired Sindia to join their aviation design team.
When we first met Sindia, she was a 10th grader and finalist participating in the application interview with the Future Foundation of Sacramento board of directors. Since that initial meeting, Sindia graduated high school with excellent marks and became an involved engineering student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Her resume of student experience is extensive - including student leadership, community service - locally and abroad, and paid internships with Solar Roof Dynamics in Davis and Webcor Builders in San Francisco.
In her first year Sindia became the Assistant Event Coordinator for the campus club, Society of Civil Engineers. She additionally became an active member with the Society of Women Engineers and community service fraternity - Alpha Phi Omega. During the summer after her 2nd year, Sindia participated in Cal Poly's Alternative Breaks Service Program by traveling to Cuba to help an underdeveloped community. Her work included restoring homes, building a neighborhood park, and cleaning up the Santa Maria Beach. Sindia completed over 100 hours of community service throughout the SLO community during her 3rd year in college. In her 4th year, she became VP of Service for Alpha Phi Omega to assume the role of outreach into the community and organize annual service events for the 100 student chapter.
Sindia remained on track to graduate with a degree in four years, but decided to expand her studies to pursue a double concentration in both construction and transportation, as well as finish a minor in Construction Management. Her long term career goals are to apply her degree in construction and transportation engineering; or combine both in infrastructure rehabilitation.
Future Foundation of Sacramento
PO Box 9
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741