Meet the 2022 – 2023 Recipients of The Achievement Award Program (TAAP)

Nora Dominguez

First Year
Merced, CA
Born in the United States, but raised the first few years of her life in Mexico, Nora learned many different things. She grew up learning Spanish and has enjoyed science since a very young age. She plans on earning a B.S. degree, majoring in bioengineering and becoming a biomedical engineer.

Sahaj Inder Singh Sidhu

First Year
Richmond, CA

Ashley Duran

First Year
Woodlake, CA
Heyo! I am Ashley Duran. I am majoring in society and environment as an incoming freshman. Everyday is filled with dancing, yoga sessions, and daydreaming about clothing pieces I might wear the next day. Always dreaming big, unleashing hidden parts of myself, and laughing with friends.

Evelyn Guia Flores

First Year
Napa, CA
Evelyn Guia Flores is from Napa, California and a first-generation college student. Her parents immigrated to the United Stated from Peru in 2000. She has a passion for helping underrepresented communities and making an impact in the medical field. She hopes to major in public health on the pre-med track.

Aayushma Bhandari

First Year
Richmond, CA
Aayushma Bhandari was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, and moved to California with her family where she grew up in El Cerrito. Aayushma will major in public health at UC Berkeley. She is passionate about serving low-income and historically marginalized communities, and aspires to continue her education and become a physician.

Candace Sorensen

Junior Transfer
Petaluma, CA

Wendy Aparicio

Junior Transfer
Fillmore, CA
Wendy is from Fillmore, California and her family is originally from Zacatecas, Mexico. She is a first-generation college student and community college transfer student. She plans on majoring in political science and attending law school after graduating from Cal, and hopes to become an immigration attorney.

Andrea Campos

Junior Transfer
South San Francisco, CA
Andrea was raised in South San Francisco, CA. Andrea is a system-impacted and formerly incarcerated student and parent. She uses her personal experience to help mentor and influence marginalized populations in her community. She is excited for her journey in the social welfare major and hopes to become a LCSW.

Thien Kim Le

Junior Transfer
San Jose, CA
Thien Kim is a re-reentry transfer student pursuing a degree in physics and a passionate problem solver who enjoys understanding complex systems. From a young age, NASA and space have always been in her dream. She wants to pursue a challenging career in space science with a particular interest in rocketry.

Alphaeus Donatus Caston Bey

Junior Transfer
New York City, NY
Alphaeus Donatus Caston Bey is from Queens, New York City but is coming to Cal by way of Los Angeles City College. As a Moor, and a  legal studies major, with law school as a next step, he plans to conduct research in early American history and constitutional history.

Fatema Kazi

Junior Transfer
Santa Clara, CA
Fatema grew up in the Bay Area and is an incoming junior in the College of Letters and Science. She is a double major in philosophy and physics and is currently developing a security application utilizing the latest advancements in machine learning and AI.

Jamika Abair

Junior Transfer
Oakland, CA

Alejandra Bautista

Junior Transfer
Mexico City, Mexico
Alejandra Bautista is a Mexican immigrant and first-generation college student. She moved to the United States. during high school along with her family. Since then, she has dedicated her time to her studies and actively participated in her community, focusing on politics, student government, advocacy, volunteering, and non-profit work.

Norma Patricia Hernandez

First Year
Concord, CA
Norma is from Concord, in the East Bay. She is a quiet, shy person, but works hard in fulfilling leadership roles in which she’s involved. She is majoring in political science and plans to go to law school and become an immigration lawyer.

Heidi Mashni

Junior Transfer
Millbrae, CA
Heidi is a Junior transfer student who is beyond excited to begin her journey at the Haas School of Business. Her passion for business and finance comes from facing numerous financial hardships growing up as a Palestinian immigrant. Throughout her career she plans to spread financial literacy to underserved youth.

Brandon Pooner

Junior Transfer
San Rafael, CA
Brandon Pooner is an incoming transfer student at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. As a first-generation college student from San Rafael, California, he plans to give back and improve his community and society. At Cal, he hopes to continue growing as a person, leader, and community member.

Neil Jerome Arcellana

Junior Transfer
Arnap, San Il Defonso, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
A first-generation immigrant student, Neil arrived  from the Philippines just recently. Neil immersed himself in his community by participating and volunteering in numerous non-profit organizations focused on support,  resources and opportunities for underserved minorities.

Rafael Richard Russell

Junior Transfer
Jakarta, Indonesia
Russell is a first-generation immigrant from Indonesia. During his time at Diablo Valley College, Russell developed a passion for making other people successful. He interned at PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big 4 accounting firms. While there, he was pleased to use his connection to introduce other students from underrepresented communities, which resulted in them also receiving internships with the Big 4. At Cal, Russell hopes to promote his belief  that competition doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game.

Kelvin Chan

Junior Transfer
Fairfield, CA
Kelvin Chan is a transfer student from Solano Community College and is currently majoring in molecular/cell biology and legal studies. In the future, he plans to pursue M.D. and J.D.  programs and work with organizations and government agencies that provide legal, social, and health services for  immigrants and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Saga Abuodeh

Junior Transfer
San Leandro, CA

Grace Clendenin

Junior Transfer
Redondo Beach, CA
Grace is a spirited leader from Redondo Beach, California. Growing up near the ocean has shaped her passion for the environment. She intends to use her business degree to provide consulting services to non-profit organizations and help corporations work more sustainably.