Gates Millennium Scholars Recognized, Encouraged to Connect

Christine Clark | May 26, 2009

UC San Diego freshman Javier Moreno is a Gates scholar from the Imperial Valley.

Javier Moreno will be the first person in his family to attend college. He said he hopes to set an example for his siblings and make his parents proud.

Moreno, a molecular biology major from the Imperial Valley, was one of the 30 Gates Millennium Scholars honored this month at a special reception hosted by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Penny Rue and Chief Diversity Officer Sandra Daley.

Chancellor Fox started off the reception by saying she was incredibly impressed by the scholars and thrilled they chose to attend UCSD. The chancellor also shared some words of wisdom with the students. “Get to know at least one faculty member,” she said. “Get involved; students who are engaged in campus activities have a much more satisfying college experience.”

Vice Chancellor Rue also spoke about the importance of getting involved in student life. “It is the personal connections that will help you achieve success,” Rue said. “This campus is full of people who you can connect with, so take every opportunity you can to network.”

Chancellor Fox said she was incredibly impressed with the Gates scholars.

The university admitted a record 58 Gates Millennium scholars this year. The scholarships were established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide support for ethnically underrepresented groups with high academic and leadership promise that are at a significant economic disadvantage.

“The Gates Millennium Scholarship changed my life,” Moreno said. “It is such a relief to have my college paid for, and UC San Diego is a great place for my major and for research. I don’t know what else I can ask for.”

The May 11 reception was designed to recognize the scholars’ achievements and to connect them with faculty from their majors and representatives from campus offices, such as Financial Aid, OASIS, Academic Enrichment Programs and the Office of Graduate Studies. The event also gave the scholars a chance to socialize with each other.

The keynote address was delivered by UC San Diego alumnus and former Gates Scholar Terry Le.

The keynote address was delivered by UCSD alumnus and former Gates Scholar Terry Le. Le grew up in Chinatown in Los Angeles and talked about how reaching out to faculty members helped pave the way for graduate school at the University of Southern California.

“As Gates scholars we have the propensity to make change,” Le said. “I encourage you to connect with faculty, so you can go on to grad school and one day become a faculty member too.”

Cynthia Juliana Beltran of Inglewood is a freshman who already knows she wants to go to graduate school.  The Gates scholar said she is the first in her family to attend college and that she’s thriving at UCSD.

“I think this campus is a good fit for me because there are a lot of programs and activities,” she said.  “I am a very independent student. In high school I worked full time, got great grades and played basketball.”

Gates Scholar Steve Thanh Duc Pham is currently taking seven classes at UC San Diego.

Freshman Steve Thanh Duc Pham is currently enrolled in seven classes, but he said he wanted to take the time to attend the reception to connect with faculty and fellow scholars.

It was great to see the students interact with each other, said Cynthia Davalos, special assistant to Vice Chancellor Rue. Davalos helped organize the reception. She added she encourages the Gates scholars to form their own student scholar organization on campus.  

Students are nominated for the Gates Millennium Scholar program by principals, teachers, counselors, tribal higher-education representatives and other professional educators. Students who are nominated must have strong leadership potential and a demonstrated commitment to community service.

Pham, a 17-year-old biology major, said that he’s incredibly grateful to be a Gates scholar. “This scholarship opened up a lot of opportunity for me," he said. "I don’t know if I would have been able to afford college if it were not for this program.”