Cypress College STEM(2) Student Wins Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators Scholarship (AHSIE)
For Immediate Release
March 23, 2022
Contact: Marc Posner
(714) 484-7006
Cypress College biology major Hillary Calderon has been awarded the prestigious 2022 Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) Seed to Tree Scholarship. She is one of just three winners from across the United States.
Calderon and her fellow recipients were selected based upon their grade point average, enrollment and financial aid statuses, writing samples (including résumé and personal statement) and letter of recommendation. The winners will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship, in addition to travel and conference expenses to the 14th Annual AHSIE Best Practices Conference in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico March 28-30, where they will be recognized for their academic achievements.
Calderon, a first-generation college student, began attending Cypress College while still in high school through its Dual Enrollment program. She learned about the AHSIE scholarship through her participation in the (STEM) ² (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program, an initiative designed to increase the number of community college STEM transfers to four-year institutions and equip them to successfully earn baccalaureate degrees.
As a biology major, Calderon plans to earn her associate degree before transferring to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and start working as a medical assistant. After graduating from UCI, she plans to attend medical school specializing in either dermatology or neurology.
Calderon said Cypress College is a great place to go to college, not only for its record of academic excellence, but also for its wide variety of opportunities for students to get involved.
“I would definitely recommend Cypress College to other first-generation students that may feel like they are struggling to navigate post-secondary education,” Calderon said.
Cypress College Director of Educational Partnerships – (STEM) ² Yanet Padilla said Calderon is a determined and passionate college student who is very deserving of the Seed to Tree Scholarship.
“As a newly admitted student into our STEM program, we are proud of Hillary for being active in pursuing opportunities which will enhance her Cypress College experience,” Padilla said. “It comes as no surprise to any who know her that she was selected for such an exclusive opportunity, and we are glad that she will be representing Cypress College at the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators Conference.”
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AHSIE is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to support the work of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the nation as they seek to provide quality educational opportunities to their students and communities. The AHSIE Council is a network of professionals at HSIs that continually work to educate HSI practitioners on effective programs to assist first-generation and students of color, with the goal of increasing retention and graduation rates at HSIs. For more information on AHSIE and the fourteenth annual conference, we invite you to visit the website at www.ahsie.org.
About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.
Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College provides a pathway for each of our students, offering 56 university-transfer majors, 174 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 98 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Eligible first-time students qualify for free tuition through Cypress College’s Charger Experience promise program. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.
Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 116-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.
Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cypress College’s instruction and services are offered primarily in a remote format. Students can access support services online at http://cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.
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