Each year, Pajaro Valley Pride awards scholarships to students in our community based on their academic successes as well as their involvement in social justice activism, either on their school campus or in the community. This year recipients received a $1,000 scholarship for their contributions to the LGBTQIA2S+ community
Natalya Hammond (she/her) | My name is Natalya Hammond, I’m 17 years old and will be attending SJSU in the fall as an incoming Freshman. I love learning and I am excited for college. I am from Watsonville, CA which is located in the southern part of Santa Cruz County. When I’m at SJSU I will be living on campus, just as my parents did back in the 1990’s when they attended SJSU and lived in Allen Hall. I’m looking forward to making new friends and strong connections while pursuing my dream career in Library Science. I graduated from Aptos High School (class of 2024) with honors and I’m already working part time in my field of study. In addition to my love of learning, I like to make jewelry, collect enamel pins, and play video games to unwind. I’m also an excellent baker, and enjoy crafting.
Lilia Lopez-Arango (she/her) | I graduated from Watsonville High School, where I served as co-president of the Gender Sexuality Alliance. Our primary goal was to create a safe space within our school and to inspire others to be true to themselves. I am now heading to UC San Diego to study neurobiology, with the aspiration of attending medical school to become a doctor. My overall goal is to provide support and to advocate for inclusive, affordable, and accessible healthcare for all. This scholarship will help cover my tuition, allowing me to further my education and achieve my career objectives.
Josalyn Wilkerson (she/they) | My name is Josalyn, I am a Delta High School graduate who is excited to further my education. I will be continuing my education at Cabrillo College where I’ll be studying environmental science. I enjoy many things like art, science, and learning new things.