Saint Mary’s Scholarship Receipents

REBECCA CARRANZA  Saint Mary’s College
Class of 2026

In addition, Rebecca worked at the nonprofit East Bay Catholic Charities in the Immigration Legal Department Services as a legal services volunteer, helping fill out forms and assisting in preparing clients for naturalization interviews.  

She also taught classes at the Saint Mary’s Center “WE-CONNECT” department to help seniors master technology challenges.  Rebecca helped set up technology to make it senior-user friendly.  She is an honors student and very active on campus as the Vice President of Finance for the SMC Associated Students Executive Team.

Rebecca credits her mom for her wise words and in helping her realize that power exists within her.  She hopes to do the same for other young women looking to empower themselves and create their own purposes in life.

Mayra volunteers at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solana in Concord, CA.  She has been involved in all areas of the organization, assisting in food sorting, packing, and distribution to ensure efficient food delivery to local communities in need.  Her bilingual abilities were an advantage in this role.  In addition, Mayra has also dedicated much time to tutoring students for whom English is a second language.  She is also active at Saint Mary’s by being on the committee for Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations. She helped plan and execute a rosary event. This experience not only connected her to her cultural traditions but also deepened her appreciation for the power of community and collaboration.

She feels these experiences have shaped her personal growth and strengthened her belief in the importance of service. She has learned that creating meaningful social change requires patience, compassion, and consistent effort. She also has come to understand that leadership can take many forms—not always through a single figure, but often through collective action and the ability to inspire others.

Her plans will involve her commitment to continuing to connect finance, social justice, and community involvement to create lasting impact.  Mayra will graduate in December of 2025.

SOPHIA GONZALES Saint Mary’s College
Class of 2026

Sophia is part of the Residential Experience at Saint Mary’s College, in her second year as a Residential Advisor.  In this role, she has loved being there for her residents and fostering a sense of community, support, and inclusivity.  Sophia has also spent eight years as a math tutor working with students from various backgrounds and volunteering with the Multicultural Institute in Berkeley to support children lacking academic resources.

She is a member of several clubs on campus and holds several positions

She dedicates herself to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for students. She serves as a mentor, advocate, and resource for students facing academic, social and personal challenges

She is looking forward to her work at the Contra Costa Crisis Center where she will provide emotional support through a crisis hot line.

She has a passion for neuroscience and medicine has fueled her interest in understanding the complexities of mental health and how social support structures can improve individual wellbeing.

She hopes to have a future in medicine or genetic counseling.  She is committed to bridging gaps in health care accessibility and patient education especially for underrepresented communities.

FELICIA COLEMAN  Saint Mary’s College
Class of 2026

Felicia is passionate about writing and works with Saint Mary’s Center for Writing Across the Curriculum, helping students with essays and editing their Spectrum Book.  She writes poetry and believes writing is a tool for social change.  Felicia is an active member of the Black Student Union at Saint Mary’s. She feels her participation in the Black Student Union has deepened her understanding in having a voice and the importance of it as well.  She has also volunteered at a pet shelter, helping care for neglected animals and communicate with potential forever homes for the pets.   Felicia also gives tours at Saint Mary’s Art Museum and helps staff set up the artwork.  She performs as a majorette which is a form of expression for black students to cultivate confidence with an art form as well as to celebrate their culture.

She moved to California from Minnesota on her own to further her education at Saint Mary’s. With this move, she learned to adapt and found her independence and gratitude.

She hopes to one day publish her poetry and inspire other young women to use their education and skill to their advantage.

This year’s AAUW scholarship recipient from Campo is Mia Polichio. Several things stood out to us about Mia besides her wonderful smile and enthusiasm. She founded the Campo Faith Club to promote religious discussion and curiosity at Campo which turned into the most attended club on campus with 200 members which is an amazing accomplishment today. What stood out to us about that is how Mia met the challenge of campus naysayers by talking to them and inviting them to meetings. That confidence and nonjudgemental mindset is truly impressive.

Mia also exhibited leadership with the Contra Costa Foster Family Network where she started and led the Foster Family Support Club to hold drives, educate peers, and create volunteer opportunities. She is also an accomplished athlete, Senior Team Captain of the Campo Varsity Soccer Team, and a very talented singer, cast in the lead role in the Campo production of “The Prom.” And she is a language lover which she discovered on a house-building trip to Tijuana. On that trip she bonded with a 10-year-old Mexican girl and learned that Spanish built more than houses-it built relationships. This encouraged her to mentor kids at Community Reading Buddies in Oakland.

She feels her work as a giver is not done, and hopes a college education will open doors to professions that value serving others. She plans to expose herself to opportunities her tiny home town never knew existed. She strives to connect with professors and students, get involved in service groups that benefit from her talents and achieve her goal of Spanish fluency.

Mia is planning on attending Notre Dame through the Gateway Program as a co-enrolled student at Holy Cross and Notre Dame her freshman year, but ultimately graduating with the Notre Dame class of 2029!