Stephen Derek Johnson -- Bay Area Scholar

Stephen is a member of the UCSD track and field team and is involved in the community outreach program “after school all-stars.” In 2006 he received a “Sixth College Resident Recognition Award” for volunteering to help the College Board create student-oriented activities. Track takes up a substantial amount of his time – over 25 hours per week. He competes in the 110 hurdles and the high jump and being part of the team has made his time at UCSD the best time of his life.

Gregory Bryan -- Bay Area Scholar

Brian carried at least 20 units per quarter in addition to acting in three department shows this year. He is a double major in theatre/dance and comparative politics and is employed through work-study at the La Jolla Playhouse. His family carries a genetic and degenerative muscular disorder that has severely disabled his single and unemployed mother and the family is currently on state disability. He attributes his drive to succeed to making his family proud and caring for them in ways they never could themselves.

Ian Duc Thang Nguyen -- Cambon Family Scholar

TanIan was born to two teenage Vietnamese immigrant high school dropouts in the low income inner city of San Francisco. His parents divorced and Ian and his siblings and mother left a delinquent father for a better life. His mother died of breast cancer in 2001 while Ian was in high school, ultimately leaving Ian and a brother homeless for several months during his junior year. They were ultimately rescued by relatives who became their legal guardians. This act of kindness motivated Ian to excel in his AP courses and complete the International Baccalaureate diploma. Ian is a leader in the professional fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and volunteer and community service includes blood drives, tree plantings, Park Clean-Ups and HEROES.

Michelle Scott -- Steve and Sue Hart Memorial Scholar

Michelle transferred to UCSD from San Diego City College where she was active in student life. She served as president and secretary for Students for Diversity in Science—SEEDS, as secretary for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter; as a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society; as former VP for Society of Women Engineers, and as a community outreach member for Women in Science. At UCSD she is active in the Biological Sciences Student Association and plans to run for president of the Transfer Committee this quarter. She is a first generation college student and was divorced following an abusive marriage that left her temporarily homeless and living in her car with her one child. She suffers from arthritis and clinical depression and is in the early stages of IBD.

Andrei Fodoreanu -- Violet and Matthew Lehrer Scholar

Andrei emigrated to the U.S. from Romania and plans to become a doctor. In 2003 he founded the Romanian American Student Association and serves as President. He is in charge of organizing the yearly HMP3 (Health Professions Mentor Program) Health Fair and is in charge of organizing the HMP3 forums. In spring 2005 he ran for AS Revelle College Junior Senator. Since 2003 he has been a clinical care extender intern, a surgery ambassador at Children’s Hospital and a mentor for UCSD’s Friends Understanding Needs program mentoring at-risk youth for the SD Unified School District.

Hoa Ngoc Vou -- Joe Lima Scholar

Hoa’s family immigrated to America from Vietnam following the war. He is first in his family to attend college. He credits his academic success to the combined cultural values of the Vietnamese importance of family and hard work and those of the American culture of independence and freedom. Hoa is involved in the American Medical Student Association and the Premedical Association of Students for Service. He was elected co-chair of the student organization, Cultural Association Uniting Students through Education (CAUSE) responsible for planning cultural celebrations and working with the Preuss School On-Campus UCSD Tours.

Sarah Goldman -- Nelson Family Scholar

Sarah is a very active member of student life at UCSD. She is involved in Muir’s Semi Formal Committee, is part of the Muir Big Brother/Big Sister program, is the assistant set designer for the Muir Musical, and serves as the Student Regulations and Review Committee Representative for Muir College Council. She served as conference leader at the Muir New Leaders Conference in 2006. She was raised by her divorced single mother and was recently introduced to her father who served eight years in a federal prison. His entry into her life after 19 years of absence and no financial support has been emotionally stressful but has made her appreciative of her mother’s continuous motivation, unyielding love and support that keeps her on the right path.

Brian Shayota -- Nelson Family Scholar

Brian is active on campus promoting school spirit for the Athletics Department. Her serves as publicity commissioner of the Revelle College Assembly, is the Revelle representative for the UCSD television channel, a member of the semi-formal committee, and active in the annual “unolympics” competition, helping new students adjust to UCSD. Brian comes from a divorced immigrant family. He is first in his family to be born in America and to attend college. He feels that the many difficulties and special circumstances including his family’s financial hardships have made him into the strong and intelligent person he is today.

Lara Hamadani -- Patricia Ordonez Valva, '92 Memorial Scholar

When Lara was a sophomore in high school her father was diagnosed with stomach cancer which has placed an ongoing financial burden on her family. Ranked at the time as #1 in her high school class and a member of the junior varsity basketball team, she had to quit sports to care for her brothers. At UCSD she is a provost’s honor student and actively involved on campus as a member of the Pre-pharmacy Society, the Health Medical Professions, as co-founder of the Non-Smoking Organization and as the AS Freshman Class Representative, Treasurer and Vice President.

Pouya Jamshidi -- Vickerman/Munoz Scholar

Pouya and his family arrived in the United States just over two years ago to better the quality of their futures. A former professional trumpet player with the Tehran Philharmonic Orchestra, he enrolled at Santa Monica College. In Junior College he was named to the National Dean’s Honor List and recipient of the AS Government Award. He volunteered for two years at the Little Company of Mary Hospital while working 20-60 hours per week to help support his family. He has been a research assistant at the David Geffen School of Medicine, TA to the chair of the Santa Monica Psychology Department, President of the Persian Club, and a research assistant at UCSD SOM.

Scott Nielsen -- Walsh/Chacon/Malone Scholar

Scott is first in his family to attend college. He is an older transfer student from San Diego City College where he was employed as a peer English tutor. He has been actively engaged in promoting the arts in San Diego as a performer and organizer with the Techno Mania Circus of Barrio Logan. He is a member of the organizing committee of Faust Fest, a group that organizes fund raisers in the forms of musical events, art shows, and silent auctions to raise money for the Justice for Jake organization. At UCSD he has received Provost’s Honors in recognition of academic excellence.

Paris Shoghi -- Waxman Family Scholar

Paris has been a student leader since entering UCSD. She is the Chair of Professional School of Liaison for HOPE (Health Opportunities Preparation Empowerment) which she hopes to lead next year. She is the team captain for the Persian Women’s Intramural Soccer team and team captain for her dorm’s co-ed intramural indoor soccer team. She is team captain for the American Cancer Society: Relay for Life at UCSD where her responsibilities include fund raising, team recruitment and event planning. Volunteer and community service include UCSD’s Student Run Free Clinic, patient advocacy for the SOM, a Preuss School Tutor/Mentor for SAT preparation and Peace4Kids, a non-profit organization working to improve lives of inner city kids in LA.