2023-2024 Scholarship Recipients

The Deloitte Foundation SD2 Scholars, Elvira and Gabriel, have consistently shown academic and leadership excellence. On top of the financial assistance that they receive from the scholarship, SD2 provided the support of a seasoned STEM professional as a mentor throughout their college experience. They’ll guide them through finding their voice in STEM and help them develop a plan for their future.

Learn more about the Scholars:

Elvira Solano Romero: UC Irvine, Biomedical Engineering

Elvira is a sophomore at the University of California Irvine who’s passionate about creating space for everyone. By pursuing a biomedical engineering degree, she hopes to improve healthcare for under-represented communities and ultimately work at a biotech company to improve and develop medical devices.

Her first year of college was challenging. With learning new topics, adjusting to her new environment, and catching up on subjects that she missed out on in high school, the new experience was something that Elvira was determined to tackle head first. Thanks to the Deloitte Foundation scholarship, she was able to do just that, allowing her to explore career opportunities and focus on her education without having to worry about tuition or the financial stress that can come with higher education.

Along with her scholarship, Elvira received a mentor to work with her one-on-one throughout her entire college career. Cris Calsada, the Chief Financial Officer at Regulus Therapeutics, has been paired with her for a year now, helping her navigate the transition into college and working with her to explore the STEM field and all of the opportunities available to her.

“Having a mentor has truly boosted my confidence in both my educational and personal life,” Elvira said. “It’s as if I have a key to many of the doubts and challenges that arise in my career. Whether it’s advising and guiding me or simply listening to my concerns, my mentor has alleviated many of my doubts. It has also been enjoyable to share new experiences with her and figure out more about who I am.”

This year has taught Elvira to be open-minded. Her advice for fellow students is to stay persistent.

“There will be many times where you will doubt your educational plans, career choices, and even doubt yourself,” she said. “However, having an open mind and not being fixated on a single path will allow you to explore many options. If you have a goal in mind but are experiencing some turbulence, do not doubt your ability; instead, find different paths to achieve that goal.”

Gabriel Sandoval, UC San Diego, Molecular & Cellular Biology

Gabriel is a first-generation college student at the University of California San Diego, where he is pursuing a career in research. On top of his classes, Gabriel currently has a lab position at

the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, where he studies developmental gene expression by looking at sea snail embryos.

With his first year of school recently completed, Gabriel has learned the power of community and resources.

“I definitely felt as though there was a learning curve in transitioning from high school to college,” said Gabriel. “Interacting and forming relationships with peers was a vital component of making the experience more enjoyable since we could exchange and build upon ideas and empower each other to feel more confident. As I progressed through the year, I felt myself improving and getting used to the academic component. I was able to continue networking and began to learn of and leverage the resources available to me as a student to succeed academically.”

Growing up in a neighborhood with a low socioeconomic status, Gabriel was aware of the financial barriers that could prevent him from going to college. Even with federal financial aid and loans, he knew that pursuing higher education would be a difficult goal– but scholarships like the SD2 Scholarship funded by the Deloitte Foundation helped to break down those barriers and empowered him to achieve that goal. Without worrying about loans or tuition, Gabriel is grateful to be able to focus on his education and pursue a career in STEM.

His mentor, Isaac Veinbergs, is the President and CEO at Libra Therapeutics and has been a valuable source of knowledge for Gabriel. Whether it’s exploring their common passion for biological science together, helping Gabriel through his concerns and questions about school and work, or even just giving him life advice, Issac has given Gabriel a sense of belonging by showing him how people face similar challenges and overcome them.

Gabriel wants future students and scholarship recipients to remember to be confident.

“My piece of advice for future scholarship recipients is to remember that no matter what doubts may present themselves, you are capable of succeeding in any career you choose. The fact is that you carry so much experience, potential, and strength within you that makes you more than capable of finding a path to success, and the scholarship award is a testament to that.”

One-Time Scholarship Recipients

Four students received one-time scholarships funded by the Deloitte Foundation, providing them financial assistance through the 2023-2024 school year. All four students have consistently shown academic and leadership excellence, and we’re excited to see where their careers in STEM take them.

Meet the recipients:

Tiffany Tapia Miranda: Johns Hopkins University, Neuroscience

Tiffany aspires to major in neuroscience with a focus on comprehending dementia and its impact on behavior. Her vision of leadership extends beyond personal success; Tiffany is committed to creating opportunities for future individuals like herself, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and achieve success.

Evelyn Navarrete Gomez: UC Los Angeles, Human Biology and Society

Evelyn emerged as a dedicated advocate for comprehensive solutions benefiting all students and families within the San Diego Unified School District. As a group leader, she orchestrated presentations and conducted research to tackle the scarcity of student resources and mental health support in her district. Evelyn’s commitment extends to a future career in healthcare.

Eduardo Resendiz: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Computer Science

Eduardo’s passion for robotics fuels his curiosity about app development. As he envisions a future as a programmer, his goal is to create apps that leverage mathematics. Specifically, Eduardo aims to develop a muscle recovery app, providing doctors with the tools to offer targeted suggestions for muscle recovery.

Jacqueline Olguin Hernandez: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Mechanical Engineering

Jacqueline, a first-generation Latina in STEM from a low-income background, aspires to become a mechanical engineer, driven by the passion to empower other women to follow the same path.

About the Deloitte Foundation

The Deloitte Foundation, founded in 1928, is a not-for-profit organization that supports education in the U.S. through a variety of initiatives that help develop the next generation of diverse business leaders and their influencers, and promote excellence in teaching, research, and curriculum innovation. The Foundation sponsors an array of national programs relevant to a variety of professional services, benefiting high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and educators. Learn more about the Deloitte Foundation here.

About SD2

At SD2, our mission is to empower tomorrow’s STEM leaders today by connecting underrepresented students to the power of STEM, providing them with access to education, mentorship, and the resources they need to lead tomorrow’s workforce. Contact us to learn more about how we are empowering students to explore careers in STEM.