We proudly congratulate both of our 2021 scholarship recipients. Awardees are selected through a competitive process by our scholarship committee and receive financial and mentor support:
Melissa Cervantes is a third-year undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley. She is double majoring in Society & Environment and Conservation & Resource Studies. Melissa is actively involved with the Latinxs & the Environment Initiative at UC Berkeley and is currently co-lead of the Latinxs & the Environment seminar. Melissa is a student researcher with the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, and also produced a documentary on the Napa Valley wildfires with the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment.
Melissa is looking for mentors who could help her grow intellectually and professionally. An ideal mentor for Melissa would be someone who shares a similar background or someone who is willing to offer guidance and resources on how to navigate the environmental sector. Although Melissa is a bit timid, she is not afraid to go out of her comfort zone and is always looking for ways to grow.
Melissa is also currently looking for a full-time, paid internship for Summer 2022 related to agricultural management/policy, environmental education, or fieldwork. She is open to remote work but would appreciate the opportunity to travel to new places, as she is the only one in her family with the privilege to do so. Melissa plans to obtain a Ph.D. in the future and is open to research positions and mentorship for graduate school.
Cathy Luo is a rising junior at Stanford University studying Economics with a focus in environmental policy. With the YPE scholarship, she plans to finish a master's degree in Earth Systems from Stanford and work as an energy policy analyst after graduation. Her work is driven by a deep dedication to environmental justice as well as optimism for an equitable, sustainable world. In the future, she aspires to work on sustainable development in Southeast Asia and negotiate international climate treaties. In her free time, Cathy enjoys journaling, hiking, jogging, and trying new restaurants in the Bay (cooking is not her forte).
Cathy is seeking mentorship and opportunities to explore the clean energy space, from local renewable energy companies to international sustainable development. With previous research and academic experiences, she hopes to deepen her technical skills and apply her interdisciplinary way of thinking to advocate for tangible change in public policy.
Interested in supporting their journey through mentorship or other opportunities? Please reach out to ypesfbayareascholarship@gmail.com.