Gayman Endowment Scholarship Recipients (2008)

• Boryana Dineva , a student at CSM, was raised in Bulgaria and came to the United States to realize her dreams. She discovered through unbelievably hard work in studying 18.5 units last semester while maintaining a 4.0 GPA; volunteering and creating new programs; and working 35-37 hours for financial reasons, that the dream cliché could come true. Boryana plans to attend a UC next fall pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics on her goal of a career in International Relationships.
  
  
• Andre Green ,a student at Skyline, was forced into an early adulthood by the death of both parents during his teens and became a guitar instructor. When one of his students, a PHD in physics, gave him a copy of The Elegant Universe, new worlds opened for Andre motivating his return to school. His full schedule includes volunteering, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, working and taking care of his daughter. Before starting at a UC in the fall to pursue an advanced degree in physics with a goal of becoming a professor, Andre will be interning at NASA.
  
  
• Kahee JO, also from Skyline, came to the U.S. at 16 as an International Student. Unable to afford the high cost of tuition, even though she worked 30 hours a week, she graduated early and worked full time. Her childhood dreams of being a doctor and helping others persisted and finally she was able to enter college. Besides maintaining a 4.0 GPA in her microbiology major, volunteering, working and caring for her mother, Kahee has set an outstanding record at Skyline. She plans to go to UC Berkeley to peruse her ambitions on the road to becoming a doctor and researcher.
  
  
• Ying (Tuk) Lin ,another Skyline student, came from China at 13 with his father who deserted him the following year while fleeing from immigration authorities. Placed in foster care, Tuk rapidly learned the need for work and self-reliance. After high school graduation, he started San Jose State, but his English skills were too weak. Knowing that without education his dreams of being an international businessman would never come true, he enrolled at Skyline. Working two jobs, while maintaining a high GPA, Tuk’s future plans include attending UC Davis and eventually going on to earn an MBA.
  
  
• Leopoldine (Leo) Matialeu ,a Cañada student, was born in Cameroon, Africa. Life was a constant struggle with drinking water a kilometer away and often no electricity. After high school, Leo came to California with her mother and sister. Life was no easier and the family was at times homeless. All these obstacles made Leo more determined than ever to make a success of her chance at college. Working to support herself and help her family, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA and organized for blood drives and Darfur relief. Next fall, she will attend UC Davis majoring in biochemistry and planning to apply to Stanford medical school.
  
  
• Lisa Yee , a Skyline student, learned early in life what could be accomplished by hard work and determination. Growing up, she watched her parents working 14 hour days, 7 days a week to reach out of poverty and create a better life. Lisa, while working many hours a week to pay for all her college expenses, maintains an excellent GPA in extremely difficult courses and finds time for volunteer work. She plans to continue working as she attends UC Davis majoring in Genetics with the goal of eventually attending medical school to become a Pediatric Oncologist and give back to others in need.