Undocumented Student Resources Webinar

Zoom Link: Click here (will only work once the workshop has started).

About Mayra (She/Her)

Mayra has worked to provide low-income, first-generation youth with the resources necessary to be competitive college applicants and to be the first in their family to attend a four-year institution. As a former college access advisor with Wonderful Education and a high school biology teacher, she saw the stark reality of students not being pushed to obtain more than just a high school diploma. This has ignited her interest in pursuing her doctoral degree in school organization and education policy at UC Davis. Her goal is to study and address the educational inequities that negatively impact college access and retention for marginalized communities in geographically isolated areas. 

About Yessenia (She/Her)

In 2008, Yessenia and her family packed there bags and immigrated to the United States where she worked hard to excel in academics, extracurriculars, and any other opportunity while her parents worked diligently in the fields to provide for her and her siblings. As a result of her family’s support and her dedication, Yessenia graduated as a valedictorian from Porterville High School. She is now a rising sophomore at Rice University in Houston, Texas double majoring in Kinesiology and Biochemistry and Cell Biology with the intention of attending medical school to become an obstetrician-gynecologist. Her goal is to return to the Central Valley to serve, support, and help underserved communities improve, grow, and progress.

About Diana (She/Her)

Diana Salinas, originally from Bakersfield, CA, is a rising public policy sophomore at the University of Southern California. She is currently interning in the social media and marketing position for Central Valley Scholars because she is determined to spark real change and make an impact on the accessibility to higher education. Like Central Valley Scholars, Diana is working on helping everyone be able to obtain their higher education regardless of their background. Her college application process was a huge struggle and she does not want anyone to experience that distress anymore. As a result, she took the initiative to create her own blog where she shares her experiences as a first-generation DACAmented woman of color in a PWI and resources that have helped her get where she is. Overall, Diana wants to create a community and a safe place where nobody has to feel alone nor lost.

Webinar Description:

The Central Valley Scholars Undocumented Student Resources Webinar, hosted by Mayra Nunez Martinez (She/Her), Yessenia Ramos Silva (She/Her), and Diana Salinas (She/Her) will focus on providing information, resources, and support for undocumented students thinking about applying to college. This webinar will cover how to pay for college (financial aid & scholarships for undocumented students), an overview of the college and financial aid application timeline, and institutional support and resources for undocumented students.