Future Naturopathic Doctor, Mariachi Expert Among Richmond Scholarship Recipients

RICHMOND, CA- A future naturopathic doctor who enjoys urban agriculture and a mariachi expert who plans to create affordable technology for people with disabilities are the two most recent Gates Millennium Scholars from the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Read more about recent area scholarship recipients:

Young Scholars Awarded Money for College in Richmond

Arnold Dimas, a senior at Richmond High School, and Alejandro Hernandez, a senior at Middle College High School, are two of 1,000 seniors from across the country to win the recognition. They are the District’s sixth and seventh students to be selected as Gates Millennium Scholars.

“Being named a Gates Millennium Scholar is a testament to the hard work of these young men and their determination to succeed academically,” Board President Randy Enos said. “We are proud of them for achieving this honor. That a student from our District has earned this recognition in five of the last six years speaks to the possibilities and potential of each and every one of our students.”

The scholarship, which is in its last year, will cover their unmet financial need and, through the program, provide services to encourage academic excellence; mentoring services for academic and personal development; and an online resource center that provides internship, fellowship and scholarship information.

More than 53,000 students applied for the award.

Dimas, the outdoor enthusiast who wants to study alternative medicine, will attend UC Berkeley or Emory University in Atlanta graduation to major in public health in the fall. At Richmond High, Dimas is part of the Health Academy and is student body president. He takes dance and is involved with the Earth Team and Red Cross.

“This was only something in my imagination,” he said of becoming a Gates Millennium Scholar. “I really didn’t expect to make it.”

He also attended Ford Elementary School and Helms Middle School.

Hernandez, who is an avid mariachi musician, will attend UC Berkeley in the fall and major in computer science and music. He describes himself as a “goofball” who could be difficult for his teachers at times, but credits them for “not giving up” on him.

“My teachers at Middle College have inspired me to attend college,” Hernandez said. “They force us to focus on academics and to stay on our game.”

Hernandez plays guitarron in several mariachi groups, including one at his church, St. Cornelius, and one at Cal with his older sister. He also teaches the art form to younger students and is creating a choir at church.

Hernandez also attended Tara Hills Elementary School and Pinole Middle School.

This is the fourth consecutive year and fifth time in six years that a District student has won the prestigious award. Last year, De Anza student Jasmine Gill was named a Gates Millennium Scholar and in 2014, fellow De Anza Don Cali Nguyen received the designation. In 2013, John F. Kennedy High School senior Kelssie Sontay Perez won the scholarship and in 2011, Jennifer Ezeokoli and Benjamin Ezeokoli from Middle College High School received the recognition.

Established in 1999 with the goal of developing Leaders for America’s Future™, the GMS program is funded by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The GMS program removes the financial barriers to education for high-performing, low-income students. Each year it enables 5,000 students to attend and graduate from 800 of the most selective private and public schools in the country, including Ivy League colleges, flagship state universities, UNCF member institutions and other minority-serving institutions.

The GMS program provides recipients with leadership development opportunities, mentoring, academic and social support as well as financial support. The program is known for its recipients’ high graduation rates – a six-year rate of more than 87 percent (28 percent higher than the national graduation rates for all students and comparable to the rate for students from high-income families).