Spotlighting 2026 Grads: Oscar, Alex, and Giselle Share Their Plans
Graduation season is upon us, and for hundreds of CSF Scholars, that means they are heading into their careers, beginning college, or continuing college at a 4-year university. For CSF Scholars Oscar, Alex, and Giselle, who are all first-gen college students, this fall will mark a new chapter in their education journeys as they head to 4-year universities.
Oscar: Career Aspirations Inspired by the Environment
Oscar first connected with College Success Foundation as a high school student in 2019. After graduation, he began working full-time in his family’s carpet cleaning business to support them. Then, when the pandemic hit, he remained there to make sure his family stayed afloat.
Later that year, his family faced an even greater challenge. His mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As you can imagine, this changed everything. Oscar took on even more responsibility at home while navigating uncertainty and, ultimately, the loss of his mom.
During that time, Oscar found comfort in the outdoors. Hiking across the Pacific Northwest and seeing the visible impacts of climate change shifted his perspective and gave him more direction on what he wanted to do in life. After a five-year gap, Oscar decided to enroll, and CSF was there waiting to support him again, now as a college student.
Today, Oscar is a graduating college student at Highline College, majoring in geology. He is passionate about understanding how human activity shapes our planet. As a student at Highline, he has engaged in geological research, presented at national conferences, and is a Thunderbird Ambassador, providing meaningful representation for the Latine community on campus. He also continues to serve as President of Highline’s Earth Science Club, where he is helping organize a summer camping trip to Olympic National Park for fellow students.
Oscar is also working on a research proposal focused on the manmade pond on Highline College’s campus, to help preserve and improve the health of the ecosystem. Recently, he received a Seattle Foundation Scholarship and was selected for a Scientists in Training position with King County’s Water and Land Resources Division.
Like so many of CSF Scholars, Oscar will be the first in his family to graduate from college.
“College Success Foundation helped me return to school after a long gap,” he reflects. “Without their program, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
As he prepares to transfer to the University of Washington this fall, his CSF Coach Liz has remained a steady source of guidance and reassurance.
“Oscar takes advantage of every resource CSF offers,” shares Coach Liz. “From coaching meetings to transfer planning and academic support, he comes prepared, asks thoughtful questions, and follows through on his goals, showing up for himself in ways that make his educational and career aspirations possible.”
Alex: Preparing for a Future in Law and Advocacy
Alex is a graduating senior at Lincoln High School in Tacoma with an incredibly bright future. The transition from middle school to high school was difficult, but with his goal of earning a college degree in mind, he pushed himself to build a strong academic foundation. By his senior year, Alex was fully committed to going to college. As a first-generation student, he just wasn’t exactly sure how to make it happen. That’s where CSF stepped in.
In the last year, Alex applied to 20 colleges, and has received several scholarships to help support his higher education dreams. He was recently notified that he will receive the prestigious Gates Scholarship, the Hagan Scholarship, and the Seahawks Community Scholarship! He will be attending the University of Michigan and will study political science and public policy as preparation for law school, to become an innocence attorney and advocate for people who deserve a second chance.
When reflecting on this past year, Alex told us, “Without CSF, I would have felt completely lost. Mr. Parrott supported me in applying to more than a dozen colleges and scholarships. Just as importantly, they kept me encouraged and motivated, even when things didn’t go exactly as planned.”
Through every application and every deadline, his CSF Advisor, Mr. Parrott, stood beside him. Mr. Parrott shared this about Alex: “Alex is an exceptional student with tremendous potential. My goal is to make sure he has every opportunity and the support he needs to succeed when he begins college this fall.”
Giselle: Getting a Running Start on Her Aerospace Engineering Dreams
Giselle’s future is quite literally sky-high. Giselle is a graduating senior at Eisenhower High School in Yakima and a dual-enrolled Running Start student at Yakima Valley College. This fall, she will be attending Gonzaga University to complete her bachelor’s degree.
Giselle has big career goals: she plans to study mechanical engineering, earn a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, and eventually become an aerospace engineer. As a first-generation college student, she is forging a new path for herself and her family. She’s not the only one pursuing higher education in her household, either. Giselle’s twin sister, Michelle, is also beginning her college journey and will attend the University of Washington this fall.
Looking ahead to this next chapter, Giselle explained, “CSF gave me the building blocks, through Ms. Guzman’s guidance, and she allowed me to feel comfortable asking questions, whether big or small.”
Giselle has been awarded several scholarships to support her undergraduate degree, including College Success Foundation’s Leadership 1000 Scholarship, the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship and the Washington Apple Education Foundation Scholarship. While in high school, Giselle also had opportunities to grow as a leader through her involvement in Eisenhower High School’s orchestra and Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA).
CSF Advisor Ms. Guzman, said this about Giselle: “Giselle has the talent and determination. It’s been an honor to support her as she’s pursued such ambitious goals.”
We wish all CSF Scholars the best as they continue pursuing their dreams. We are incredibly proud of Oscar, Alex, Giselle, and the many students across our state who are building bright futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Thank you to our supporters, partners, and staff who continue to make these journeys possible every day for CSF Scholars.