SEATTLE, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Boundless Immigration, a Seattle-based technology company that helps families confidently navigate the U.S. immigration process, this week announced the inaugural winners of the Boundless American Dream Scholarship.
The Boundless American Dream Scholarship provides financial support to exceptionally promising students who fulfill the requirements of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and who want to make the world a better place through technology. This year's winners, Hector Sanchez Perez and Jennifer Martinez Sanchez, are excellent students who, through hard work and perseverance, will make great contributions to their fields.
Students with TPS or DACA are often ineligible for federal student aid programs, limiting in their educational opportunities due to financial constraints. The two winners were selected from over 200 qualified applicants, based on their outstanding academic performance, demonstrated ability to overcome obstacles, and plans for the future. Their scholarships are worth a combined $3,000.
Their stories tell of two young American immigrants who defied the odds and worked diligently to earn their shot at an education that would enable them to give back to their communities.
Hector Sanchez Perez is a graduate student and DACA recipient. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, he came to the United States as a young child, along with his parents and two younger siblings. After graduating high school, Hector studied biology at the University of California at Los Angeles, where he discovered his passion for medicine and public health as an undergrad. Now in graduate school at Columbia University, he wants to practice medicine in underserved immigrant communities. As Hector explained in his scholarship application when asked what the "American Dream" meant to him:
"Growing up in the Coachella Valley, I was exposed to the many health disparities affecting marginalized communities. Specifically, many Latino immigrant families in my hometown are too afraid to seek a primary care practitioner because of fear of deportation, and not having a health care provider that speaks Spanish who understands the struggles of being undocumented. Therefore, the 'American Dream' to me means living in a country where everyone has equal access to healthcare and the opportunity to pursue their lifelong dreams."
Jennifer is a high school student and DACA recipient. She wants to study stem cells and their potential use in cancer treatment. After being denied DACA benefits the first time, Jennifer was motivated to try again after witnessing the determination of her fellow immigrants as she helped them study for their GED tests and fill out forms, including their own immigration applications. As Jennifer explains:
"Just hearing their stories about what they've gone through and what they're still going through helped me persevere. Many were undocumented as well and faced even greater language barriers, yet they were still trying to open their own businesses and get their GEDs. Despite all of the barriers they had and everything they faced they were still moving forward. So I thought, I can't let some little piece of paper define me or my experience. After that moment I filled out the application again and I received my DACA status. But I realized that with or without it I was still the same person and it wasn't going to define me or who I would become. It sounds crazy, but I'm glad my DACA application was rejected the first time."
"Jennifer and Hector epitomize the type of grit and spirit that are shared among millions of immigrants in America today," Boundless CEO Xiao Wang said. "We at Boundless are proud to support them in their educational journey and look forward to all of their future accomplishments."
Boundless asked Hector and Jennifer to share a few words of advice for other students facing similar immigration hurdles. Their responses illustrate why these two promising students were selected to receive this scholarship.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help. I feel like it's very difficult for students who are undocumented to really seek support. But there are people out there who are willing to support you. Don't be afraid to ask for help because you never know what kind of resources are out there. Also, find a mentor. They will help you succeed in life." ~Hector Sanchez Perez
"Your legal status or situation does not define you or the opportunities that you can achieve. It's rather the willpower that you have to go beyond and strive for your ancestors' wildest dreams. If you have the ganas [desire/motivation], that's what will get you to the point you want to be. And it will help you find yourself and become the person you want to become.
"I appreciate Boundless and what you are doing because you are making dreams come true." ~Jennifer
Boundless is already accepting applications for the 2019 scholarship at https://www.boundless.com/boundless-american-dream-scholarship/. New winners will be selected in July 2019.
About Boundless
Boundless empowers families to navigate the immigration system more confidently, rapidly, and affordably. The company's first product helps U.S. citizens and permanent residents apply for green cards for their spouses. Boundless is based in Seattle. For more information, please visit http://www.boundless.com.
Contact:
Xiao Wang, CEO
xiao(at)boundless.com
855-268-6353
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SOURCE Boundless Immigration
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