One-time MiraCosta PUENTE students inspire others with big moves in their studies and careers
By NCI
PUENTE, an academic program based at UC Berkely, is focused on helping educationally underrepresented community college students. “Through counseling, writing, and mentoring, PUENTE students are prepared to transfer to four-year colleges and universities and return to the community as leaders,” says the MiraCosta website.
Four students share their experience as members of MiraCosta College’s PUENTE program and beyond, serving as role models who inspire other students in the North County.
Arely Siordia, former PUENTE student now at UCSD
Arely Siordia, a first-generation student at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Sociology in Science and Medicine, aspires to become a nurse practitioner. As a member of PUENTE at MiraCosta, Arely engaged in extensive community outreach. Hailing from a city rich in Latinx culture, she recognized the need for voter education and spearheaded a voter registration project during the pandemic. As a student ambassador, Arely extended her support to local high schools, guiding first-generation students through the intricacies of college registration and ensuring no student felt lost in the pursuit of higher education.
After transitioning to UCSD, Arely engaged in healthcare research, delving into the socio-scientific impact of Malaria in Mali, Africa, where she earned a nomination for the prestigious African Studies research paper award. Arely reflects on how her involvement in social scientific research has contributed to raising awareness about the interconnectedness of medicine and the social world, a connection often overlooked. This research has allowed her to spread awareness globally about the importance of understanding these interrelations.
Armando Gabriel Leon, former PUENTE student now at UC Berkeley
Armando Gabriel Leon, a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Civil & Environmental Engineering, is proud to hold the prestigious Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship. Armando immersed himself in mathematics and sciences at MiraCosta College, where the PUENTE Club acted as a beacon of support and guidance, empowering him to navigate the complexities of higher education with confidence and resilience. He was honored with the Medal of Academic Merit, the highest academic distinction bestowed by MiraCosta.
Armando is also committed to community service, having volunteered with the MiraCosta College PUENTE Program and spearheaded initiatives that promote STEM education and cultural appreciation.
After transferring, Armando held a leadership role in the Steel Bridge and Cal Construction Competition Clubs and acted as the Mixed-use Team Lead for the ASC Competition 2023–2024. He has been an intern with the Whiting-Turner Construction Company, first at Camp Pendleton and soon in Pleasanton.
Armando thanks God for his success and is grateful for guidance from many professors and mentors.
Kenneth V. Pilco, graduating PUENTE student
It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that Kenneth V. Pilco realized the importance of education and the impact he could make in his community, as Vice-President of the Carlsbad Cleanup Crew, where he helped remove tens of thousands of pounds of litter. At MiraCosta, he joined Puente and the Associated Student Government, advocating for students and helping them vote.
Kenneth went on to become President of Puente Club, a writing consultant, a promotor with the Hispanic Serving Institution grant, and a student trustee of the community college district, drafting a resolution through the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) to increase student worker pay frequency statewide, which passed unanimously.
In an internship with the State Department, Kenneth assessed perceptions and barriers related to entry in the foreign service and was selected to attend the inaugural US-ASEAN Futures Symposium in DC, where he helped create a policy memo and set the foundation for his research.
Kenneth received an Exemplary Leadership Award from the Honors Transfer Council of California and the Medal of Academic Merit at MiraCosta. Graduating this year in Law, Public Policy, and Society, he was accepted to many four-year institutions and is deciding between UC Berkeley and Stanford.
Nancy Mendez, current PUENTE student
As a first-generation college student, Nancy was a little lost. Then, she found PUENTE, where she learned the minutiae of being an undergraduate student and was encouraged to apply for internships and research programs.
Nancy attended the first PUENTE STEM Academy, where she applied STEM coursework concepts to real-world scenarios and hands-on science experiments. It was a real eye-opener for her that sí se puede pursue a career in science; PUENTE encouraged her to apply to the Bridges to the Future Program, through which she attended her first STEM conference and visited Scripps Research Labs, where she networked with graduate students. Having shadowed Dr. Jay at CSUSM in his research on protein structure and function of the curli bacteria, she will be working with him as part of Summer Scholars.
Nancy hopes to give back to her community and have a positive influence on aspiring scientists. As part of PUENTE, she volunteered for Expanding Your Horizons, where she guided 8th grade girls through a hands-on interactive experiment in forensic science and thermodynamic workshops at the University of San Diego.
This fall she plans to transfer to UC Davis to major in Global Disease Biology with a minor in chemistry, hoping to become a researcher and get her PhD in biochemistry.
