We are proud and happy to present the 2015 Tam Tran Scholars.
The Tam Tran Scholarship has been set up to help undocumented students continue on their academic path. Applicants must be ready to enroll in a Rhode Island higher institution, and they must show that they have graduated from a high school in Rhode Island. These students juggle up to three jobs, manage to find time to study and still forge forward with their DREAMs for a college education.
Truly an inspiration to us all!
The Tam Tran Scholarship has been set up to help undocumented students continue on their academic path. Applicants must be ready to enroll in a Rhode Island higher institution, and they must show that they have graduated from a high school in Rhode Island. These students juggle up to three jobs, manage to find time to study and still forge forward with their DREAMs for a college education.
Truly an inspiration to us all!
Click on each image below to learn more about each student …
Erick Ballon
Erick Ballon
Country of origin: Peru
High School: William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School
Current school: CCRI • Lincoln
Erick was a black belt and played soccer for his high school. He spoke about his involvement in these sports not just as places to release stress, but as environments where he developed qualities like humility, resiliency, tenacity and resourcefulness. These are all attributes he’s exhibited.
Country of origin: Peru
High School: William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School
Current school: CCRI • Lincoln
Erick was a black belt and played soccer for his high school. He spoke about his involvement in these sports not just as places to release stress, but as environments where he developed qualities like humility, resiliency, tenacity and resourcefulness. These are all attributes he’s exhibited.
Gisela Cordeiro
Country of origin: Dominican Republic
Current School: Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex
“I work hard everyday at school to achieve A’s and B’s in my classes, so that the colleges can see that I am worthy of being accepted, that I will work hard, and that I am more than my citizenship status…I have struggled a lot to get to where I am now, but I know that one day, all of this will be worth it.”
Current School: Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex
“I work hard everyday at school to achieve A’s and B’s in my classes, so that the colleges can see that I am worthy of being accepted, that I will work hard, and that I am more than my citizenship status…I have struggled a lot to get to where I am now, but I know that one day, all of this will be worth it.”
Sherly Carrillo
Country of origin: Guatemala
High School: Central Falls High School
Current school: CCRI • Lincoln
“I am totally blessed to have such an amazing family that’s been there for me. They have helped me throughout my struggles…But at the end of everything I know that my struggles will pay off. I will become a nurse and I will make my family proud.”
High School: Central Falls High School
Current school: CCRI • Lincoln
“I am totally blessed to have such an amazing family that’s been there for me. They have helped me throughout my struggles…But at the end of everything I know that my struggles will pay off. I will become a nurse and I will make my family proud.”
Haiker Feliz
Country of origin: Dominican Republic
High School: Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School
Current school: CCRI
“My goal has always been to become a physical therapist, but now I also want to complete college and advocate for other undocumented, low-income students. I want to make sure they know it is never impossible to obtain a post-secondary education.”
High School: Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School
Current school: CCRI
“My goal has always been to become a physical therapist, but now I also want to complete college and advocate for other undocumented, low-income students. I want to make sure they know it is never impossible to obtain a post-secondary education.”
Hao Fung
Country of origin: Guatemala
High School: Classical HS
Current school: CCRI
“I have grown these past few years arriving at an understanding that while life may be difficult and presents us with obstacles that seem unchangeable; the determination, perseverance and hope for change will always prevail.”
High School: Classical HS
Current school: CCRI
“I have grown these past few years arriving at an understanding that while life may be difficult and presents us with obstacles that seem unchangeable; the determination, perseverance and hope for change will always prevail.”
Ingrid García
Country of origin: Guatemala
Current School: Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex
“I was born in Guatemala where education was a luxury only a few were lucky to have and college a dream that only a large amount of money could provide…I never imagined that beyond that dry, barren desert with all its dangers, the scorching sun and frigid nights, was something bigger.”
Current School: Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex
“I was born in Guatemala where education was a luxury only a few were lucky to have and college a dream that only a large amount of money could provide…I never imagined that beyond that dry, barren desert with all its dangers, the scorching sun and frigid nights, was something bigger.”
Doris López
Country of origin: Guatemala
Current School: Rhode Island College
“I have two part-time jobs and I am a full time student. I feel like having to work to pay for my education motivates me to do better and to stay focused on my goals. My long-term goal is to open up an orphanage to provide a home to many kids who have been neglected, abused or are homeless.”
Current School: Rhode Island College
“I have two part-time jobs and I am a full time student. I feel like having to work to pay for my education motivates me to do better and to stay focused on my goals. My long-term goal is to open up an orphanage to provide a home to many kids who have been neglected, abused or are homeless.”
Tam Tran Scholarship Recipient in 2014 and 2015
Javier Mendez
Country of origin: Guatemala
Current school: William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School
“Money was hard to come by, and we lived in an impoverished and violent neighborhood. Since my parents just could not take these conditions in Guatemala, we set off for America. I was only three years old and completely unaware of the fact that I was undocumented.”
Current school: William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School
“Money was hard to come by, and we lived in an impoverished and violent neighborhood. Since my parents just could not take these conditions in Guatemala, we set off for America. I was only three years old and completely unaware of the fact that I was undocumented.”
Tam Tran Scholarship Recipient in 2014 and 2015
Roxana Mercado
Country of origin: Bolivia
High School: Central High School
“The status quo of being an undocumented student influenced my professional ambitions. This categorization, till this day, deprives me of numerous opportunities to fund my college experience. However, it stands tall as my main encouragement. Due to the Americanized lifestyle I grew up with most of my life, I hold the advantage of having a secondary language and the minimal chance of becoming a first generation college student which happens to be less common in my hometown. It is solemnly because of being undocumented that I comfortable with sharing my struggles. I consciously know I am capable of inspiring many individuals and helping them break out of their comfort zone.”
High School: Central High School
“The status quo of being an undocumented student influenced my professional ambitions. This categorization, till this day, deprives me of numerous opportunities to fund my college experience. However, it stands tall as my main encouragement. Due to the Americanized lifestyle I grew up with most of my life, I hold the advantage of having a secondary language and the minimal chance of becoming a first generation college student which happens to be less common in my hometown. It is solemnly because of being undocumented that I comfortable with sharing my struggles. I consciously know I am capable of inspiring many individuals and helping them break out of their comfort zone.”
Damaris Ortiz
Country of origin: Guatemala
High School: Classical High School
Current school: CCRI
“At first I didn’t know what to expect for my first semester in college. I didn’t have anyone from my family to guide me since they were clueless as myself. However, I decided to make some goals, try my best, learn the most I can, to not give up and most importantly to make my mother proud.”
High School: Classical High School
Current school: CCRI
“At first I didn’t know what to expect for my first semester in college. I didn’t have anyone from my family to guide me since they were clueless as myself. However, I decided to make some goals, try my best, learn the most I can, to not give up and most importantly to make my mother proud.”
Tam Tran Scholarship Recipient in 2014 and 2015
Rodrigo Pimentel
Country of origin: Portugal
High School: East Providence High School
Rodrigo was the President of the Young Democrats at East Providence High School; a volunteer for the RI American Civil Liberties Union (poll monitoring, specifically focusing on voter ID implementation);
Administrative intern at the East Providence Career and Tech Center; Piano/Synthesizer. He helps his father run their family business.
His has been accepted and will attend the University of RI in the Fall of 2015.
Rodrigo says: “I wish to major in computer science, and, eventually, become a professor. I have been interested in programming and computer science since a young age, experimenting with coding, and eager to explore how new technology can impact society. I do not wish to merely study algorithms I wish to apply them to scenarios that can better our democracy and political discourse.
High School: East Providence High School
Rodrigo was the President of the Young Democrats at East Providence High School; a volunteer for the RI American Civil Liberties Union (poll monitoring, specifically focusing on voter ID implementation);
Administrative intern at the East Providence Career and Tech Center; Piano/Synthesizer. He helps his father run their family business.
His has been accepted and will attend the University of RI in the Fall of 2015.
Rodrigo says: “I wish to major in computer science, and, eventually, become a professor. I have been interested in programming and computer science since a young age, experimenting with coding, and eager to explore how new technology can impact society. I do not wish to merely study algorithms I wish to apply them to scenarios that can better our democracy and political discourse.
Elmer Torres
Country of origin: El Salvador
High School: E-Cubed Academy
“Elmer has continuously maintained an unfaltering optimism and commitment of his education. At our first meeting, we had an honest conversation about this college options. After a long silence, he smiled back at me, acknowledged his circumstance, and said he was going to work harder than every other student.”
High School: E-Cubed Academy
“Elmer has continuously maintained an unfaltering optimism and commitment of his education. At our first meeting, we had an honest conversation about this college options. After a long silence, he smiled back at me, acknowledged his circumstance, and said he was going to work harder than every other student.”
Tam Tran Scholarship Recipient in 2014 and 2015
Silvia Yanez
Country of origin: Bolivia
High School: Juanita Sánchez Educational Complex
Current school: Rhode Island College
“Silvia runs protein experiments in which she outlines the procedure, designs the controls, executes the standard protocol, collects the spectroscopic data, and analyzes the raw data to make interpretations. Silvia’s impact in science is just beginning and I sincerely hope that America will not lose this talented young researcher.”
High School: Juanita Sánchez Educational Complex
Current school: Rhode Island College
“Silvia runs protein experiments in which she outlines the procedure, designs the controls, executes the standard protocol, collects the spectroscopic data, and analyzes the raw data to make interpretations. Silvia’s impact in science is just beginning and I sincerely hope that America will not lose this talented young researcher.”
Tam Tran Scholarship Recipient in 2013 and 2015
Yue Zang
Country of origin: China
Current School: Cranston High East
“In college, I know my parents will not be able to help me and that I will need to learn to do more things on my own as a first generation college student and as an undocumented student. I am certain that I may encounter new challenges, but I will work harder, ask more questions and use more strategies to overcome any difficulties in taking steps towards my future goals.”
Current School: Cranston High East
“In college, I know my parents will not be able to help me and that I will need to learn to do more things on my own as a first generation college student and as an undocumented student. I am certain that I may encounter new challenges, but I will work harder, ask more questions and use more strategies to overcome any difficulties in taking steps towards my future goals.”