Dr. Simmons and Micron Foundation invest in our amazing collegians
“From talking to established professionals and visiting big companies, I ended up growing a passion for tax and accounting – a field where I hope to provide transparency and trust. I’m excited to be a tax intern at Deloitte in the summer of 2023!“
“I want to be a physician,” says Apshara Siwakoti, a collegian from Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado. “As a refugee, I am interested in bettering the health of refugees and others like women and children who are very much still at a disadvantage in the healthcare sector. I would love to do more for the most vulnerable populations in the public health arena.”
Today, as one of the inaugural Micron Foundation Scholars at Boys Hope Girls Hope, Apshara is one step closer to this dream.
Established in 2023 through Micron’s AAPI Justice and Advocacy Fund, the Micron Foundation Scholars program exists to create greater opportunities for scholars of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Each Micron Scholar receives a scholarship toward their education.
For Apshara, the path to medical school took her to a refugee clinic where she has worked for the last three years. She enjoys travel and is currently in a scholarship-funded, short-term study program in Nicaragua learning about its healthcare system. Apshara also works in a neurodegenerative diseases lab and will soon have her first joint publication. “I love neuroscience!” she says. “I’d love to have a job that allows me to practice public health medicine, travel, and do research.”
A molecular biology and cognitive neuroscience major at the University of Denver who will graduate early, Apshara will likely pursue a Master of Public Health before entering medical school. “I have been accepted to Colorado School of Public Health, Brown University, Drexel University, Emory School of Public Health, and NYU School of Public Health so far,” she says.
“I enjoy extracting information from data and presenting my findings to help others better understand a specific topic. Data can tell you a lot of things that you might not expect!“
The other inaugural Micron Foundation Scholars bring a broad expanse of interests and talents to the table. Jennifer Phan, a Boys Hope Girls Hope collegian from San Francisco, is majoring in managerial economics with a minor in accounting and political science at the University of California, Davis. She dreams of becoming a tax accountant. “Boys Hope Girls Hope introduced me to dozens of new specialties,” she says. “From talking to established professionals and visiting big companies, I ended up growing a passion for tax and accounting – a field where I hope to provide transparency and trust. I’m excited to be a tax intern at Deloitte in the summer of 2023!”
Siblings Michelle Tsang (UC Davis) and Brennen Tsang (UC Santa Cruz), also from San Francisco, are tech-focused, with Brennan studying computer science with an eye on game design and Michelle looking to turn her degree in statistics and economics into a career in data science. “I enjoy extracting information from data and presenting my findings to help others better understand a specific topic,” Michelle says. “Data can tell you a lot of things that you might not expect!”
Jennifer Hong from Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona is focused on pharmacology and toxicology as a biology major at Arizona State University, where she will also attend pharmacy school after graduation. She says, “I’m intrigued by how chemicals and compounds can improve people’s lives. I gravitated towards this field because pharmacists can design and create medications and therapies, collaborate with other health professionals, and play the important role of establishing balance in health and the healthcare team.”
Dr. Robert Simmons, III, Head of Social Impact and STEM Programs at Micron Foundation, knows firsthand about the drive and talent of Boys Hope Girls Hope collegians. He’s been a tremendous advocate and guide on Boys Hope Girls Hope’s journey to create a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he served as a speaker for several Boys Hope Girls Hope programs. Before taking the role at Micron Foundation, Dr. Simmons was Scholar in Residence at American University, where he focused on social and racial justice and education policy while co-designing and launching its Summer Institute for Equity and Justice.
AUTHOR
Noel Schiber is the Grants and Stewardship Manager. She works to support fund development outcomes through grant and proposal writing, donor stewardship, and reporting for Network Headquarters while also facilitating affiliate best practice sharing in these areas as well.
At the Micron Foundation, Dr. Simmons is personally invested in developing a diverse workforce talent pipeline. “I’m excited about our partnership with Boys Hope Girls Hope as we accelerate our support for the next generation of leaders in STEM,” he says. “Providing equitable opportunities and access to education for populations that are underrepresented in STEM careers will enrich lives exponentially.”
Boys Hope Girls Hope thanks Dr. Simmons and Micron Foundation for their investment in our amazing collegians. These critical partnerships help them overcome obstacles to STEM degrees, enter dream careers where their diverse perspectives benefit industries and outcomes, and pursue lives of purpose for their families and communities.