The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) awarded two Inland Empire students with its 2025 scholarships. Danaya Figueroa of Colton Joint Unified School District and Matthew Thomas of Lake Elsinore Unified School District are among 10 students in Southern California who will receive $4,000 each in financial support.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to help these students in the next stage of their academic journeys,” said Jan Harnik, former president of SCAG’s regional council and mayor of the city of Palm Desert. “They are remarkable young adults and future leaders for our region.”
Figueroa will graduate this month from Grand Terrace High School and plans to attend the UC Berkeley, majoring in engineering and marketing management.
“This is just the beginning of my path,” Figueroa wrote in her application essay. “I am dedicated to breaking down barriers, reaching beyond the boundaries and making technology a bridge to potential, not a barrier. My dream is a world where no one is left behind, where every individual, regardless of ability, has the chance to thrive, give back and live with dignity and autonomy.”
Next month, Thomas will graduate from Temescal Canyon High School. He will attend the University of California, Irvine, majoring in civil engineering.
“My goal in pursuing a degree in civil engineering is to come back with the knowledge and experience I gained and be someone who promotes a change in the way SoCal handles transportation,” Thomas wrote.
“As a citizen of Riverside County, and by extension the Inland Empire, I know how little public transit options there are in my area, to the point that our school bus system might even be the most extensive transit system we have…I want to make a difference and improve the region.”
The SCAG Scholarship Program has operated for 15 years, providing financial assistance to high school and community college students who express interest in urban planning and public policy as long-term career goals. Nine of this year’s scholarships were funded by SCAG, while the 10th scholarship received funding through a partnership with the California Transportation Foundation.
To be considered for the award, students must submit an application form, a minimum 500-word essay, two letters of recommendation and a current academic transcript.
The 2025 SCAG Scholarship Committee is comprised of nine SCAG Regional Council members and two representatives from educational backgrounds. Inland Empire representatives include Harnik, Lake Elsinore City Councilmember Steve Manos and Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren.
SCAG is the largest metropolitan planning organization in the country, representing six counties, 191 cities and almost 19 million residents. The organization undertakes planning and policy initiatives that contribute toward a more livable and sustainable Southern California.
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