Andra Campos poses with her family and Edison international executives after receiving a $50,000 scholarship from the company on Tuesday, March 18. (Photo by Vince Medina)
When Andra Campos, 18, walked into the Warren High School Library on Tuesday, she was shocked to find a packed room of her family, friends, teachers and Downey Unified School District boardmembers there waiting for her.
Campos had spent her high school years not only earning a 4.6 GPA, but also founding a nonprofit organization for outdoor workers, developing an app that tracks UV exposure, written a book and leading an organization on campus.
Now she was about to be awarded with the 2025 Edison International Scholarship of $50,000.
Before being presented with the check, WHS social science teacher, David Cha, explained the lasting impact Campos has had on her classmates. He compared the high school senior to the likes of LeBron James in terms of her unique potential.
“I took my students to go register at the counseling office, and this one junior came up to me asking how she should prepare for senior year,” said Cha. “We were just kind of talking about different activities and she said, ‘Oh, by the way, I know Andra, I follow her on Instagram. She’s so inspirational!’”
“There are people who follow her because her life inspires them.”
Among her many projects, Campos launched Solace for Outdoor Workers, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting outdoor workers exposed to harsh sun conditions. The initiative has drawn volunteers from across the world, from Japan to India, according to Cha.
She also created Project Connect Forum, an online platform that connects high school students to extracurricular opportunities. With 25,000 active users and over 800 programs listed, the project has helped students find ways to get involved in their passions.
Campos is the author of “Math Speaks,” a book that aims to show students the real-world applications of mathematics.
“I wanted to make math feel accessible and useful, something that kids could see as a tool rather than a challenge,” said Campos.
Her initiative caught the attention of Edison International, whose Chief Security Officer, Brian Barrios, presented her with the scholarship.
Over 700 students applied for the competitive scholarship, with only 30 recipients selected. Edison International has awarded nearly $20 million in scholarships over the last two decades to support promising students in STEM fields.
“Her drive, her curiosity, and her commitment to making a difference made her stand out from hundreds of applicants,” Barrios said. “We look across a lot of different STEM majors for these scholarships, so it isn’t any one thing, but when you look at the overall package of everything they’ve achieved, we are looking to invest in the future of these kids and try to give them an extra bump on where they’re going to go.”
Campos, who was recently accepted to USC with a Presidential Scholarship and has also received early admission to UC Berkeley, expressed gratitude for the recognition.
“As a low-income student, this means so much to me and my family to be honored, and being able to pursue my education is going to help me so much in my career, to help these students realize that they can make a difference too, and that’s really the work that I’m trying to do,” said Campos. “The quote that I really love is ‘If you reach for the moon, you at least end up amongst the stars.’”
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