Gina, a resident of National CORE’s Mission Cove affordable housing community, is graduating from the University of San Diego with a bachelor’s in human biology and global health – debt free.
“At a very young age, I knew I wanted to go to into medicine,” she said. “I want to ensure that I am able to pursue my career in the future by relieving some of the stress from me now.”
Throughout that journey, Hope has been at her side, providing annual scholarships to help cover her college costs. And, this spring, Gina becomes the first-ever four-time recipient of the Hope through Housing Building Bright Futures Scholarship.
“This scholarship has allowed me to help myself,” she said. “My goal was to get out of undergrad without going into debt and this scholarship helped me make that a dream come true.”
Growing up as the eldest daughter of a single mother, Gina understood sacrifice at an early age. Despite growing up in a low-income neighborhood, she was determined to pursue higher education but not at the cost of her family’s stability.
“My path to even get to college hasn’t been easy,” she said. “In 2020, I lost my grandmother to COVID-19. She was like a second mother to me. She stayed up late with me during high school, making sure I finished my schoolwork.”
The death of her grandmother tested Gina’s strength and, even as it took a toll on her studies, it also gave her a deeper purpose.
“I decided I would honor her by pushing through,” Gina said. “I knew I had to make it to a four-year university. I wanted to become a doctor who not only lives out her dream – but bridge the gaps in healthcare for families like mine.”
Still the cost of college loomed over her.
“I wanted to get as much funding as I could so that I wouldn’t have to depend on my mom to go to school,” Gina said. “She did her best to provide for me and my siblings, so I did not want to burden her even further.”
Coupled with state and federal aid, the Hope through Housing scholarship ensured she will graduate debt-free in 2026.
“We are honored to support Gina as she goes through her educational journey,” said Alyssa Cotter, executive director of Hope through Housing. “Scholarships like these are essential in our fight against generational poverty and opening doors to more opportunities. It is especially important to empower someone as hard-working and caring as Gina. Her dedication is an inspiration to us all.”
At UCSD, Gina is an active member of the Latinx for Community Medicine Organization and a volunteer at the food bank. Her goal is to become a neonatologist – advocating and breaking barriers for her community.
“My dream of becoming a doctor comes from my experiences growing up in an underserved community, where healthcare disparities were very evident,” she said. “I see how the access to healthcare was limited for families like mine, and I am determined to become part of the solution.”
She’s now ready to tackle the next step in her education – medical school. After graduation, she will take time to study for the highly demanding Medical School Admission Test (MCAT).
She said she hopes her laser-like focus on her goals helps inspire her siblings in their educational journeys.
“Going to school meant I could open up the doors for my younger brothers to be able to pursue their dreams too,” she said. “I’m not just doing this for myself; it’s also for my family.”