For Jennie, pursuing a career in automotive engineering isn’t just about building machines, it’s about rebuilding the future she once thought was out of reach.
Now 24, Jennie is a full-time student at Citrus College and works full time as a service writer at an auto repair shop. Supporting herself entirely, she’s committed to advancing her education and turning her passion for engineering into a lifelong career.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t grow up in an environment that made pursuing education easy,” she said.
During high school, Jennie’s family lost their home to foreclosure, which led to strained relationships and periods of homelessness.
“I lived in a constant state of survival,” she said. “Those years taught me resilience, but they also delayed my ability to fully commit to school.”
Still, Jennie never gave up. In her senior year, she enrolled in STEM programs that reignited her passion to create, solve and innovate. That spark earned her recognition at science fairs, including a first place award at her school district Science and Engineering Fair and second place at the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair.
Today, Jennie is focused on completing her certificate in automotive engineering and has her sights set on transferring to USC to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field. But her path forward is not without challenges.
“Living alone and working full time, any time I spend in class is time away from work,” she said. “The cost of engineering programs, software, lab fees, textbooks adds up quickly, and I don’t have outside financial support.”
Jennie is one of 33 recipients of the 2025 Building Bright Futures Scholarship from the Hope through Housing Foundation. The award is helping ease her financial burden and allowing her to focus more fully on her studies.
“This support means I can focus more on school without sacrificing my stability,” she said. “It’s helping turn my long-term goals into tangible steps forward.”
Jennie is also looking into volunteering at local animal shelters to give back to her community in a way that works with her demanding schedule.
“I want to make a difference! Not just through engineering, but through showing up and doing my part.”