La Sierra University
For Three Presidential Scholars, Future Plans Pivot on Service By Darla Martin Tucker
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While enrolled respectively at Redlands High School and Loma Linda Academy, Ailinh Nguyen and twin brothers Grant and Tyler Yonemoto dedicated free time outside of demanding classes and extracurricular activities to aid local populations struggling with lack of adequate health care, homelessness, and other severe challenges. Following graduation, they enrolled last fall as freshmen biomedical sciences majors at La Sierra and are committed to continuing their community outreach during college while they focus on maintaining high grades. Each of them was recognized as this year’s Presidential Scholars, La Sierra’s largest scholarship given once annually, which provides recipients with $15,000 a year for four years toward tuition costs. Scholarship criteria includes a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6, and a demonstrated dedication to improving the world. Nguyen received the news about her Presidential Scholarship at the
end of last school year during a 7 a.m. meeting at her high school with her parents and La Sierra Vice President for Enrollment Services David Lofthouse. “I remember trying to hold back the tears of immense joy and surprise at this miraculous announcement,” Nguyen said. “I am so ecstatic and humbled that La Sierra personally welcomed me to the school and presented me with this distinctive honor. I feel so blessed by God’s unconditional love.” Nguyen has been a member of the Loma Linda Filipino church most of her life and resides in Loma Linda with her parents and her three dogs, Creampuff, Romeo, and Coco Chanel. Her career goal is to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist and work with underserved communities in the Inland Empire. Nguyen graduated with a 4.48 GPA and earned many awards. Throughout high school she pursued performance activities in music and theater while engaged in experiences that furthered her knowledge of
medical science, such as the White Coat Spring Break Internship program offering shadowing experiences with physicians and other medical professionals. She also engaged in scientific research through the Focused Interdisciplinary Research and Scientific Training at California Northstate University. Community involvement included advocacy with government and civic leaders on behalf of the arts in schools, summer school programs, peacemaking, and the plight of the homeless. She also functioned as an Inland Health Professions Coalition student ambassador for Redlands and facilitated plans for individual and group health service projects for residents. Her position provided a platform for relaying suggestions on various health-related topics to a Kaiser Permanente-sponsored focus group. “By having had the privilege to volunteer in different settings within the underserved communities, I have been humbled by the life narratives
“By having had the privilege to volunteer in different settings within the underserved communities, I have been humbled by the life narratives of the disadvantaged men, women, and children struggling to exist.” 30
PA C I F I C U N I O N R E CO R D E R
PHOTO: NATAN VIGNA
espite hectic schedules, three high school students in Redlands and Loma Linda decided that helping disadvantaged individuals was worth putting in longer days. Their subsequent experiences serving others solidified their career interests in medicine and were also among the reasons the students were awarded the largest scholarship given by La Sierra University.
