Six La Sierra students’ education gets boost with $15k from energy giant

Diaz was one of six La Sierra University students who each received $2,500 as Edison STEM Scholars this spring toward supporting their college education going forward. The allotment of $15,000 is the latest round of scholarships La Sierra University has received each year from Edison since 2014-15 for a total outlay thus far of $170,000.

The awards are designed to support the education of those in STEM degree tracks. This year's recipients were recognized during a spring scholarship awards ceremony. Five of the awardees are computer science majors - Diaz, Sean Sullivan, Luke Poxon, Ankit Tiwari, and Karl Yanes. Awardee Destiny Olivares is a mathematics major.

"Scholarships like this allow me to reach my highest potential." -- Joseph Diaz, computer science major

For students, scholarships are critical to managing higher education costs and ensuring completion of their degrees. "This scholarship is profoundly impactful to me by providing me the financial support necessary to continue my education without the burden of excessive debt," Diaz said of the Edison award. "Scholarships like this allow me to reach my highest potential with my projects, studies, and business with greater confidence and focus."

In addition to the Edison STEM Scholarship, Diaz said he also received the Hilmer Besel Mathematics and Computing Endowed Scholarship, Nike HSI Scholarship, and the Hispanic Recognition Program Scholarship.

In the future, Diaz wants to use his computer science skills toward creating safe spaces for games that build up and educate. "My career goal is to develop educational games that both entertain and foster a healthy community among the players," he said.

Diaz is originally from Chicago and his family attended West Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Illinois. He lived most of his life in Berrien Springs, Mich. "I chose La Sierra to pursue my higher education because I wanted to explore more of the world by going somewhere I had never been before, while still being able to pursue my career goals and stay true to my Seventh-day Adventist roots," Diaz said.

Eligible applicants for Edison STEM Scholarships must be a sophomore, junior or senior in a STEM major, demonstrate financial need and the ability for academic success, as well as possess a record of campus or community involvement and impact.

Edison International, one of the nation's largest electric utility holding companies, in 2023 distributed $8.5 million to students via 233 education grants representing 42% of total funding in four key community investments sectors, according to its 2023 Community & Economic Impact report.