Marcus Stroman Scholarship

My name is Sebastian Martinez and I am a recent graduate of South Pasadena High School. I am submitting this to express my sincere interest in being eligible for your scholarship, which would be crucial in helping me continue my education and continue to develop as a student and athlete. During my time at high school, I was quite committed to academics and athletics. I was a member of the varsity basketball, football, and track and field teams, while maintaining a 3.3 GPA. I was given the Principal's Award, was a 2nd Team All-League member in basketball, and helped break school records for the sprint medley relay, and was a finalist in long jump and high jump. Balancing tough work and multiple sports taught me the importance of discipline, perseverance, and time management—skills that I will be using throughout college and in life. But my last year of college took a sudden and life altering turn. During my final semester, our home burned down in the Eaton Canyon Fire. My grandmother's home was also burned down. Everything that I had believed was safe and secure suddenly was gone. The psychological effects of losing our home, our community, and the secure rhythm of life were catastrophic. Right away, I was living with my godparents, who are over 45 minutes from school. Consistency was difficult to come by—academically, socially, and athletically. I wasn't at every practices during basketball season due to the toll on my mental early on, which cost me my starting role—something I had been battling for since freshman year. I felt lost, defeated, and unsure of what the future held. Despite all of these challenges, I did not lose hope. Those moments of struggle sparked a fire of resilience in me. I clung to my faith and I remembered that setbacks can be staged for even greater comebacks. I remained committed, gritted through, and emerged on the other side the stronger. My senior year was navigated with good grades, my athletic responsibilities were maintained, and I continued striving towards my aspiration of attending a four-year college. I'm attending San Jose State in the fall, since the school resonates with all I'm looking for in a college: academic potential, Division I intercollegiate athletics, diversity, and a very strong sense of community. SJSU's location in the heart of Silicon Valley presents opportunities beyond compare, and its values are extremely close to my own. The Eaton Canyon Fire tried to burn me down, but instead, it gave me the chance to create a better foundation. My past has shaped my present, but it will not control my future. I'm ready to grow, compete, and thrive at San Jose State University. I'm ready to take all that I've been through and utilize it as fuel for success—on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Thank you for considering my application. I am most thankful to you for your time and support, and I eagerly anticipate being given the opportunity to represent your scholarship with purpose and pride.

The University of Oregon is not only my ideal school; it was home the moment I set foot on campus. It was a such a lovely campus: the trees, fresh air, peaceful, friendly atmosphere. I have an allergy issue, and for the first time in years, I was breathing freely without medication. That is not a major issue to most people, but it was huge to me. It was a place where I felt that I could finally relax. I had no idea what I wanted to study when I took the tour. I wanted to study many different things, but I could not picture how I was going to make them all work together. I then visited the Media and Communications and Business schools, and it all fell into place. I knew I could combine my passion for sports with my passion for gaming, statistics, and storytelling. That's when it clicked: I wanted to study Sports Business and Media and Communications and minor in Gaming Studies. It's not necessarily the most conventional pairing, but it works perfectly for me. My goal is not going to college, it's to grow, challenge myself, and forge an authentic future from my passion. But my path has not been easy. We had to leave our Altadena home on January 8, 2025, because of the fires. I remember seeing our house and wishing if it were still going to be there when we went back. Thankfully, it was still standing; but months later, we are still not permitted to go home. Our street has charred empty lots, and we were told by our insurance company that we are not permitted to enter until the 250-yard-wide rubble is removed. I've been driving three hours a day since just to go to school. It's exhausting, but I've endured. As if things weren't bad enough, I also tore my ACL and MCL in a football game on September 29, 2024. I had surgery in January, two weeks after we were forced to evacuate our home. That injury not only ruined my football season; it took away my senior year of basketball as well. That was the hardest part. I had always dreamed about playing basketball at the D1 level, and I had always thought I would be a Duck. To have that taken away from me was like losing something that I had competed for my whole life. Recovery was not easy, both physically and emotionally draining. Nevertheless, even on the toughest of days, I stayed devoted to school. I did not want all those setbacks defining me. The fires, the accident, the road trips; they've all taught me how to be strong, even when everything seemed to fall apart. Now more than ever, I understand that I must be a part of something larger than myself. I must be where the people are congregating; through sports, through media, through games. I must create atmospheres where people feel heard, where people are able to relate and be inspired, just as I was inspired when I went to Oregon. Due to all that my family has been through, we are unable to afford college. A need-based scholarship would be a beautiful surprise towards reaching my dreams. It would relieve some pressure and enable me to solely concentrate on the future. I've been forced to grow up fast, and I'll get the work done. I just need the opportunity. The University of Oregon represents everything I’ve been fighting for; peace, growth, and a real shot at building a future that matters.