I’ve always believed that science should serve humanity. That belief, shaped by personal experiences and a deep desire to help others, led me to pursue a future in biomedical engineering—a field that sits at the intersection of innovation and compassion. Growing up, I was drawn to the idea of solving problems that mattered. I didn’t just want to understand how things worked; I wanted to use that knowledge to improve lives. That drive became more focused as I learned about the vast possibilities within biomedical engineering. From designing life-saving devices to developing regenerative therapies, this field opens doors to transform medicine in ways that are both groundbreaking and deeply personal. One of the most defining moments in my journey came during my junior and senior years of high school, when I participated in research with my local college. I placed in the top ten nationally in 2023 at a biomedical engineering conference for my research on nuclear deformation in inkjet-bioprinted human dermal fibroblasts. The project explored how mechanical stress affects cellular structure in bioprinted tissue—a topic that pushed me far beyond the classroom and into the frontier of regenerative medicine. Presenting my findings to a room full of experts was surreal, but it also affirmed that I belonged in this field. That my voice, my ideas, and my work mattered. I’m currently studying biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where I’ve had the opportunity to begin exploring the possibilities my major offers. I am confident I am capable of contributing to the future of healthcare. But for me, this career is not just about innovation—it’s about impact. I want to develop technologies that are accessible and inclusive, especially for underserved communities. Whether it’s designing low-cost prosthetics or improving rehabilitation tools, I see biomedical engineering as a way to bridge the gap between science and equity. I also plan to mentor students from similar backgrounds(single parent households or parents dealing with substance abuse)helping them see that they, too, belong in this field. They too can overcome adversity and achieve their goals. I know what it’s like to feel uncertain about your place in the world. I want to be the voice that says, “You’re needed here.” In the end, my goal is simple: to use what I learn to heal, uplift, and empower. Biomedical engineering gives me the tools to do that—not just in theory, but in practice.

I’ve always believed that science should serve humanity. That belief, shaped by personal experiences and a deep desire to help others, led me to pursue a future in biomedical engineering—a field that sits at the intersection of innovation and compassion. Growing up, I was drawn to the idea of solving problems that mattered. I didn’t just want to understand how things worked; I wanted to use that knowledge to improve lives. That drive became more focused as I learned about the vast possibilities within biomedical engineering. From designing life-saving devices to developing regenerative therapies, this field opens doors to transform medicine in ways that are both groundbreaking and deeply personal. One of the most defining moments in my journey came during my senior year of high school, when I placed in the top ten nationally at a biomedical engineering conference for my research on nuclear deformation in inkjet-bioprinted human dermal fibroblasts. The project explored how mechanical stress affects cellular structure in bioprinted tissue—a topic that pushed me far beyond the classroom and into the frontier of regenerative medicine. Presenting my findings to a room full of experts was surreal, but it also affirmed that I belonged in this field. That my voice, my ideas, and my work mattered. I’m currently studying biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where I’ve had the opportunity to begin exploring the possibilities my major offers. I am confident I am capable of contributing to the future of healthcare. But for me, this career is not just about innovation—it’s about impact. I want to develop technologies that are accessible and inclusive, especially for underserved communities. Whether it’s designing low-cost prosthetics or improving rehabilitation tools, I see biomedical engineering as a way to bridge the gap between science and equity. I also plan to mentor students from similar backgrounds, helping them see that they, too, belong in this field. I know what it’s like to feel uncertain about your place in the world of medicine and science. I want to be the voice that says, You’re needed here. In the end, my goal is simple: to use what I learn to heal, uplift, and empower. Biomedical engineering gives me the tools to do that—not just in theory, but in practice. And with every step forward, I carry the stories of those who inspired me, like Christina, whom this scholarship is named for. It reminds me why this work matters.

I am currently pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. For me, this field is more than just a career path—it’s a calling rooted in resilience, curiosity, and a deep desire to serve others. Biomedical engineering allows me to merge science and compassion, and I plan to use what I learn to bring healing and opportunity to communities like the one I come from. Growing up in a single-parent household, I faced challenges that often made academic success feel out of reach. There were nights I studied through noise and uncertainty, and days when I questioned whether my hard work would ever be enough. I watched my mother sacrifice endlessly to keep our home together, and I promised myself I would make her efforts count. So I worked. I studied. I stayed late after school, asked for help when I needed it, and pushed myself even when exhaustion crept in. I didn’t have the luxury of giving up. I had something to prove—not just to the world, but to myself. That I was capable. That I was worthy. And I did it. I graduated second in my class, a moment that felt like reclaiming a future that had once seemed out of reach. But the journey didn’t end there. I was accepted into UT Austin, where I now study biomedical engineering—a field that combines my love for science with my desire to help others. One of my proudest accomplishments came during my senior year of high school, when I placed in the top ten nationally at a biomedical engineering conference for my research on nuclear deformation in inkjet-bioprinted human dermal fibroblasts. The project explored how mechanical stress affects cellular structure in bioprinted tissue—a topic that pushed me far beyond the classroom and into the frontier of regenerative medicine. Presenting my findings to a room full of experts was surreal, but it also affirmed that I belonged in this field. That my voice, my ideas, and my work mattered. My long-term goal is to develop accessible, ethical biotechnologies that can improve patient outcomes—especially in underserved communities. I envision working on innovations that make regenerative treatments more affordable and scalable, so that healing isn’t a privilege, but a right. Whether it’s printing stem cells to repair damaged tissue or designing low-cost diagnostic tools, I want my work to reflect the needs of those who are often overlooked. But my impact won’t stop at the lab bench. I plan to mentor students from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially those who feel science is out of reach. I know what it’s like to feel invisible, to question whether your voice matters. I want to be the proof that it does. This scholarship would not only support my education—it would amplify my mission. I’m ready to use what I learn to heal, uplift, and give back—because I know that when one of us rises, we all rise.

They say the odds were never in my favor. Growing up in a single-parent household, with a father battling alcoholism, I was surrounded by statistics that told me I would fail. That I’d struggle, drop out, give up. That success was reserved for someone else. But I refused to let those numbers define me. There were nights I studied with the sound of chaos in the background. Days I carried the weight of uncertainty, wondering if I’d ever escape the cycle I was born into. I watched my mother work tirelessly to keep our home afloat, sacrificing her own dreams so I could chase mine. I saw the toll it took on her, and I promised myself I would make it worth it. So I worked. I studied. I stayed late after school, asked for help when I needed it, and pushed myself even when exhaustion crept in. I didn’t have the luxury of giving up. I had something to prove—not just to the world, but to myself. That I was capable. That I was worthy. And I did it. I graduated second in my class, a moment that felt like reclaiming a future that had once seemed out of reach. But the journey didn’t end there. I was accepted into the University of Texas at Austin, where I now study biomedical engineering—a field that combines my love for science with my desire to help others. One of my proudest accomplishments came during my senior year of high school, when I placed in the top ten nationally at a biomedical engineering conference for my research on nuclear deformation in inkjet-bioprinted human dermal fibroblasts. The project explored how mechanical stress affects cellular structure in bioprinted tissue—a topic that pushed me far beyond the classroom and into the frontier of regenerative medicine. Presenting my findings to a room full of experts was surreal, but it also affirmed that I belonged in this field. That my voice, my ideas, and my work mattered. My passion lies in cellular engineering, and I’ve been fortunate to secure two summer internships that allowed me to explore this field in depth. I’ve studied the ethical implications of printing stem cells and the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine. It’s more than just research to me—it’s hope. Hope that one day, I can help heal others in ways I never thought possible. But despite my academic achievements and determination, the financial burden of college remains a challenge. This scholarship would not only ease that burden—it would be an investment in someone who refuses to be defined by circumstance. Someone who believes in the power of resilience, and in the responsibility to pay it forward. My goal is to use my education to make a meaningful impact. I want to create technologies that heal, and build bridges for others who feel trapped by their environment. I know what it’s like to feel invisible. I know what it means to fight for a future no one thought you deserved. And I want to be the proof that it’s possible. Thank you for considering my story. I’m not asking for a miracle—I’m asking for a chance to keep building one.

No one tells you how cold the phones are when you visit someone in jail. How there is only glass separating you but the glass feels a mile long in thickness. Movies downplay this event into something of minimal significance. They’re wrong though, it is an event that stays with you for life. Growing up my mother told me stories of how her mother left her father because he dealt drugs and was always in jail. I assumed that people who went to jail were probably always bad people. When your little jail equals bad. My father has struggled with alcohol since he joined the military. It was a sad thing to see him so consumed in the alcohol to drown out some of the things he has seen. Eventually that addiction followed him into his civilian life. He’s been arrested three times now for driving while intoxicated. He is waiting on a sentencing now. Courts became so overwhelmed with cases during Covid that they have been delaying his case for some while now. Except this time it’s different. It’s no longer a small weekend stay and maybe a couple weeks served followed by community service and probation. This time is real time served and so we wait. We wait for it to be delayed or for the time to come where we have to say goodbye for a few year. I don’t know whether to be angry with him that we couldn’t be top of his mind enough for him to consider our future or be sad knowing that alcoholism is a disability. After all, both of my grandfathers drank themselves to death. It is a sad reality to accept that this could even one day affect me if I should make the choice to let it control my life as well. Court fees and legal fees are now the norm. They take and take from our family life. It feels selfish to be angry that my life couldn’t just be normal like this friend and that friend. What is normal anyhow? It’s subjective right? As I face my classes in undergrad and look at the tuition and housing costs I can’t help but selfishly think of the thousands of dollars we have spent on lawyers and reparation to victims, legal fees and insurance premium increases. My dreams have a shadow that has been cast over and I have to accept that disabilities are sometime incurable. A person has to be willing to fight for change. So I choose to fight for myself. To apply myself full force so I can succeed and break this cycle. I can break this cycle!

Growing up I thought free lunch at school was normal. We live in America after all right, the land of the free where we are all equal. People have fought for these rights and it is owed to our citizens for all of us to have access to education and food right? Wrong. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized I was getting free lunch because I went to a title I school district and what I thought was normal in our world was really all of us being financially disadvantaged. I had never heard of district designations in the public school system. I just assumed private was wealthy students and public was everyone else. That we were all on an even playing field and what we did in school may or may not define our future success. Growing up in a one income household I did not really stop to think of all of the sacrifices my mother made so that my sisters and I could participate in activities with our school. This, along with special grants our school received made having a ‘normal’ life possible. All things as a child you overlook as ‘normal’. I am now a student at the University of Texas at Austin. Housing has been something I never considered until I was out in this world on my own. Inflation is another word I never really stopped to consider. As a child you are sheltered from so much and the worries of the world are really the worries of your parents or parent. Housing is what this scholarship would help me with. All over the nation we have a housing crisis. Even with subsidized housing available through my university, it is a scary number to see what I will owe each year to help me reach my goals in my biomedical engineering dream of changing this world. As I venture on in my college career I promise my future self that when I get where I am going I will look back and help others as people have helped me. It is something that is owed to our future selves to pass on that goodness unto the world. When someone helps you with a hand up you pass that good on to someone else when you are able to. I promise my future self that I will not forget that. I will someday pass this on to someone because we succeed together!

Join the military and travel the world! What they don’t tell you is you will do this with and without your family. I am proud of my father and his military service. It comes from a long line of veterans in our home. My grandparents, various aunts and uncles, cousins and of course my father. What was Guam like? What was Korea like? I can go on and on about the questions I have. Knowing that my father had good and bad experiences makes me cautious about what I ask. Sacrifice. It is a powerful word. It is something you don’t understand until you do. Sacrifice. It means, you can’t always be there for family events and first days of school. It’s missing all of those firsts so that you can protect the rights of others. Others who don’t and will not ever fully understand what that word means. Their right to protest and their right to own guns and vote etc. Many things we take for granted. Our country is founded on sacrifice. For me, I have decided that my sacrifice would be in dedicating myself to research. Research that may one day benefit veterans such as those in my family through innovation. I have chosen to major in biomedical engineering. This is a field I am passionate about. Building and imagining things is something that motivates me. Biomedical engineers look at the world and build things that are needed. Things that are needed post sacrifice. Things like mobility devices for our wounded soldiers so that they can live as normal a life as possible when their duty is done and their time is served. I want to study this and hopefully move on to my masters and MD so that I can combine my knowledge and have an impact on the world that I will serve through my knowledge and ability to innovate. For me, sacrifice will come with years of education and time that I take from my life to fulfill my calling of being in medical and health research and service. I am not sure yet, as I am only 18, what that will fully look like but my hope is to be a Dr. and a researcher and to build cutting end technology to help those who sacrifice daily live a better life where they can interact with the world in meaningful ways. It’s something we owe them because only they know the true impact of sacrifice!

To say my mother has supported me the most in my educational goals is an understatement. Growing up I did not understand why my father could not be around. Why was she punishing me by trying to do things on her own? What was so wrong with having a cohesive unit to raise me with. It wasn’t until years later that I realized my mother chose to raise me alone to take me away from a life of sadness and possible temptation. My grandfather drank himself to death and my father is doing the same. Looking back as how hard my mother has worked to keep me from this life was eye opening. Her own father had the same fate. She woke one day with the intention to keep me from following this same path. She used to tell me that she took out her own student loans in the hope to give me a better life but she will be paying those for a while to come. My hope is to look and ear scholarships through my hard work and accolades so she doesn’t feel that she also has to take on mine. Knowing her, she would in a heartbeat. She has done her part and now it’s up to me. I am excited to be a student at UT Austin studying biomedical engineering. I hope to one day change the world we live in though innovation and imagination. Growing up my mother never said no. She would find ways to sacrifice herself for my sisters and I to be able to be able to experience things she could only dream of as a child. She would show up to all of our events and was our biggest cheerleader. As she raises my two younger sisters alone, I see her do this with a smile on her face daily. She never complains of being tired and always finds a way. I can only hope to be this resilient and I aspire to achieve greatness so that her sacrifices are also why I was able to change this world. To be able to tell her someday that I’ve made a new prosthetic or have grown a human organ or even that I’ve continued the stem cell research I started in high school and have had a breakthrough would be a dream come true. Unfortunately, housing in Austin TX (as it is everywhere else I’m sure) will be a hinderance on my dream unless I’m able to rely on the generosity of donors such as this scholarship. I hope to be able to thank you someday for your support in achieving my dreams!

During my summer internships with Project Ace in collaboration with my high school, we used the Java programming language to analyze RNA sequencing to aid our research. We also used an Inkjet Bio-Printer to print Human Dermal Fibroblasts, something which was amazing to see! This allowed us to explore the world of stem cells and the opportunities for advancing research to cultivate these more ethically. I have had the honor to present that research twice at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference. This has allowed me to see the importance of not just participating in research but also in sharing what I have learned with others. I hope to be leading that research in the future or continue to fund and participate in it to see it to completion. My research in Nuclear Deformation of Inkjet-Bioprinted Human Dermal Fibroblasts the last two summers has allowed me to see the side of science we do not normally get to see. The hard work that happens on the back end which not everyone truly sees or appreciates. The many technologies that are involved in making research successful. Working hand in hand with the University of Texas at El Paso has shown me this side of innovation and how important it is to our society. We need to continue to advance technology through the use of AI and other future innovations to continue to advance as a society. I hope to contribute to the STEM world with my innovations and am excited to be pursuing a career in STEM.

The very first time I experienced an asthma attack I was at a family cookout and I thought it was anxiety. My mother rushed me home, and I felt embarrassed that everyone had seen me gasping for air and we did not know why. Countless Dr. visits later, we learned I needed to take a trip to our local pediatric pulmonologist. He had a four-month wait! We used the recommended course of treatment my pediatrician provided me and I was able to have some relief with my condition until we could get an expert opinion. Asthma, has a funny way of impacting your life even when you dont fully understand this as a child. From realizing that there is a massive need for medical specialization while you sit in an hours-long waiting room, to realizing that your prescription for the same inhaler that is supposed to be an emergency relief, will be charged exponentially higher depending on how they prescribe it. Watching your mom compare pricing for albuterol on apps like Good RX because its cheaper than your insurance opens up your eyes to how much this ailment takes its toll on your family and the funds they need to allocate towards healthcare. Emergency ER visits can keep your family grasping for funds to keep necessities like rent, water and electricity paid. I have a strong desire to study biomedical engineering with a focus on premed and later attend medical school. I live in a community where we urgently need specialists to come back and help our community. Although El Paso, TX has grown so much in many years, there is still a need for specialists in our area. I am not sure what I want to specialize in but my heart has always found working with children to be very fun and fulfilling. I want to study and specialize in something where I can work with kids in my community as a provider. As children we are told things like "that should not hurt" or "if you calm down it will hurt less" by people who treat us and specialize in something they do not understand because they have not experienced it. The empathy I feel I would be able to provide would make me a better provider if I do end up specializing in pulmonology. I would also possibly pursue research as I have found that the summer research I completed with Project Ace in collaboration with my school, Canutillo High School was very enlightening. I have had the honor to present that research twice at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference. My research in Nuclear Deformation of Inkjet-Bioprinted Human Dermal Fibroblasts the last two summers has allowed me to see the side of science we do not normally get to see. I hope that with your scholarship, my medical needs will be something I do not have to worry about while I pursue my career in medicine and STEM. Thank you for your consideration!

Hello, My name is April Ruiz. I am a daughter to a single mother and have two little sister who reside with us in our home. I am a talented and motivated individual and if you tell my mother, "great job on such an amazing kid" she will blush and say this was all me. Although she cannot take credit for my hard work and education, she never gives herself the credit for the love and safety that she provided for me which allowed me to be so successful. You see my father is an alcoholic, and although he tries to be there for me, she is the one providing for all of my needs. She has at times worked two jobs to keep a roof over our heads. This is something that has allowed me to grow strong and see that with desire and perseverance anything is possible. She has made me a leader and a strong young woman. I have been able to live a life where I feel normal, and loved and have an opportunity to advance even more academically. This is because of her. This scholarship will allow her to breathe, it will allow her to perhaps be able to visit me at college and not be budgeting daily on how I can get what I need while keeping food in my sister's bellies. I have a passion for Biomedical engineering. I have twice completed summer research with Project Ace in collaboration with my school, Canutillo High School. I have had the honor to present that research twice at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference. This has allowed me to see the importance of not just participating in research but also in sharing what I have learned with others. I hope to be leading that research in the future or continue to fund and participate in it to see it to completion. My research in Nuclear Deformation of Inkjet-Bioprinted Human Dermal Fibroblasts the last two summers has allowed me to see the side of science we do not normally get to see. The hard work that happens on the back end which not everyone truly sees or appreciates. Working hand in hand with the University of Texas at El Paso has shown me this side of innovation and how important it is to our society. One day, I hope to form a scholarship fund and pay it forward to future generations. College is stressful and not cheap for anyone pursuing a higher education. I hope that one day my education pays off not only for future generations but for society. I want to make an impact in any way I can!

Although I live in a low-income school district I have been lucky to see the growth of the community through funding that has allowed our education to advance from when my mother attended here. I will be a second-generation college student, my mother was the first. In her family, she is the only college graduate. This just shows how underfunding will keep opportunities like college far from reach from many people who would otherwise have such amazing potential. My goals in life are to make my family proud, study Biomedical Engineering and attend medical school. We have a duty to our communities to give back to our community members. I hope to do this through a medical career or research career. It is not lost on me that change in our community starts with our perseverance. My mother, although successful, is inundated with student loan debt that she took out to seek out a better future for me and my sisters. She did not realize she could have help through scholarships and work-study. As a first-generation student, she had no idea how to navigate college and that is something I am grateful to have moving into my future. Her sacrifice has allowed me to be able to achieve so much more. I have twice completed summer research with Project Ace in collaboration with my school, Canutillo High School. I have had the honor to present that research twice at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference. This has allowed me to see the importance of not just participating in research but also in sharing what I have learned with others. I hope to be leading that research in the future or continue to fund and participate in it to see it to completion. My research in Nuclear Deformation of Inkjet-Bioprinted Human Dermal Fibroblasts the last two summers has allowed me to see the side of science we do not normally get to see. The hard work that happens on the back end which not everyone truly sees or appreciates. Working hand in hand with the University of Texas at El Paso has shown me this side of innovation and how important it is to our society. One thing I know for sure is that I will take my successes and pay them forward to all of our future generations.

In my high school career, I have sought out several leadership and research positions. I volunteer when I can and love to work with my peers who may need help with their coursework. Collaborating with others makes me happy and provides fulfillment in my life. We learn and lead through teaching others and I will likely spend my lifetime seeking out opportunities to better myself through work with the community. I have served as community service committee head and secretary for the student council at my high school. I have twice completed summer research with Project Ace in collaboration with my school, Canutillo High School. I have had the honor to present that research twice at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference. This has allowed me to see the importance of not just participating in research but also in sharing what I have learned with others. This encourages others to provide input and expertise that we may be able to utilize in succeeding with our endeavors. I hope to be leading that research in the future or continue to fund and participate in it to see it to completion. My research in Nuclear Deformation of Inkjet-Bioprinted Human Dermal Fibroblasts the last two summers has allowed me to see the side of science we do not normally get to see. The hard work that happens on the back end which not everyone truly sees or appreciates. Working hand in hand with the University of Texas at El Paso has shown me this side of innovation and how important it is to our society. One day, we hope to be able to fully print a human organ. The impact this could have on society is something I hope to continue to be a part of and see to completion someday in my lifetime. We are asked to write essays, detailing what we want to be when we grow up. We are 17 and 18-year-olds who don't know much about this world and how things work. I hope to be a biomedical engineer someday, possibly going to medical school after that. The reality is, that I may fall in love with teaching or research and may never actually become a Dr. who practices medicine. What I do know, is that no matter what I decide to do in life. I will lead. I will lead because leaders, especially good ones, know that leading does not mean you are always right. It does not mean you always have the final say. It means you foster amazing learning opportunities for others and help them grow while learning from your team too. It means innovating and thinking outside the box. Taking risks but not at the expense of others. I was born to be a leader in this world.

In my high school career, I have sought out several leadership and research positions. I volunteer when I can and love to work with my peers who may need help with their coursework. Collaborating with others makes me happy and provides fulfillment in my life. We learn through teaching others and I will likely spend my lifetime seeking out opportunities to better myself through work with the community. I have served as community service committee head and secretary for the student council at my high school. I have twice completed summer research with Project Ace in collaboration with my school, Canutillo High School. I have had the honor to present that research twice at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference. This has allowed me to see the importance of not just participating in research but also in sharing what I have learned with others. This encourages others to provide input and expertise that we may be able to utilize in succeeding with our endeavors. I hope to be leading that research in the future or continue to fund and participate in it to see it to completion. My research in Nuclear Deformation of Inkjet-Bioprinted Human Dermal Fibroblasts the last two summers has allowed me to see the side of science we do not normally get to see. The hard work that happens on the back end which not everyone truly sees or appreciates. Working hand in hand with the University of Texas at El Paso has shown me this side of innovation and how important it is to our society. One day, we hope to be able to fully print a human organ. The impact this could have on society is something I hope to see someday in my lifetime. We are asked to write essays, detailing what we want to be when we grow up. We are 17 and 18-year-olds who don't know much about this world and how things work. I hope to be a biomedical engineer someday, possibly going to medical school after that. The reality is, that I may fall in love with teaching or research and may never actually become a Dr. who practices medicine. What I do know, is that no matter what I decide to do in life. I will lead. I will lead because leaders, especially good ones, know that leading does not mean you are always right. It does not mean you always have the final say. It means you foster amazing learning opportunities for others and help them grow while learning from your team too!

I love math because it is straightforward. Sure there are many different ways that you could approach a problem, but there can only be one correct answer. Whereas in English you could interpret one thing a million different ways, math is simple. I have always found that math comes easier to me than most other subjects. My pre-calculus teacher once told me "Math is the science of patterns" and I had never heard anyone explain the subject in a way that made perfect sense. I think part of the reason I have more fun learning math is that I can pick up on these different patterns early on. Seeing the different patterns helps me truly understand the reason behind different math concepts. I also have fun while I do math. I joined my school's math team this past year and I always have a great time working together to find solutions and the best way for us to solve problems at our competitions. Another reason that I love math is that is applicable in so many different parts of my life. For example, I use statistics and algebra in my science classes and for research. Math has always been my favorite class and it is a subject that never fails to interest me.