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Jelizza Lupi

2x

Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Nutrition and Health
  • Violin
  • Piano
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Cooking
  • Baking

Reading

  • Health

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

I am a Biology graduate and Presidential Scholar from the University of Portland, where I was honored as a Student Success Story. My passion for neuroscience began through my personal connection to Parkinson’s disease and has grown through extensive research, anatomy, and clinical experiences. I have created two graduate-level research posters, completed a senior capstone grant proposal investigating AEP cleavage and its connection to Parkinson’s disease, and was selected as one of only 12 students for an advanced human cadaver dissection course, where I dissected and removed the brain and identified structures including the Circle of Willis. Beyond research, I have gained hands-on exposure to medicine through surgical and patient-care experiences and dedicated more than 650 hours to community and hospice volunteering. These experiences have taught me that exceptional medicine requires both scientific curiosity and genuine compassion. I am pursuing advanced study in neuroscience and ultimately medical school, with the goal of becoming a physician who combines research with patient care to advance neurological medicine. The financial burden of graduate education and medical school is significant, and scholarship support would help make these goals possible. I hope to turn every opportunity I receive into knowledge, service, and ultimately better care for the patients who need it most.

Education

University of Portland

Bachelor's degree program

2022 – 2026

Majors:
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Minors:
  • Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Washington Connections Academy

High School

2018 – 2022

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York University, Baylor College of Medicine
Majors of interest:
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Biological and Physical Sciences, Human Biology
Desired degree modality:
In-Person
Medical school interest:
Yes
English as first language:
Yes
Homeschooled:
No

Career

  • AP Biology, Chemistry & English Tutor

    Education · Superprof Tutoring

    Jan 2022 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine, Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience
Dream career goals:
My long-term goal is to become a physician specializing in neurosurgery while contributing to neuroscience research focused on neurodegenerative disease. Inspired by my experiences with Parkinson’s disease, I hope to bridge scientific discovery and patient care by advancing our understanding of neurological disorders and developing better treatments. I want my career to combine rigorous research, surgical excellence, and compassionate care, ultimately improving both the outcomes and quality of life of patients with neurological disease.
Work experience:
4 years
Has nursing license:
No
Leadership experience:
Yes

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
Female Musician Scholarship
To me, success isn’t defined by how much recognition someone receives—it’s about how selflessly they invest in others, how they create opportunities where none existed for themselves. My mother is the embodiment of that kind of success. Growing up, my mother dreamed of learning to play the piano and violin, but those dreams were never realized due to financial hardship and limited access to the arts in her community. Instead of letting that dream fade away, she passed it on—quietly and intentionally—to me and my sister. From a young age, music became a part of our lives not because she forced it, but because she believed so deeply in the power of expression, discipline, and opportunity. She made sacrifices to ensure we had the instruments she never did, and she encouraged us to embrace the gift she never got to fully hold. Because of her, I’ve been playing piano for the past 16 years. I was also a violinist in our school orchestra throughout my academic career in high school. Music became my safe space, my creative outlet, and a quiet but powerful form of self-expression—especially during times when words weren’t enough. It taught me patience, confidence, and how to keep going when something feels hard. My mom never sat at the piano bench herself, but she sat behind me during every recital, every rehearsal, every practice session that ran late into the night. Her dream lived on through my hands. Now in college, I’m pursuing a pre-med path as a Biology major with a Neuroscience minor, maintaining a GPA well above 3.0. Even though my studies are rooted in science, I continue to play piano and guitar during my free time, and I still write and perform music. It keeps me balanced, grounded, and connected to the lessons music has taught me over a lifetime. Over the past two semesters, I’ve also completed a neuroscience research internship, volunteered extensively in memory care settings, and led multiple health-related student organizations—all while continuing to practice music and carry my mom’s dream forward. As a woman of Asian & Italian descent, I understand the barriers that exist for women—especially in spaces like medicine and music. But I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from simply achieving your own goals. True success is lifting someone else higher, even if you never get to stand on that stage yourself. That’s what my mom did for me. She turned a lost dream into a lifelong gift, and her quiet strength is the reason I found my voice—not just musically, but as a future neurosurgeon, a student leader, and an advocate for others. This scholarship would not only support my continued education—it would honor the path my mother made possible. Her story, and mine, are proof that when you pour love into someone’s future, it ripples far beyond anything you could’ve imagined.
Jelizza Lupi Student Profile | Bold.org