Captivating my gaze with its hypnotic flames of possibility and innovation, scientific research inspires me to utilize my critical thinking, courageousness, and curiosity to deliver clinical breakthroughs for neurological disease treatment and improve the lives of millions. Beginning my scientific journey as a first-generation Latina from a single-parent household in Aurora, CO, my interests in exploring the world of science were isolated by barriers of accessibility and underfunding. However, facing these obstacles further fueled my drive to pursue my aspirations to become a clinical neuroscientist and enact meaningful change for my society. Eager to catalyze progressive strides for Aurora’s next generation of STEM dreamers, I joined my community college’s student government as the Senator of STEM and accepted the role of a Supplemental Instructor for College Biology. Through my time as Senator, I organized and hosted an event that connected our students to the Top-Leading STEM industry employers in Colorado in addition to an Excel Energy Sponsored Panel and Mixer that bridged connections between the college’s STEM Faculty and students. In the course of fulfilling my role as a Supplemental Instructor, I seized the opportunity to help instruct biology students and elucidate the more challenging concepts presented in the course; through this, I was able to gain invaluable experience as an educator and translate the complex beauty of biology. As I now explore the world of Neuroscience as a rising junior at the University of Michigan, I seek to deepen my contribution to science in both the lab and community. After years of studying, trying on different hats of research in several labs, and learning from my research mentors, I find myself inspired to pursue higher education to lead a research team as a Principal Investigator. Through my research, I seek to collaborate with a team of medicinal chemists, epidemiologists, and pharmaceutical scientists to curate a holistic, affordable treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In regards to working towards this goal, I have been working alongside the Hoang lab at the University of Michigan for the past year studying neurodegeneration and cell-to-neuron reprogramming. Currently, I work as a student-researcher through the STAR U program at Columbia University studying how the fluctuating concentrations of the biomarkers Tau and Amyloid cause the brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Looking forward, I will present my research at the end of summer and begin graduate school preparation as an applicant. Outside of the lab, I await to welcome the incoming 2024-2025 cohort of the Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars as a Peer Advisor at the university, for I will be able to gain experience in guiding, empowering, and learning from the next generation of trailblazing scientists. Through his invaluable contributions to science, his family, and millions of aspiring scientists, William Griggs stands as an inspiration to allow my curiosity, determination, and passion for Neuroscience to drive my ambitions of bettering my society both in the lab and community. With the financial support of the William Griggs Scholarship, I will be able to honor his legacy through the pursuit of higher education and inspire the next generation of STEM dreamers to pursue a career in STEM no matter the obstacles (especially women from minority backgrounds). Most of all, I will be able to touch the moon and stars much like the lifework of William Griggs and deliver promising clinical breakthroughs for neurodegenerative diseases.

From skipping meals after class to fund household bills to walking miles from school to catch free city buses back home, growing up as a student from a low-income, Hispanic household made me quickly realize that education is the only way I will be able to deliver my desired contributions to our world, especially for the field of neuroscience. However, my humble upbringing has inspired the rise of a passionate hunger within me to earn the first college degree in my family to promote the pursuit of academic and professional expansion and catalyze revolutionary progression for my field, community, and society. As a child, my abuela exposed me to the teachings of curanderismo-a sacred practice our Aztec ancestors used to heal sicknesses/diseases holistically. In learning how to make natural healing agents, meditate to access ancestral wisdom, and assess and treat root causes, my experiences have led me to question how I connect the worlds of scientific research and curanderismo to pioneer clinical breakthroughs for neurological disorders and diseases. To further empower this initiative, I worked diligently to earn a spot in a virus research lab at the University of Colorado-Anschutz last summer, where I performed the research that expanded the horizons of my curiosity and invigorated my ambition to cultivate scientific innovation. As I begin my clinical neuroscience research at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor this upcoming fall, I will finally receive the opportunity to discover the scientific beacons of hope that will advance the field and enrich the lives of millions. In addition, my challenging yet profound experiences as a Latina scientist from a severely underfunded community have inspired me to initiate and lead institutional strides that enrich STEM education. In serving my community college as a supplemental biology instructor, I aided in fostering the development of new STEM passions by cultivating a peer-oriented environment that welcomed the free-spirited exploration and curiosity of biology to navigate students’ learning endeavors. Serving my student government as the Senator of STEM, I also led the organization and execution of a STEM Panel and Mixer that united my college’s STEM community to discuss student success in STEM courses. To further maximize my efforts to uplift my community, I plan on founding a STEM discovery program that facilitates enriching learning opportunities for low-income high school students to explore the wonders of STEM. Lastly, before I returned to the United States at the age of ten, I lived in several U.S. military communities in Germany-an experience that left me with a deep understanding of the importance of exercising connections and team effort to nourish the collective well-being of the people and places we call home. Within these courtyards of neighboring families, my mother consistently noticed the lack of communal connection between households which we changed by hosting neighborhood potlucks. As a result, we influenced robust support networks and inspired collaborative participation in communal volunteer work. From assembling care packages to passing out food supplies, my time with my community allowed me to develop an ardent ambition to join the Peace Corps one day for I strive to put forth the work and compassion to manifest the collective prosperity of our neighbors worldwide. Furthermore, if awarded the Ruebenna Greenfield Flack Scholarship, it would greatly assist in remedying my out-of-state tuition costs. The less I worry about money, the more time I dedicate to learning, researching, and delivering scientific advances. Most importantly, I would like to thank everyone behind this scholarship opportunity. I aspire to create a scholarship of my own one day and invest in the future of tomorrow's leaders.