Being a first-generation Mexican-American from Buffalo, New York, means carrying my parents’ dreams while chasing my own. My parents, immigrants who’ve run our family restaurant for 25 years, never had the chance to go to college. They worked endless nights, their hands calloused from chopping vegetables and scrubbing pans, so I could have a chance at something better. I'm a proud first-generation college student but —every choice feels like it’s for them too. No one at home knew what FAFSA was or how to pick a college. I spent nights Googling deadlines, piecing together applications, feeling like I was solving a puzzle with missing pieces. Money was tight, so I worked part-time at the restaurant, and at Regal Entertainment balancing shifts with my school in high school and undergrad, and now full-time at the restaurant and night classes for my MS in Data Analytics, where I hold a 3.94 GPA. When Citi let me go last year—"exercising", they said—it hit hard. I worried I’d let my parents down. But I leaned on the grit I learned from them and the skills from Alpha Kappa Psi, like time management and pushing through rejection, to keep going. The plan was - go back to school! My community became my lifeline, helping me land network and as an advisor, I guide others like me, paying forward the support I craved. I dream of becoming a data analyst in sports analytics, crunching numbers to predict game outcomes for teams like the heart of Buffalo, the Buffalo Bills, although some might say we just like to suffer for cheering for the Bills as long as we have. Math is my sanctuary—where I turn chaos into clarity. Long-term, I want to buy our restaurant, retire my parents, and open my own, blending data-driven decisions with the warmth of our family’s recipes. This scholarship would cut my work hours dramatically, letting me dive deeper into my studies and prep for my CFA Level 1 exam in February 2026. It’d mean fewer nights worrying about bills and more time chasing my goals, like applying to more jobs in my field of study and with my family. Family means everything to me, and it hurts to know that the financial burden my education and to keep us afloat is to working 50+ hour weeks sometimes I’m not perfect. I’m a laid-back guy who loves video games, concerts, and stressing out week in and out over my beloved Bills, but I’m serious about breaking cycles. My parents gave up their dreams for mine, and I’m driven to make them proud, to show my little cousins that college isn’t just a word—it’s a door we can open. This scholarship isn’t just money; it’s a chance to honor my family’s sacrifices and build a future where I lift others up, too. I’m ready to keep pushing, to turn every challenge into a step toward something greater. If you don't have a seat at the table, make a menu.

As the only child of Mexican immigrants in Buffalo, New York, I carry the weight of my parents’ sacrifices. They’ve poured 25 years into running a small restaurant, working grueling hours to give me a shot at the American Dream. I’m a 26-year-old graduate student at Canisius University, pursuing an MS in data analytics with a 3.94 GPA, set to graduate in May 2026, after earning a triple bachelor’s in finance, economics, and psychology. As a first-generation college student, my path has been a fight against a system that felt stacked against me—from a high school counselor who scolded me for applying to colleges without her knowledge to standardized tests that seemed built to trip me up. These struggles drive my mission to achieve financial freedom for my family and lift up my community. With no family roadmap for college, I forged my own path. My counselor never reached out, and when she learned I’d applied to colleges on my own, she was annoyed about the extra work. SATs and ACTs felt like cultural gauntlets—I’d translate questions into Spanish to make sense of them, while peers with college-savvy parents sailed through. Despite a top 10% class rank, imposter syndrome haunted me. My parents scraped together money for tutors, a sacrifice that fueled my resolve. At Canisius, I became the first treasurer and music manager for the CrescenDONTs, our a cappella group, securing our spot in the ICCAs in NYC—the “Pitch Perfect” competition. As part of the Golden Griffin Fund, a student-run endowment, I conducted CFA-quality equity research, sharpening my financial analysis. These roles honed my leadership, blending my love for music and finance. My career goals focus on data analytics, finance, and psychology to secure my family’s future. After four years at Citigroup as a Senior Data Quality Analyst and Senior Equity & Derivatives Analyst, I was let go due to restructuring—a setback that only sharpened my focus. As a Citigroup Diversity Scholar and Canisius’ Citi recruitment representative, I built financial modeling skills and championed inclusion. I’m preparing for my CFA Level 1 exam in February 2026, aiming for wealth management or sports analytics, where I can fuse data insights with my passion for the Buffalo Bills and Red Sox. Long-term, I dream of opening restaurants inspired by my parents’ legacy, creating jobs and stability. Community is my core. As Chapter Advisor for Alpha Kappa Psi at Canisius, I mentor over 50 students in networking and career skills. Inspired by mentors like James and Alex, I aim to create an outreach program for Buffalo’s inner-city students and first-generation Americans, helping them tackle college applications and tests—resources I lacked. I lead a 400-member Discord community through my Robisco Remote project, focusing on equity and crypto markets, and grew my Twitter following from 60 to over 1,500 by connecting with finance professionals. My achievements include a perfect 100 on a Level 6 piece for the NY Area All-State Band and Erie County Bands on baritone saxophone, and captaining Fortnite and Overwatch teams to a 2020 MAC esports tournament win, sharpening my strategic thinking. Paying down my student loans with scholarship funds would fast-track my goals. It would fund CFA prep and graduate with very little college debt. It would ease my parents’ burden, letting me save to buy their business sooner. This scholarship is about honoring my parents and building a legacy for Buffalo’s youth.

Selflessness, to me, is about stepping up when it matters most, even when emotions run high and the moment feels overwhelming. It’s choosing to focus on others because their needs matter just as much as your own. Michael Rudometkin’s legacy inspires me—he valued relationships and making a difference over personal gain. As Chapter Advisor for Alpha Kappa Psi at Canisius University, I’ve lived our values—brotherhood, knowledge, integrity, service, and unity—especially through the loss of my sister Damita Scrimini. From the day I met Damita as her orientation leader, she felt like a little sister—bouncing with energy, always volunteering at community events, mentoring pledges, and making everyone feel at home. She had this vision, too, of opening an education dispensary one day, a place where people could learn about what they put in their bodies, understand safety precautions, and get second chances at jobs, especially for marginalized groups. Not everyone grasped her dream, but I think I did—she saw the reality of these substances and wanted education to guide people, not judgment. Three years ago, her fentanyl overdose hit like a shockwave. When I got the call, I’d just gotten home to unwind. In that instant, anger flared—frustration at the unfairness, the helplessness of losing her and another friend before her to the same cause. It was raw, right there in the moment, but I knew I had to push it aside. The chapter needed me, and my feelings couldn’t come first when everyone was hurting. I dropped what I was doing and arranged catering for my brothers and sisters, covering the cost myself to give us a space to grieve together without worry. One brother, who’d been with Damita hours before calling first responders, was devastated, carrying guilt I couldn’t let him bear alone. I knew that weight all too well—having felt the same crushing burden after my own friend’s loss, I refused to let him face it solo. As co-advisors, we got him into therapy, paying for those without coverage, and set up group workshops to help everyone heal. One member said it kept him from giving up; that made it all worthwhile. We kept going, determined to honor Damita’s memory and her vision. The chapter redirected that year’s funds to her funeral, and we alumni matched it, splitting the costs to support her family. I rallied alumni for a memorial, sharing her stories—including her dream of that education dispensary—which sparked service projects with overdose prevention groups to carry her ideas forward. As Advisor, I’ve coordinated events and built workshops to bring the chapter together, while mentoring members to strengthen our community. Selflessness is about persevering for others, even when emotions hit hard. Like Michael, I find joy in lifting people up. This scholarship would fuel my MSc in Data Analytics to tackle issues like substance abuse with data, echoing Damita’s passion for education and second chances. Her spirit pushes me to keep building that connection.