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Koshland Young Leader Awards
By recognizing the next generation of leaders in our community with these awards, we hope to encourage these young people to continue on their path to leadership.
The Koshland Young Leader Awards recognize the next generation of leadership in our community. Established by Dr. Daniel Koshland, Jr., this scholarship program provides financial assistance to college-bound San Francisco public high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Koshland Young Leaders are strongly motivated to achieve despite facing multiple challenges, such as economic and family responsibilities. They embrace a commitment to strengthening their families and communities. With the Koshland Young Leader Awards we applaud and support their dedication to succeed academically and to pursue their career goals.
Each year, we select up to eight San Francisco public high school juniors to receive a two-year award of $7,000, to be used for education-related expenses such as academic test fees, computers, books, and supplies for classes.
2012 Nomination Process is Now Open
Each winter, we invite teachers and counselors to nominate outstanding San Francisco public high school juniors for this award. The 2012 nomination process is now open. This is a four-part nomination process:
Part 1: Teacher/Counselor submits online nomination form – Due February 29, 2012 by 5 p.m.
Part 2: Teacher/Counselor submits complete official student high school transcript (all pages, front and back) – Due February 29, 2012. You may submit transcripts either via email or mail. If via email, they must be submitted by 5 p.m. on February 29, 2012. If via mail, they must be postmarked by February 29, 2012.
Part 3: Student submits online self-nomination form – Due March 7, 2012 by 5 p.m.
Part 4: Student interviews; after the Awards Committee reviews nominations, selected students will be invited for an interview – On April 20, 2012
To be considered, Teacher/Counselor nomination forms, official high school transcripts and student self-nomination forms must all be received by the deadlines posted above.
If you have questions, please email kyla@sff.org or call Joshua Jones at 415.733.8587.
Important Submission Information:
- The Teacher/Counselor nomination form and the Student self-nomination form are different forms. Both must be submitted online. Emailed or mailed nominations will not be accepted.
- Teachers/Counselors: Please be as thorough and detailed as possible in answering each nomination question. Your nomination form is a critical element used to determine which students proceed to the interview stage. We encourage you to download and review this sample nomination form (PDF).
- Student transcripts may be emailed to kyla@sff.org or mailed to: Koshland Young Leader Awards, Attn: Joshua Jones, The San Francisco Foundation, 225 Bush Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104. Please ensure that each student transcript is submitted in its entirety, including both sides of double-sided pages.
- You must complete the nomination form in a single online session. You will not be able to return to your nomination form once you submit it; and if you exit the form before completing and submitting it, you will lose any content you have entered.
- The Foundation strongly recommends using a word processing program to write your answers, then copy and paste your text into the online application, after saving a copy to your personal computer to ensure that all the information is saved.
Selection Process
Each winter, we invite teachers and counselors to nominate outstanding San Francisco public high school juniors for this award. The 2012 nomination process includes the four parts outlined above. Nominations are then vetted by a committee comprised of San Francisco Foundation staff and Koshland family members. Students selected as finalists are interviewed at the Foundation. Winners will be contacted in May.
Awards Celebrations
We honored the 2011 Koshland Young Leaders at The San Francisco Foundation on June 2, 2011, amongst their families and friends; visit our What's New section for more information. Click here for a photo gallery from the celebration.
They were also recognized at the Community Leadership Awards event on Tuesday, September 27, 2011.
2011 Koshland Young Leader Awardees
We are proud to announce our 2011 Koshland Young Leader Awardees:
- Makda Beyene, Mission High School
- Antonio Cruz, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
- Daynelita Dulalas, Metropolitan Arts and Technology High School
- Maria Figueroa, Mission High School
- Sintia Henriquez, June Jordan School for Equity
- Dina Lemus, June Jordan School for Equity
- Christopher Quinteros, Mission High School
- Huimin Yang, Balboa High School
Makda Beyene
Almost two years ago, Makda came to the United States from Eritrea with her single mother and three younger siblings in search of a better life. The obstacles of starting over in a foreign land with severe financial burdens have not kept her from excelling at Mission High School where she takes challenging courses, including honors and AP classes. School is a safe haven for her, and she takes advantage of every opportunity she is given to learn. In addition to being a stellar student, Makda works two jobs – at Huckleberry Youth Program and as a peer educator, teaching her peers about the importance of college. She is part of the skateboarding club, and takes care of her three younger siblings. She sees herself as a role model for her siblings, since she will be the first person in her family to attend college. She also has a heart for others outside her family, having spent her spring break volunteering to build a school in rural, poverty stricken regions of Mali. Makda’s hardships outside of school fuel her dedication to education and her plans for the future. From her own medical problems as a young girl, to the death of her favorite aunt, she is inspired to study medicine. She envisions becoming a surgeon who changes the lives of low-income families in her community.
Antonio Cruz
Antonio immigrated to the US nine years ago from the Philippines, and now maintains a stellar grade point average at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, where he takes honors and AP coursework. As a musician, he finds peace and creativity in the arts. He plays an impressive four instruments and is the principal French horn player in his school’s wind ensemble symphonic orchestra. Antonio’s extracurricular activities are extensive, from serving as junior class president, to volunteering at the Sequoias Assisted Living Home for seniors, among many others. He is deeply committed to the environment, conservation, and preservation. He has participated in the San Francisco National Areas Program doing restoration work, and aspires to make his mark on the world by helping the environment. His tenacity is inspired by his parents’ hard work to come to America. They instilled in him and his siblings a motivation to take risks, and they push them to do so. With his courage, his love of education, and his dedication to our planet, Antonio aspires to become a marine biologist.
Daynelita Dulalas
Daynelita tries to find at least one thing that inspires her about everyone she meets. She is particularly motivated by her mother’s hard work and resilience. Dayne has transcended life’s challenges, including moving here from the Philippines, to excel academically at Metropolitan Arts & Technology High School. She participates in a club called Tools for Peace that trains youth leaders to promote awareness about various issues at her school. Dayne is also part of College Connect, which helps prepare her for college, and she volunteers at the Filipino Education Center helping younger students after school. She recently completed an internship at TECHsperience, which provides technology support to nonprofit organizations. Dayne enjoys art, photography, sketching, technology, and graphic design. With a love for earth science and maps, she wants to pursue a college degree that allows her to combine all those interests.
Maria Figueroa
Maria Figueroa was born and raised in El Salvador and came to live in San Francisco five years ago without knowing English. While at first she had trouble adapting and found that she didn’t even want to go to school, she now has a 4.0 at Mission High School. Maria has overcome her inability to speak English and has become an advocate for English language learners, committed to helping any and everyone who struggles as she did when she came here. With this aspiration, she helped launch MyTV, a television program at Mission that provides information in Spanish and Chinese about what’s happening in school – with the goal of an inclusive community for all Mission’s students. Mission’s MyTV program was such a success that it has now expanded to other San Francisco high schools. Maria also recently started a youth immigrant rights organization at Mission, and she looks forward to continuing to protect immigrant rights in many ways in the coming years. Maria wants to get a degree in psychiatry so she can provide free services to help people all over the world cope with tragedy.
Sintia Henriquez
Sintia’s passion is for social change, and at her core is her commitment to helping undocumented youth gain access to educational opportunities. Her nominator described her as having a “revolutionary spirit.” Sintia’s family moved to California to escape civil unrest in El Salvador. At June Jordan School for Equity, Sintia has transformed herself into a young woman committed to academic excellence, and connects her educational success to that of her community. She actively volunteers at Educators for Fair Consideration, working to help undocumented youth get into college and volunteers at Homies Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth, and People Organizing to Win Employment Rights. She also makes the time to work at the Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders organization and her school’s Wellness Center. Sintia aspires to turn her passion for social change into a career as either an immigration lawyer or a child psychologist.
Dina Lemus
At June Jordan School for Equity, Dina excels academically while also encouraging her fellow classmates and helping them with their work. She is a passionate student who relishes a challenge and confronts difficult classes with an open mind. Dina strives to make college a reality in spite of life challenges, and she is inspired by her hardworking mother, a grandmother who played an active role in her education, and her 109-year-old great-great grandmother who wants to see Dina graduate from a UC. Dina works each week at the children’s museum Zeum, does Aztec dancing, participates in Upward Bound, and takes care of her two younger brothers and pets. With her love for animals – including her 3 fish, 2 turtles, and other pets – and her dedication and commitment to education, it’s no doubt she plans to become a veterinarian.
Christopher Quinteros
With his strong work ethic and sense of responsibility, Christopher is a role model for his fellow students. He is a versatile athlete, participating in Mission High School’s wrestling, track, cross-country, and soccer teams. He is also involved in the impressive Coro Youth Leadership Program. He teaches Sunday school to young children and maintains a 4.0 grade point average in honors and AP classes. Christopher wants to study civil engineering and music in college. At age 15, he promised his parents that he would build them a house. It is their hard work and inspiration that keeps him motivated to excel in life. He has plans to not only build a house for his family, but to also build homes for other low-income families.
Huimin Yang
Huimin “Happy” Yang came here from China only two years ago. She and her father reunited with her mother, who came here seven years earlier. In such a short time, she has made her mark as an activist for civic engagement and immigrant rights. She was appointed by Supervisor John Avalos to serve on the San Francisco Unified Youth Commission, where she has taken great initiative. She started an immigrant rights group to collaborate with the adult Immigrant Rights Commission. She also identified affordable public transportation as an unmet need for low-income youth. As a result, there is now a program through the MTA that provides free Muni passes to these students. Happy told us the meaning of her life is to improve herself in order to improve this world. She looks forward to studying philosophy and law so that she can return to China and work to improve the educational system there.
Past Winners
2010 Koshland Young Leader Awardees
- Guests at 2010 Koshland Young Leader Awards celebration.
- Emalata Paea, June Jordan School for Equity
- Noe Rivas, Mission High School
- Moneace Smith, June Jordan School for Equity
- Ana Gabriela Avalos Tizol, Mission High School
- Fany Chan Xu, Galileo High School
- Weichao (Steven) Zhuo, Mission High School
We honored the 2010 Koshland Young Leaders Awardees at The San Francisco Foundation on June 9, 2010. For a photo gallery from this celebration, please click here. They were also recognized at the Community Leadership Awards event on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. To view photos from this event, visit our photo gallery.
2009 Koshland Young Leader Awardees
- Winners of the 2009 Koshland Young Leader Awards
- Rashim Khadka, Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
- Sandra Liu, Raoul Wallenberg High School
- Janette Marquez, City Arts and Technology High School
- Sha'Nice Patterson, City Arts and Technology High School
- Francesca Sadikin, School of the Arts
- Carly Tello, City Arts and Technology High School
- David Wu, Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School
We celebrated these outstanding students at the Community Leadership Awards celebration on September 22, 2009.
2008 Koshland Young Leader Awardees
Tanea Lunsford, School of the Arts- Clever Padilla, Mission High School
- Eduwiges Rivas, Mission High School
- Barbara Shipowo, Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Drakzin Wangmo, Gateway High School
- DongYi Zhao, Thurgood Marshall Academic High School
We celebrated these outstanding students at the Community Leadership Awards celebration on September 23, 2008.