Amerigo Student Accepted to UC- Davis!

Homare - a Grade 12 student from Japan, currently studying at Mater Dei Catholic High School in San Diego – has been accepted to several top universities, including University of California – Davis (#28), Syracuse University (#67) and University of Pittsburgh (#67)!  

Homare is very involved at her school, and during her time at Mater Dei, she’s been a member of the National Honor Society, Soccer Team, the Track and Field Team, Surf Club, Junior Optimist Club, Asian Pacific Islander Club and Art Club. Homare was also a member of the Global Leadership Team for the Future of Culture, a youth-led think tank on how arts and language can preserve and enhance culture. During that experience, she was 1 of just 8 high school students who presented at the UN Global Goals Week Event!  

During her time at Mater Dei, Homare took an incredible 4 AP courses, which prepared her for advanced coursework in university. She took AP World History, AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics and AP Microeconomics. She also took part in Mater Dei’s Academy of Science Program, which provides advanced STEM students with in-depth academic courses and robust internship/research experience.

Homare has a passion for giving back through community service and volunteer work. Throughout her time at Mater Dei, she volunteered for food bank organizations and groups helping those experiencing homelessness, and has done extensive volunteer work with nursing homes.

In fact, when Homare learned about a Japanese nursing home in San Diego, she immediately stepped in to help support the elderly amidst a shortage of staff. Homare hosted origami, drawing sessions and other traditional Japanese activities, utilizing her Japanese language skills to connect with the people in the nursing home.

Homare won the UNHCR (the UN’s Refugee Agency) Young Champions for Refugees award, and was the first student from the city to be nominated for the award. She also received the Global YOUNGA Forum Scholarship, just 1 of 25 students in the whole United States to earn this prestigious scholarship from the UN Leadership Program.

She also had valuable, hands-on experience doing internships and research. In 11th grade, Homare took part in the Uber Work Experience Program, where here team won 2nd place in a competition that designed and presented about a high-fidelity prototype for teens. She also took part in a STEM internship that collected and analyzed samples from a local beach, and also took part in a IRIS Psychology Research Program, where she worked with a professor from Arizona State University.

“Homare is a caring and hardworking individual,” Oscar Castaneda, DCO for Amerigo San Diego, said. “We are all proud of her and know that she willcontinue to accomplish great things in the future.”

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