Wilmer, 21 years old, CA | NEEDED BY 03/20

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Wilmer entered foster care at just 12 years old and spent much of his adolescence moving in and out of various placements, often lacking the stability that most young people need. Through determination, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to improving his life, Wilmer earned admission to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), one of the nation’s top public universities. Today, he is pursuing a degree in engineering while maintaining a strong GPA, which reflects both his academic capabilities and his discipline. What makes Wilmer particularly remarkable is not only his academic success but also his mindset. He is resourceful, goal-oriented, and deeply committed to creating long-term stability for himself. His interest in engineering stems from a natural curiosity about how things work and a desire to develop solutions that improve life for others. Outside of academics, he enjoys hands-on projects, problem-solving challenges, and continuously finding ways to better himself.

Wilmer is currently pursuing his engineering degree at UCLA. Although he receives some financial aid, the high cost of tuition and living on campus has required him to work extremely hard to avoid accumulating significant student loan debt. To manage his tuition and living expenses, he has been working two jobs while attending school full-time. While he has made considerable progress in reducing his balance, he now needs assistance with the upcoming payment in order to avoid late fees. Receiving tuition assistance would greatly alleviate his financial burden and stress, allowing him to focus more fully on his rigorous coursework and maintain his strong GPA. Support for his tuition would not only help him stay on track to graduate but also ensure that financial hardship does not hinder him from completing his degree and building long-term stability for his future.