Edison International helps La Sierra STEM students move toward their goals

Sean Sullivan, Joseph Diaz, Oswal Amado, Gabriel Cabansal, Diane Tio, and Jacob Kelly each received $2,500 in scholarship money during spring quarter out of a total $15,000 grant from Edison International through the Edison STEM Scholars Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated dedication in their field of study with a minimum GPA of 3.0, as well as involvement and reputable citizenship in the La Sierra community.

"The classroom atmosphere and Christian values have helped me to comfortably grow.” -- Diane Tio, Edison STEM Scholar

Edison International cultivates a “culture of giving back” and is “one of the largest corporate philanthropic contributors in Southern California today,” according to its website. As of 2023, Edison International has issued 612 grants, the company states. La Sierra University students have been invited each year over the past 11 years to deliver educational excellence through these funding opportunities. Since 2014, Edison International has awarded La Sierra University a total $137,000 in scholarship money.

Not only does this scholarship fiscally sustain La Sierra University students, but the acknowledgment also provides the spotlight needed to encourage STEM students to pursue their goals and make their dreams more attainable.

Originally from New Jersey, Arizona resident and Edison scholarship recipient Tio has always loved math since she can remember. She is a senior at La Sierra University studying computer science and pre-medicine.

“This scholarship has been a major blessing for me." -- Student Diane Tio

“I can remember asking family members to teach me higher-level concepts outside of school. By the time I was eight years old, I knew I wanted to use my love and skill for math toward a greater purpose,” Tio said.

“This scholarship has been a major blessing for me,” she continued. “It has allowed financial support not only for me, but for my family too, as my sister and I are both pursuing higher education. Scholarships like this are very impactful because it allows me to allocate more hours towards my studies rather than work, since I typically have two jobs during the school year to support my financial needs.”

Tio chose La Sierra University for its location, campus environment, and mainly because she values Seventh-day Adventist education. “I know I made the right decision because I love my experience. The classroom atmosphere and Christian values have helped me to comfortably grow and make lifelong friendships here at La Sierra University,” she said.

In addition to the Edison STEM Scholarship, Tio also received the Class of 1969 Endowed Scholarship this year. Her goal is to attend medical school soon. “I hope to use both sides of my academic background to help others,” Tio said.