Growing up in a single-parent household, the youngest of four, Daisy was convinced there was more to life than the everyday problems at home. She dreamed of being successful, traveling the world and learning more about opportunities that life had to offer. “As a first generation Latino female student in STEM, giving back to my community is my social responsibility,” said Daisy Medina, a third year UC Berkeley student. “It is my ethical responsibility to work towards enhancing our society and to look out for the well being of others and the community I am a part of.”
Medina was one of 12 UC Berkeley student recipients recognized at the 16-17 Bank of the West Bear Opportunity Scholarship Reception held this past January. The Bank of the West Bear Opportunity Endowment fund annually awards 10 merit-based scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need and a passion for social responsibility and entrepreneurship. The event, hosted by the university’s Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO), offered students an opportunity to network and meet with members of the bank, including President and CEO of Bank of the West, Nandita Bakhshi.
During her speech, Bakhshi referenced her pride in the relationship with Berkeley, and she looks forward to coming back to campus in the future. “It was a true honor to meet these exceptional students and hear their unique stories of how they want to improve our world and help build a better future,” said Bakhshi. “I feel proud that Bank of the West’s Bear Opportunity Scholarships are helping these students achieve their dream.”
Cruz Grimaldo, assistant vice chancellor and director of Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO), emphasized the “magic that can happen when powerful and well-meaning organizations come together where there is alignment of values.” Bank of the West was selected as UC Berkeley’s Official Bank due to the company’s strong alignment with the values and mission of the university. The partnership was announced in 2015 following a collaborative process that included input from students, faculty and staff.
Medina was first notified about the Bear Opportunity Scholarship through an email she received from the FASO office. She had previously applied to other scholarships but noted that the bank’s process was unique in that it “involved sharing about social responsibility and service to one’s community.” The application extended beyond a focus on academic achievement and “allowed for a more personal aspect with regards to the application.”
During the reception, Medina had the opportunity to share her personal story and experiences at UC Berkeley as a first generation student. “I was allowed to share how overcoming personal and financial struggles is possible, and even more so when organizations like Bank of the West support students, like myself, by giving back and funding student higher education,” said Medina. “At the end of the day, it’s not what you have or what you’ve accomplished. It is about who you lifted up, who you’ve made better. It is about what you have given back.”
In addition to scholarship support, the bank also provides paid internships; banking guidance programs for students, faculty and staff; and funding for campuswide and student initiatives such as the UC Berkeley Food Pantry and the Financial Literacy & Economic Justice Conference (Flejcon).