Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA)

My name is Briza and I am a first-generation college student! Being the oldest of three, my immigrant household expected me to set an adequate example for my siblings. When I was younger we moved around a lot in the south part of Seattle, but my parents moved us to Bothell in 2015 and that has been my home since. My hobbies include baking, reading, giving back to my community, and spending time with my loved ones. The healthcare field has always interested me and I have been actively working in it since 2021. I love the fulfillment that working in healthcare brings, which has led me to work as a nursing assistant in a memory care facility and currently as a care coordinator at a physical therapy clinic. My current position as a care coordinator is preparing me for my future endeavors. I hope to earn my Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA). Working with patients daily has prepared me for the work I plan to do with my scholarship funds.

Anthropology has been a passion of mine since my freshman year at UW. I took a beginner anthropology course and fell in love with the study of human culture and its origins. After some time in my major, I met my mentor Dr. Melanie Martin. We bonded over our shared experiences in Latin America and she is the one who pushed me to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is allowing me to work with the Qom, an indigenous group from Argentina. We hope to listen to and understand their concerns about access to and quality of healthcare in their region. We hope this work will allow us to implement changes that will benefit the community. This entire trip is being made possible through this scholarship!