Fall 2025 Winner of the Immigrant Student Scholarship

Doan Tran

Doan has faced many obstacles throughout her life, but her ancestors have inspired her to persevere through adversity. She is passionate about developing the STEM industry and hopes to one day have a career in biomedical engineering. Congratulations, Doan, we admire your hard work and resilience!

Read her essay here:

My family immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam seeking stability and opportunity. After the Vietnam War, they faced immense hardships, arriving with little more than resilience. With no English skills, they worked tirelessly in labor-intensive jobs to build a better future for the next generation. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for my education—one they never had.

Growing up with spastic cerebral palsy and a speech impediment, I struggled academically and socially. Misunderstood and underestimated, I was homeschooled at eight. My family’s financial instability and my father’s heroin addiction placed additional burdens on my mother. I took on responsibilities beyond my years, caring for my autistic brother while managing my education. Despite these obstacles, I refused to let adversity define me. I taught myself programming and mathematics, excelling in subjects that once seemed impossible.

My experiences instilled in me a drive to turn adversity into opportunity. As a first-generation college student and self-taught learner, I developed resilience and innovation. In high school, I founded the Computer Science Club to make STEM more accessible and the Asian Student Alliance Club to foster cultural appreciation. As Student Body President, I advocated for my peers, implementing initiatives that improved student life.

At UC Berkeley, I am majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, deepening my passion for technology. My research experiences at NASA and the University of Nebraska shaped my aspirations. As a NASA Software Engineering Intern, I contributed to a Martian exploration mission, co-authoring a Preliminary Design Report detailing mission planning and scientific instrumentation. I also researched telecommunications and helped design a high-altitude vehicle to detect microbial life in Venus’s clouds.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I worked as an Undergraduate Research Apprentice, assisting in the development of the iTrace Toolkit. I enhanced data consolidation, integrated eye-tracking technologies, and implemented high-speed tracker support, strengthening my expertise in data analysis and software development.

Winning the CAPTRUST scholarship, awarded to only five students nationwide, validated my dedication to academic excellence and professional growth. It reaffirmed my belief that perseverance and passion open doors to extraordinary opportunities.

After earning my degree, I aspire to a career in biomedical engineering, integrating my technical expertise with my passion for improving lives. Living with a disability has given me insight into the need for better assistive technology, and I want to develop innovations that enhance accessibility. Beyond my professional ambitions, I am committed to mentorship, supporting underrepresented students in STEM by sharing my experiences.

On a personal level, I want to support my family and travel to gain a broader perspective on global healthcare challenges, seeking ways to contribute beyond my immediate community. My journey has been unconventional, but every challenge has strengthened my resolve. With each step forward, I carry the perseverance of my ancestors and the belief that I can create meaningful change.