The 2026 Eliza Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this year we were able to make five scholarship awards to hardworking and deserving Menlo-Atherton students. We cheer them on as they begin their college studies!
Juan Lazaro Pacheco, one of this year’s Newcomer Scholarship recipients, came to the US from Guatemala in 2023, and lives with his mother and brother. He has worked hard at M-A and is proud to be graduating and continuing his studies at College of San Mateo. Eventually he hopes to become a firefighter.
“
This excites me because I would love to learn new skills and help people in difficult situations. I also love to exercise and run, and I feel that my physical abilities will help me in this profession.”
A recipient of a 2026 Health Sciences Scholarship, Mariam Abdelbary was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and moved to the United States when she was seven years old. The first in her family to go to college, Mariam loves science and plans to major in biology and attend medical school to become a surgeon. In her free time she coaches kids volleyball, reads, writes poetry, and helps to raise awareness about diabetes prevention and treatment in underrepresented communities. She will attend Foothill College and transfer to a 4-year university.
Matei Tau has been playing football since he was six years old, and writes that “the years of playing have taught me the value of perseverance, accountability, commitment, learning how to push myself and overcome challenges, and a lot about how the human body works.” His interest in health care started with a desire to help others, and we are proud to support him with a Health Sciences Scholarship. He plans to study radiology at Foothill or Cañada College, “then eventually transfer to a 4-year university to gain hands-on experience and deepen my knowledge, which will better prepare me for my future career.”
Katherine Vera Laryeque immigrated from Peru in 2023 and has devoted herself to improving her English and getting involved in opportunities that help her feel more connected to her new community. Through Dream for Health, an immigrant advocacy program connected with Stanford, she has learned about critical legal and community resources for immigrants, and helped with outreach to empower young people to seek help when they need it. She is a Newcomer Scholarship awardee, and excited to be attending San José State University, where she can “keep learning and eventually make a positive impact in my community.”
At M-A, James Anderson has been a proud member of the Boys Volleyball team and the Chinese Culture Club. He loves to backpack and play disc golf with his dad and brother. He has studied Chinese intensively, though “out of all the classes I’ve taken, the sciences have rung truest to my heart, and I am planning to attend Foothill College for 2 years and then transfer to a four year to major in Biology, so that I can attend Medical school.” He is one of our 2026 Health Sciences Scholarship awardees.
