Announcing our 2025 Carina Mae Scholars

Congratulations to our inaugural 2025 Carina Mae Scholarship and Civic Innovator recipients!

Our three Carina Mae Scholarship recipients: Maleina Aguinaldo [USF ‘26], Gerard Lapuente [Pomona College ‘27] and Ava Mallo [UC Berkeley, ‘28] imbue Carina’s compassion and commitment to social justice, advocacy and service.

In interviewing this year’s finalists, we were also moved by the originality and creativity of several candidates. Two applicants, in particular, presented such thoughtful civic ideas that our selection committee couldn’t let them go unsupported. Congratulations to our Civic Innovators: Sarah Amplo and Tiffany Truong.

Meet the scholars

  • "I am deeply honored to receive such a meaningful scholarship. Carina was a kind person who fiercely supported the dreams of those around her."

    Maleina is a first generation Filipina American born and raise in San José, California. She aspires to become a physician dedicated to culturally competent care. Her interests include advocating for health policy to improve access for women and families. She currently organizes with LEAD Filipino’s Health Equity Team.

  • "The scholarship affirms my commitment to cultural empowerment, collective healing and advocacy for marginalized communities."

    Gerard [he/him/siya or any pronouns] is a rising junior at Pomona College studying Psychological Science with a minor in Asian American Studies. A proud Filipinx from Miami, Gerard is passionate about mental health, cultural advocacy and community healing.

  • "The Carina Mae Scholarship gives me the opportunity to continue growing within my leadership and pursue higher education."

    Ava is an undergraduate pre-med student at UC Berkeley, aspiring to become a physician. Through her passion for serving local communities, health advocacy and mentoring youth, she is interested in the intersection of medicine and general and/or plastic surgery.