More than 34,000 students across the country apply each year for the Gates Scholarship, a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding high school seniors from low-income households.

The program, established by the Gates Foundation in 2017, has an acceptance rate of less than 1%. When Jesus Gonzalez-Sandoval ’27 and Zeeshan Anwar ’27 found out they were selected and learned they were able to use the funding at an institution of their choice, they both chose to pursue their education at University of the Pacific.

“I felt like this school won my heart over,” Gonzalez-Sandoval said. “I did the summer high school institute, and I knew this was my home immediately once I came. That two-week program was really what influenced me to say yes to Pacific out of other schools in our country. This school makes me feel heard. It makes me feel loved.”

The Pacific Summer High School Institute is a pre-college summer program designed for high school students to experience Pacific.

“Living on an actual college campus for two weeks prepares them to make the best decision about their college education,” said Balint Sztaray, assistant vice president for enrollment strategy, professor of chemistry in the College of the Pacific and director of the Pacific Summer High School Institute. “They work with Pacific’s top-rated professors to explore cutting-edge topics in hands-on learning environments. They learn about themselves and the various subjects they can pursue at Pacific for their undergraduate and even graduate studies.”

During the program, students gain real-world, hands-on experiences in Pacific’s labs, studios, fields and makerspaces.

“Our beautiful campus and the infinite possibilities that it offers motivates them to do their very best in high school so that they get to join the university of their dreams,” Sztaray said.

Biochemistry major Anwar also credited the pre-college program with his choice to study at Pacific as a Gates Scholar as well as the meaningful connections he developed.

“Ever since the summer institute program where I was introduced to biochemistry, it really evoked an interest in chemistry. It was like dominoes falling on top of each other,” Anwar said. “Every summer since I started high school, I've been doing something in the chem department. I was able to connect with multiple professors, and my older brother also goes here. I feel like connections really make a place.”

The Gates Scholarship identifies students who have made a difference through participating in community service and extracurriculars. The application process also emphasizes emotional maturity, drive and resilience.

“I remember when I was selected to move on to the finalist phase. I'd only interviewed once before this. The nerves were kicking in, but I just went into it being myself, and I got along with the interviewer. I was fortunate to be selected as one of 750 scholars,” Anwar said.

The scholarship program is intended to remove financial obstacles to higher education by empowering high-achieving, low-income students to thrive academically, complete their degrees and become leaders on campus and throughout their lives.

Beyond financial assistance, The Gates Scholarship works closely with the scholars and their schools to make sure they have access to resources and services throughout their college journey.

“Before Gates, I was more introverted. But I got to do networking sessions where everyone's talking, and it really helped me open up,” Anwar said. “That's helped me make new friends. Gates is really helpful, not just in helping me with financial aid, but helping me be successful throughout my time at Pacific.”