Alumni Mentors

During high school, Vickie Trinh (Class of 2011) was involved in organizations such as the Environmental Club, Vietnamese Club, String Orchestra, NHS and CSF. She was a QuestBridge finalist and currently attends the University of Southern California. She is an incoming senior, majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Environmental Studies. In college, she was involved in mentorship programs geared towards First-Generation and Asian Pacific American college students, tutoring in local middle schools, and organizations such as the Quest Scholars Network. Through her work-study experience and participation in the McNair Scholars Program, she hopes to pursue graduate school in marine biology after graduation.

Ngoc Nguyen graduated from Santiago High School in 2011. She began her college career at Orange Coast College and served as the Student Senate’s first female president from 2012 to 2013. Through this, she became active with the Student Senate for California Community College, a special interest group that advocates for community college students' needs.

Ngoc has also worked for a number of legislators including U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal, and California State Senator Lou Correa. 

Ngoc has since transferred and is majoring in Political Science with a minor in History and Women's Studies at the University of California, Irvine. She enjoys organic foods, art walks, and quaint shops. She also prides herself in being a tea (loose leaf) and coffee (Ethiopian) enthusiast. 

Nidia is a member of Santiago High School's graduating class of 2010. She recently graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Biology and has ambitions on pursuing a Master's Degree in Microbiology. 

In high school, Nidia graduated with honorary distinctions from the National Honors Society (NHS) and the California Scholarship Foundation (CSF). On campus she was an active member in Key Club, Student Council, and Girl's League. She was a member of the JV Girls Tennis team for the 2007-2008 academic year and participated in a number of off-campus activities like St. Callistus Christian Services. 

In college, Nidia participated in a number of pre-pharmacy, mentorship, and community service organizations. She has worked as a research assistant in UCLA departments of 'Ecology and Evolutionary Biology' and 'Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology.'