Edwin “Alberto” Fonseca, one of our newest scholarship recipients, worked part time in television production while pursuing his interest in computers and programming through self-study. He worked and attended school part-time, though he had not yet decided on a career path.

As Alberto struggled with the decision to return to school full-time, he participated in the Diablo Valley College Annual Programming Contest and placed third. This accomplishment was instrumental in his decision to enroll as a full-time student.

Alberto believes that education is very important to achieving his goals and is taking full advantage of the opportunities presented to him. He is most appreciative of the scholarship that was awarded to him through Extensity and the Open Door Education Foundation, as this award has made the difference between continuing or delaying his academic career. Following his coursework at Diablo Valley College, Alberto plans to transfer to the University of California-Berkeley to attain his BS degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Following his educational career, Alberto plans to work as a software engineer. His longterm goals are to start his own business and develop innovative products to help society. As a professional, Alberto endeavors to reach out to young students, particularly of Hispanic descent, and encourage them to pursue engineering- related fields in which Hispanics are traditionally underrepresented.