SHAYNA BEGAY Shayna graduated from Montezuma Cortez High School in 2006 where she participated in Educational Talent Search. After high school graduation, Shayna moved to Melbourne, Florida where she attended the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) as a Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient. At FIT, Shayna majored in Aerospace Engineering and continued her summer enrichment by attending Jesus College at Oxford University in England, the summer after her first year. Upon returning to FIT, Shayna enrolled in the Fast Track Master’s Program and began taking graduate level courses as a sophomore. In May 2010, Shayna graduated Magna Cum Laude, with her Bachelor’s Degree from FIT and stayed to continue her graduate studies. While attending graduate school, she worked as a Graduate Student Intern at Sandia National Laboratories (owned and operated by Lockheed Martin Company) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As an intern, she performed analysis work on the Mars Science Laboratory (a.k.a. the new Mars Rover Curiosity), which has the mission of finding out if the planet is or has ever been able to support life. As part of the analysis team, Shayna was invited to attend the launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in November 2011. After finishing her summer internship and earning her Master’s Degree in the fall of 2011, Shayna accepted a full-time position with Sandia National Laboratories as a Mechanical Design Engineer in the Weapons Systems Division. Shayna states, “Talent Search helped me to think outside of my known boundaries, without their trips to different colleges around the country, I wouldn’t have felt even remotely comfortable about leaving my hometown to experience the world. With their guidance and encouragement, I have literally traveled the world for my education and now I continue to push my boundaries farther than my imagination once thought possible. I couldn’t thank the people at TRIO enough for the amazing work that they do, because a large part of my success has come directly from their efforts.” MIGUEL SOLIS GARCIA In 2019, Miguel Solis Garcia became a freshman at Colorado State University. He had been part of the Dream Team Program with TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) since 6th grade, and participated in their Alumni Program. Miguel says, “the Dream Team’s overnight college visits helped me embrace the college-going culture rather than fear what college might be like”. He appreciates that his advisor encouraged him to get out of his comfort zone and build his self-confidence. While in high school, Miguel completed a Certificate in Welding through concurrent enrollment during his junior year. He also lettered in Varsity Football and was Captain during his senior year. In addition, he has presented two History Day Projects for Colorado’s Annual History day Convention. Miguel went to CSU undeclared, but took steps to commit to the Construction Management Program. He is considering a minor in landscaping and says he has a passion for building irrigation systems. Miguel highly recommends that students, like himself, join Key Communities and the Community For Excellence if they are going to attend CSU. He says they were incredibly helpful in helping him acclimate to college life and building community with his peers.