When Esteban Verdin, an incoming third-year at Stanislaus State, took his first computer science class at the university, he saw that what started as a passion for video games and technology could open doors for his future.
“When I first entered computer science, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Verdin said. “After I took my first computer science class, it really opened up my eyes to how many different opportunities there are in the field.”
Verdin’s passion for computer science — which now is his major — and community led to him being selected as one of six recipients across the country for the Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institution Educators 2025 Seed to Tree Scholarship. He first learned about the scholarship from Iqbal Atwal, director of Stan State’s Accelerated STEM Pathways through Internships, Research and Engagement program.
Verdin attended the 17th annual Hispanic-Serving Institutions Best Practices Conference in Chicago in March, where the scholarship covered conference registration, travel and lodging…