Meet the 2026 Award Winners!
Every year, hundreds of De Anza students earn well-deserved scholarships, commendations and awards – and we're proud of each one. On this webpage, you can read about some major award recipients for 2026.
Student Commencement Speaker
- Read about Louise Gonzalez, this year's commencement speaker, on the 2026 Grad Speaker webpage.
- Learn about other outstanding students on the Awards and Achievements webpage.
President's Award Recipients
The $3,500 President’s Award is presented annually to graduating students who have overcome adversity and shown perseverance in seeking an education at De Anza.
Youssef Hassanein
Youssef Hassanein is heading to UCLA this fall to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology, with plans to continue on to graduate school and a career focused on educational research, creativity and human development.
The President's Award recipient arrived at De Anza after a difficult adolescence marked by family turmoil. During the pandemic, his family was navigating financial hardship and emotional challenges. As a high school student, Hassanein struggled to find direction.
"I applied to zero universities," he said. "Choosing De Anza was the single best decision I ever made in my entire life."
A Middle College student before graduating from high school, Hassanein discovered psychology through an introductory course at De Anza. The field gave him a way to connect his lifelong fascination with storytelling and human behavior to meaningful work that could improve people's lives.
Since then, he has transformed his college experience into an extraordinary record of scholarship, leadership and service. He founded The Cognitive Script, an independent media organization that translates psychological research through film, television and popular culture. The organization's educational content reaches hundreds of thousands of viewers annually and has been distributed in classrooms and research centers.
Hassanein also developed The Creative Tricycle, a research-based educational initiative designed to foster curiosity, creativity and engagement in young learners. The project received approval through Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, where he serves as principal investigator and is working with educators to study how creative learning environments can improve student well-being.
Hassanein stood out quickly to his instructors at De Anza.
“It was evident early on that Youssef was a remarkable young man who had a keen interest in and affinity for psychology, and it came as no surprise that he would quickly make significant contributions to the field,” said Daniel Bunce, an instructor in the Psychology Department. “His creation of and work with the Cognitive Script brings young, innovative and passionate people to the discipline.”
When Hassanein thinks about his time at De Anza, two words come to mind, he said.
“Ambition and service. De Anza taught me how to be ambitious, because it encouraged me to grow, explore, learn more about what I wanted to become and expand my horizons. If I’d gone to any other place I wouldn’t have the ambitions I do now,” he said.
As for service, he said De Anza’s support system provided him with the ability to have a sense of purpose — and allowed him to understand what kind of service he, in turn, wanted to give.
Along the way, he has served as a peer mentor, student ambassador, spoken-word poet, researcher, volunteer coordinator and community advocate while maintaining a 3.9 GPA.
"Because of De Anza, I have been able to let go of my fears, worries and insecurities," Hassanein said. "I found opportunities that helped me deliberately hone my craft and discover a path where I can serve others."
Esmeralda Anai Rico-Gonzalez
Esmeralda Anai Rico-Gonzalez is preparing to complete her associate degree and Advanced Certificate in Child Development, with plans to begin a career supporting young children and families while continuing her education.
Born and raised on the culturally rich East Side of San Jose taught her to appreciate different backgrounds, languages, traditions and experiences, she said, helping shape her passion for advocacy, education and making sure future generations receive the support they deserve.
The President's Award recipient has overcome challenges that once made college seem impossible. At age 15, Rico-Gonzalez suffered a mental health crisis and was taken to the ER, where she learned she was pregnant. She became a mother at 16, struggled with postpartum depression and eventually left high school during her junior year.
"I thought every opportunity I had hoped for had disappeared," she said.
As the daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student, Rico-Gonzalez felt the weight of expectations to build a better future. For a time, she feared she would become another statistic associated with teen pregnancy and educational attainment.
Instead, she chose a different path.
At 18, Rico-Gonzalez returned to school through Opportunity Youth Academy, a continuation program, and earned her high school diploma. One educator there shared a lesson with her that she’s never forgotten, saying that time would pass regardless of what she chose to do with it — and she could use the next decade to build the life she wanted, or she could spend it regretting that she never tried.
She enrolled at De Anza in 2022 and began rebuilding her life one step at a time, initially studying nursing.
Her journey was not without setbacks. As a new college student, she struggled to navigate financial aid requirements and lost eligibility after making academic decisions she did not fully understand.
Rather than discouraging her, those experiences made her more determined to reach her goals.
Working with children inspired Rico-Gonzalez to pursue child development and reinforced her commitment to creating stable, supportive environments for youth and their families. Despite additional financial challenges, she remained focused on completing her degree and preparing for a career in education.
That deep resolve, as well as a genuine sense of empathy and compassion, made Rico-Gonzalez stand out to her instructors.
“Esmeralda's course essays, participation in class and research assignments were informative and insightful, to be sure, but they were at the same time always uniquely and deeply humanistic,” said Richard Zalman, an instructor in the Child Development and Education Department. “That quality of caring shone through in every assignment she submitted and in every interaction she shared. Her perspective was that facts do matter, of course, but that the purpose of education was to elevate others.”
Zalman added that Rico-Gonzalez’s contributions to discussion forums and to sharing with her classmates during class sessions strongly advanced the department’s learning communities.
“Having Esmeralda in class gave hope and inspiration to her classmates,” he said, “and I am delighted that the college community has recognized her uniqueness as a rising star."
Today, Rico-Gonzalez sees her education as more than a personal achievement.
"Being a Latina, a teen mother and the daughter of undocumented parents has taught me that education can open doors and break generational cycles," she said. "That understanding keeps me moving forward."
Her long-term goal is to attend San José State University and earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, along with her LCSW, so she can work as a K-12 school social worker and continue supporting future generations.
Rey Claude Villaseñor: DeHart Scholarship
The $2,000 A. Robert DeHart and Rena Frabony DeHart Memorial Scholarship honors De Anza’s founding president and is awarded for service to the college community.
When Rey Claude Villaseñor arrived at De Anza College after serving in the U.S. Air Force, he knew he wanted to continue leading and serving others. What he didn't expect was how many opportunities he would find to do both.
This year's DeHart Scholarship recipient completed his eighth consecutive quarter at De Anza with a 3.8 GPA. This fall, he’ll head east, to the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
His long-term goal is to pursue leadership roles that combine analytical decision-making with public service and community impact.
"Leadership is not about advancement alone, but about lifting others as you move forward," Villaseñor said.
That philosophy has guided him throughout his time at De Anza. As a VA Work-Study student employee in the Veterans Resource Center (VRC), Villaseñor helps military-connected students navigate benefits, access campus resources and make the transition to college life. Having experienced that transition himself, he understands the challenges many veteran students face.
Part of his inspiration came after participating in the Warrior-Scholar Project at Brown University, an academic boot camp for enlisted veterans preparing for success in higher education, where his purpose began to expand.
Wanting to create even more opportunities for his fellow veterans, Villaseñor founded the Veteran Scholar Society and serves as its president. The organization focuses on mentorship, academic excellence and professional development, while building partnerships designed to create internship and career opportunities for veteran students.
His contributions resulted in the development of the Lunch & Learn Workshop Series, said Casie Wheat, Veterans Resource Center, Basic Needs and Grants supervisor.
“From these workshops, Rey brought De Anza alumni and Fortune 500 companies to the VRC,” she said. “Our VRC community was able to hear firsthand about the veteran student's experience at private colleges and gain knowledge about internships at companies like Micron Technology.”
In addition to his work with veterans, Villaseñor serves as a peer mentor with Mentors@De Anza.
It’s all part of strengthening a support system Villaseñor said he benefited from.
“When you're in a military environment, you build a strong sense of camaraderie because the work isn't great, but you're always doing it with another person,” said Villaseñor. “And when I left, there was a big loss of a sense of belonging, and especially a sense of purpose. You feel kind of isolated, and you go into classrooms wondering, ‘Where do I belong?’”
Transitioning out of the military is difficult, but at De Anza, Villaseñor discovered a community that he didn't know he needed — until he found it.
"That's been an inspiration for the work I’ve done to have an impact on my community, because I saw how important it was in my own life," he said.
Before coming to De Anza, Villaseñor served as a B-52 Offensive Avionics Specialist in the Air Force. During his military career, he earned numerous honors, including Airman of the Year at the Group level, Airman of the Quarter at the Wing level and the Air Force Achievement Medal. He also participated in Operation Allies Refuge in Qatar, supporting humanitarian efforts during the evacuation and resettlement of Afghan refugees.
Whether mentoring students, advocating for veteran wellness programs or building partnerships that will benefit future generations of students, Villaseñor says he is guided by a simple principle.
"My goal is not just to succeed, but to strengthen the communities I am part of," he said. "I am driven not only by what I hope to achieve, but by how many people I can bring forward with me."
Pister Scholarship Recipients
The Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award provides a $20,000 scholarship to a De Anza student who is transferring to the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Juniper Astle
Juniper Astle is a psychology major currently finishing her time at De Anza after starting eight
years ago. During her time here, she acted as an officer for the LGBT Alliance, building community and support for queer students on campus. She faced many challenges
while attending De Anza, but the supportive community she found here helped her maintain
academic success through it all.
She is going on to UC Santa Cruz, where she is pursuing a degree in clinical psychology. In the long term, she is hoping to go into counseling, specializing in helping trans youth navigate an increasingly hostile world.
Andrea Barraza
Andrea Barraza is a second-year student majoring in Law, Public Policy, and Society at De Anza College
and completing a Certificate in Leadership and Social Change. She has demonstrated
a strong commitment to civic engagement and community advocacy through her work as a De Anza student representative with the Coalition for Humane
Immigrant Rights College Program and as an intern with VIDA's Public Policy School,
where she has contributed to advocacy efforts focused on environmental justice and immigrant rights.
Beyond campus involvement, Andrea has served as school site council president, helping support educational initiatives and strengthen family engagement within her local school community. Her dedication to leadership, public service and social change has been recognized through several honors, including the ADELA Leadership Scholarship, the Student Leadership Award and the Pister Scholarship.
This fall, Andrea will transfer to UC Santa Cruz to pursue a double major in Latin American and Latino Studies and Education, Democracy and Justice. Her long-term goal is to become a human rights attorney and advocate for educational equity, working to expand access to quality education and create greater opportunities for historically underserved communities.