Long Beach, CA
Age
19
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino
Religion
Agnostic
Hobbies and interests
Painting and Studio Art
Sculpture
Music
Drawing And Illustration
Animation
Writing
3D Modeling
Biochemistry
Piano
Reading
Science Fiction
Historical
I read books multiple times per week
Credit score
US CITIZENSHIP
US Citizen
LOW INCOME STUDENT
Yes
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
Yes
Alessandra Soriano
9,228
Bold Points8x
Nominee6x
Finalist2x
WinnerAlessandra Soriano
9,228
Bold Points8x
Nominee6x
Finalist2x
WinnerBio
My portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/alessandrasoriano/work
I want to make stories colorful uniquely and communicate visually and emotionally with artists by bringing my theatrical awareness, passion for energy, and artistic ability to the world. As a result, I plan to pursue computer animation as my academic goal.
Alessandra is my name. However, you can call me Aly if you want. My entire life has been spent creating art, and I'm grateful to be able to share this with others through the projects, exhibits, and internships I pursue. My father moved to the United States from El Salvador. My mother is a Mexican American of the second generation.
My culture was divided into the Mexican and Salvadoran communities when I was growing up in Long Beach, California. I am the oldest of three daughters and will be the first in my family to finish college.
I was diagnosed with a spinal condition that caused me to have my thoracic and lumbar spines almost 30 degrees apart, called scoliosis. My situation was irreversible, and I was not a candidate for surgery. When I didn't take breaks from studying, I got chronic back pain, affecting my school performance. To cope, I make art. My experience with scoliosis has helped me develop creative problem-solving skills, as I have had to find ways to manage my chronic pain while balancing my academic and artistic pursuits.
Even though I am a low-income student, I am content with my upbringing, which was remaining modest and concentrating on my goals. Scholarships will help support my education to fulfill my dreams.
Education
Chapman University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
Minors:
- Fine and Studio Arts
Odyssey Stem Academy
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Design and Applied Arts
Career
Dream career field:
Arts
Dream career goals:
Animation
Art Installations for the Los Angeles River (Wildlife Conservation Board)
Still Water2022 – 20242 yearsStudent Art Gallery Assistant
Chapman University2024 – Present11 monthsScreenwriter, Storyboard Artist, Editor, Cinemotographer
LBCAP: LAMP Program2022 – 2022Activism Artist Intern
Hammer Museum (UCLA)2021 – 2021Intro to Urban Design and Coding
Heart Of Los Angeles (HOLA) Program2020 – 20203D Modeling
Luke Grey2020 – 2020Graphic Design Intern
Odyssey STEM Academy2019 – 2019
Finances
Loans
Ascent
Borrowed: June 10, 20242,001
Principal borrowed1,900
Principal remaining
Interest rate:
10.95%
Sports
Volleyball
Club2016 – 20171 year
Basketball
Club2017 – 20181 year
Awards
- Metal
Soccer
Club2016 – 2016
Research
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Still Water — Lab report writer/ 3D Modeling drafts2023 – 2023Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Odyssey STEM Academy — Researching plants, human behavior, world history, etc.2019 – 2020Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Long Beach City College — Student2022 – 2022Sociology
Long Beach Community College — Student2021 – 2021Human Machine Interaction
Odyssey STEM Academy — I construct my understanding about topics through the analysis of multiple, varied, and complex sources.2020 – 2020Biomimicry
Odyssey STEM Academy — Researching and coming up with models of nature inspired inventions.2019 – 2020
Arts
Still Water
Computer ArtParent with Child 3D Print, Community and The Earth 3D Print2023 – 2024City of Paramount
DrawingArt Contest 2nd place2021 – 2021LBCAP: LAMP Program
CinematographyPSA: Boundaries, PSA: Cancel Culture, College Acceptance Short Film, Bee Music Video2022 – 2022Paramount Unified School District
Computer ArtComputer art, 1st Place in District Art Competition2017 – 2017Paramount Unified School District
Computer ArtComputer art , 2nd Place in District Art Contest2020 – 2020Hammer Museum (UCLA)
Visual ArtsPrints , Graphic Designs , Paintings2021 – 2021Odyssey STEM Academy
Graphic ArtMockups , Edits, Designs, Logos, Posters2019 – 2019Heart Of LA (HOLA) Program
Urban Design3D Model2020 – 2021
Public services
Advocacy
Odyssey STEM Academy Art Club — Treasurer and Vice President2022 – 2023Volunteering
Bolsa Chica Conservatory — Beach Cleanup2022 – 2022Volunteering
Odyssey STEM Academy GSA Club — President and Secretary2021 – 2022Volunteering
The Salvation Army — Food Donator2021 – 2021
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Lori Nethaway Memorial Scholarship
STEM and the arts have the potential to make a positive impact on the world in a variety of ways, and I am particularly interested in combing the arts and technology in innovative and impactful methods. One example of this is my current urban design project with my partner, which is focused on restoring the LA River. Through this project, I am using 3D modeling software to design sustainable and practical solutions that consider the historical and cultural context of the river and its surroundings.
The LA River, once a vital resource for the Tongva people, has been dramatically altered by industrialization. The riverbed was concreted during the 1940s to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall, but this unintendedly destroyed the natural ecosystem and disconnected the city from the river. In recent years, there have been efforts to restore the river and bring it back to its natural state, but it's a complex and challenging task. This project taught me the importance of understanding a place's historical and cultural context to create sustainable and practical solutions. It reminds me that technology is not an end in itself but a tool that can be used to achieve a greater goal. In this case, the goal is to restore the river's natural ecosystem, create a more sustainable and livable city, and reconnect the community with the river.
Understanding these historical perspectives has helped me appreciate the importance of using technology responsibly and to create solutions that are not only technically sound but also socially and environmentally sustainable. In the future, I plan to continue using STEM to positively impact the world.
In conclusion, I am passionate about STEM because it has the potential to make a positive impact on the world. My interest in combining the arts and technology to create innovative solutions is exemplified by my current urban design project, which aims to restore the LA River using 3D modeling software. This project taught me the importance of understanding a place's historical and cultural context to create sustainable and practical solutions. Additionally, my interest in STEM has been shaped by the books and articles I've read, which have helped me understand the relationship between STEM and various societal phenomena, such as weather, electricity, and politics. This has shaped my goals to use STEM to solve technical problems, address broader societal issues, and contribute to a more just and equitable world.
Code Breakers & Changemakers Scholarship
WinnerSTEM has the potential to make a positive impact on the world in a variety of ways, and I am particularly interested in using it to combine the arts and technology in innovative and impactful methods. One example of this is my current urban design project with my partner, which is focused on restoring the LA River. Through this project, we are using 3D modeling software to design sustainable and practical solutions that consider the historical and cultural context of the river and its surroundings.
The LA River, once a vital resource for the Tongva people, has been dramatically altered by industrialization. The riverbed was concreted during the 1940s to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall, but this unintendedly destroyed the natural ecosystem and disconnected the city from the river. In recent years, there have been efforts to restore the river and bring it back to its natural state, but it's a complex and challenging task. Using 3D modeling software, I can create detailed visualizations of our design concepts and simulate different scenarios, allowing us to make informed decisions about which solutions will be most effective. This project taught me the importance of understanding a place's historical and cultural context to create sustainable and practical solutions. It reminds me that technology is not an end in itself but a tool that can be used to achieve a greater goal. In this case, the goal is to restore the river's natural ecosystem, create a more sustainable and livable city, and reconnect the community with the river.
Additionally, my interest in STEM has been further shaped by the books I've read and the articles I've read about the industrialization age and new technology. I've learned that STEM is not just about solving technical problems but also about understanding broader societal issues and how they are interconnected. For example, the industrialization age brought many technological advancements, pollution, social inequality, and other harmful effects. Understanding these historical perspectives has helped me appreciate the importance of using technology responsibly and to create solutions that are not only technically sound but also socially and environmentally sustainable. In the future, I plan to continue using STEM to positively impact the world. I am particularly interested in using my 3D modeling and urban design skills to work on projects that address critical issues such as climate change, social inequality, and sustainable development. Through my studies and work, I hope to gain the knowledge necessary to make a real difference.
In conclusion, I am passionate about STEM because it has the potential to make a positive impact on the world. My interest in combining the arts and technology to create innovative solutions is exemplified by my current urban design project, which aims to restore the LA River using 3D modeling software. This project taught me the importance of understanding a place's historical and cultural context to create sustainable and practical solutions. Additionally, my interest in STEM has been shaped by the books and articles I've read, which have helped me understand the relationship between STEM and various societal phenomena, such as weather, electricity, and politics. This has shaped my goals to use STEM to solve technical problems, address broader societal issues, and contribute to a more just and equitable world.
Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship
In elementary school, I confidently acknowledged to my parents that I would eventually become a cartoon version of myself. I ultimately concluded that I couldn't transform into a fictional character, but I never lost interest in art. In middle school, this is where I became fascinated with 3D modeling projects and enjoyed programming robots that could perform various tasks. Boys who refused to work with me usually filled the classrooms. My classmates rebuked me for objecting, calling technology unfeminine and unartistic. They were wrong.
I've been attending art and technology internships for the past four years while taking advanced math and science courses in high school in the hopes that I can continue to use technology and art to express my creativity and significantly impact the art world. In high school, I eventually produced a 3D modeling passion project in my Sophomore year during virtual learning. A model of a personified version of myself that stemmed from my childhood. Character design and animation have always captivated me, especially regarding how they apply to computer science since it's often taught in these programs in addition to art skills due to digital art's reliance on technology. I proposed that my design would appear to be three-dimensional.
My challenges with my STEM education were having a lack of female role models in the industry and always having persistent stereotypes about my intellectual abilities just because I'm female and Hispanic. I have been discriminated against and undergone sexism, which can be intimidating because of male students' lack of cultural awareness.
This year, I joined the MESA team despite my doubts that I would fit in the predominantly male field. I was hooked after I completed projects using 3D modeling, held a coding program for the second time, and dove into the muck to fix a prototype. Thanks to this experience, I expanded my academic expertise in what I love by finding a community that accepts and acknowledges my talents and interests despite my gender and ethnicity. In my practice, I often express my political ideas or convey deeply personal thoughts.
The Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship can help me pursue my favorite academic interests with 3D creation, study, research, and computer development. Because of the STEM multidisciplinary accessibility, I believe I'll be able to combine my love of computers with an exploration of the depths of art while becoming a role model for my sisters to continue doing what they love despite their gender and despite their Hispanic culture.
Future Minority Leaders Scholarship
WinnerAs Toby Fox said, "If there's anything you want to learn, don't be stopped by thinking it'll be too hard! Game-making, music, art, language, anything!" The 2015 role-playing video game Undertale is his most well-known creation. Before Undertale, he created role-playing games in high school. This person was interesting to me because he made game characters since he was a teenager like me. Excited by his persistence to make characters appealing, it was my turn to build a passion project of a caricature.
What factors outlined the depth and allure of my passion for animation? This is the exact question I asked myself as my eyes riveted on the white canvas on my tablet digital screen with my stylus pen on my desk. It was 12am and raining on a July weekend in my Sophomore year. I watched the Peanuts movie concurrently. As a result of this movie's artistic decision, I made some small scribbles.
Because I enjoyed expressing my personality and interests to others, which allowed me to reflect on the most authentic version of myself, I recreated a character who had been a version of myself since I was a young child. This project came about due to my research into 3D modeling techniques and my hobbies. As part of my passion project, I decided to look into the making of the Peanuts movie to determine what factors best describe the range and allure of my passion for animation. And therefore, I came across The Art of the Peanuts Movie on Amazon. The book was a winner to buy, and I got it in two weeks. After reading this, I realized that animated characters must be given enough time, attention to detail, characters, and technique to appear innovative.
The movie was revolutionary because the animators spent two years perfecting Charles Shult's (the Peanuts creator) artistic style while having to disassemble the software and reassemble it. At this point, my geek radars were alarming, so I wanted to talk to an animator who worked on the movie. After weeks of looking, I finally located Dave Vasquez online.
I emailed him questions about the movie-making process, the animation business, and what other skills are needed in the field. He explained, "You must invest the time and effort to enter the field as a professional if you want to work as a character animator professionally. But you can become valuable if you excel in one area and have spent time learning other things, such as C++. At Blue Sky Studios, we had a man who was a fantastic animator and great at coding. Who do you believe created many of the tools used by animators? " After making changes to the design of my model, remodeling it, and pausing for thought, I concluded that 3D modeling is an amazing technological accomplishment. I completed my first model in three months using free software thanks to game and animation development research. Later, I explored my interests in coding, urban planning, and filmmaking to develop new skills that would allow me to extract the most emotion from even my most straightforward storylines. I discovered that I could pursue my interests in animation and turn intangible concepts into practical techniques.
The Future Minority Leaders Scholarship will help me because I can pursue my favorite academic interests with it, including art creation, study, research, and project development. Because of how college has multidisciplinary accessibility, I believe I'll be able to combine my love of computers with an exploration of the depths of art with this scholarship.