By his own account, education has been Diego Curiel’s salvation. Once a troubled teen who struggled mightily with addiction, today he is a computer engineering transfer student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with plans to pursue graduate studies in electrical engineering. Support from the Scholarship Foundation helped bring about his remarkable transformation.

“To me, education is synonymous with opportunity, rich and meaningful experience, personal and moral development, the ability to contribute positively to life and those around us, and in the most literal sense, a way out,” he told attendees at the 2023 SCBT Awards ceremony in June.

Diego’s inspiring SCBT address can be viewed in its entirety below.