San Jose State computer engineering junior Jobelle Abellera said she grew up in a low-income household. Her family never got luxurious things and often had to make due with what they had.
Because of her family's financial struggle, Abellera said she wanted a high-paying career so computer engineering was an easy pick. Especially because she’s always been into computer programming and coding.
“[We] lived in a mobile home for 18 years of my life . . . for the longest time we didn’t really have much,” she said. “Now I get the opportunity to do something I enjoy . . . [and] help out my parents and siblings so they don’t have to work as hard anymore.”
The California State University system selected Abellera as the 2020-21 CSU Trustees’ scholar for SJSU, according to a CSU newsroom post Sept. 17.
The 23 recipients of the CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement receive 20 installments of $6,000 to $12,000, in the 2020-21 academic year, according to the CSU newsroom post.
Abellera received the Trustee Emeritus William Hauck and Padget Kaiser scholarship, which is a special named scholarship that increases the value and number of available awards by the selection committee based on criteria including STEM majors, according to the CSU scholarship website.
Abellera has also earned recognition as a President’s Scholar in Spring 2019, Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Engineering undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 GPA at SJSU in at least two contiguous semesters are President's Scholars, according to the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering page on SJSU’s website.
Abellera said the scholarships are going toward school related fees including text books, tuition or school supplies. Whatever she doesn’t use for school she is going to save to eventually support her parents and siblings when they attend college.
“I promised that after I graduate, I’d help pay for my little brother and little sister’s college tuition as much as I can so they don’t have to take out loans.”
The William Hauck and Padget Kaiser scholarship is given out every year to one student in the CSU system to commemorate William Hauck, who died in 2014. Hauck was one of the longest serving members on the CSU Board of Trustees, an SJSU alumnus and advocate of the CSU, according to CSU Trustee Emeritus William Hauck website page.
Jaimie Chau, Abellera’s close friend and SJSU psychology junior, said Abellera was the perfect student for the award.
“[Abellera] has a lot of ambition, a lot of drive [and] a lot of hidden potential that a lot of people don’t see,” over a zoom call, Chau said.
Abellera and Chau have known each other since high school and Chau said she was excited and proud when she heard Abellera won the scholarship.
“Many people may think that Abellera is quiet, but after getting to know her you can see the aspiration within her,” Chau said. “You can see it in her family . . . she wants to help her siblings out.”
Nada Attar, an SJSU computer science professor, described Abellera’s mind as well focused on her achievements and goals in the classroom, even though she sits quietly.
“[Abellera] is among the top 2% of my students,” she said over a zoom call. “We do have good students in computer science, so for her to be the top 2%, that says a lot about her.”
As she’s the first generation of her family to attend a four-year college with a bachelor’s degree in science, Abellera often went to Attar for guidance.
“I actually visited [Attar’s] office hours when I had her as my professor [for two classes in the past year],” Abellera said. “That’s how I was able to know her a little more.”
Attar said she wrote Abellera’s letter of recommendation when Abellera applied for the scholarship in January 2020, adding that she usually doesn't help students apply for scholarships.
“It is really nice and good to see female students be motivated,” Attar said.
She said even in a class of nearly 160 students, she noticed Abellera because she never skipped class and always submitted her work and projects on time.
“Her grades and performance are amazing so that's why I noticed her in a big class,” Attar said. “[It’s] usually hard to notice students [and] it’s even harder to remember names.”
Abellera said she plans to graduate in Fall 2021 and is still indecisive about whether or not she will join a master’s program.
