Celebrating the 2025 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund Scholars

Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation recently honored four remarkable students at the 2025 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund Scholarship Dinner. Each scholar represents the strength and potential found across our communities. Their stories reflect resilience, dedication, and a deep commitment to building brighter futures for themselves and for the neighborhoods they call home.

The Scholarship Dinner is one of the most inspiring moments of the year. It shines a light on young people who grew up in CEDC communities and are now stepping into new chapters of growth, service, and leadership. This program carries forward the legacy of Rodney Fernandez, CEDC’s founding executive director, who believed that access to opportunity can transform lives.

Below is a closer look at this year’s outstanding recipients.

Wendy Rivera is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with plans to graduate in June 2026. She grew up at Villa Cesar Chavez Apartments, where she remembers the support systems that helped her stay focused academically.

Wendy hopes to become a Project Engineer and work on infrastructure projects that improve daily life for communities like the one she grew up in. She plans to earn her Professional Engineer license and continue building a career shaped by technical skills, problem solving, and purpose.

Vanessa Montejano is a Mechanical Engineering student at California State University, Northridge, set to graduate in Spring 2026. Raised at Villa Cesar Chavez Apartments and the first in their family to pursue engineering, Vanessa is driven by a passion for renewable energy and assistive technology.

Their work includes designing a foot controlled prosthetic arm to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. With a 3.94 GPA, strong work ethic, and a clear sense of responsibility to underserved communities, Vanessa hopes to use engineering to advance equity and expand opportunity.

Jesus Angel Avila is a first year biology major at Santa Barbara City College and a member of the college soccer team. He grew up in the Fillmore Central Station Apartments and plans to transfer to Cal Poly after completing his studies at SBCC.

Jesus is working toward a degree in agriculture or plant science and aims to become a Pest Control Advisor in Ventura County. His long term goal is to start an agriculture business and operate ranches in the region he has always called home.

Mireya Avila Mejia is completing her final semester at Ventura College and will graduate in December before continuing on to California State University, Channel Islands for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She plans to graduate in Spring 2026.

Mireya grew up at Fillmore Central Station Apartments and was inspired to pursue nursing through her experiences with Spanish speaking patients in the community. She hopes to begin her career in the Direct Observation Unit at a local hospital and dreams of working in the ICU and later becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

These four students are powerful examples of what can grow when families have safe, stable housing and support. Their achievements represent the heart of CEDC’s mission to create communities where residents can build lives filled with opportunity, security, and pride.

We celebrate Wendy, Vanessa, Jesus, and Mireya for their dedication and the futures they are building. Their journeys remind us that when we invest in young people, we strengthen our entire community.

Congratulations to our 2025 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund Scholars. Your success inspires us all.