22 Exceptional Scholar-Leaders Share $94,000 in Don Diego College Scholarship

From left to right: Arya Bosworth, Zaya Kramer, and Angie Santizo-Gomez.

 

Don Diego Scholarship Foundation’s Board of Directors has awarded $94,000 in 2026 scholarships to 22 outstanding recipients who are graduating from high school and embarking upon higher education to pursue worthwhile careers in an array of fields.

Chair Kirby Morrison stated, “In this, our 40th anniversary year, Don Diego is elated to celebrate these amazing Scholar-Leaders, including many first-gen college students. Hailing from around the county, they will advance their ambitious goals at prestigious universities nationwide, including Harvard and Yale, and at highly regarded colleges here in California. Three won top monetary awards of $10,000. In terms of obstacles overcome, achievements, and immense potential for the future, all 22 are tops to us!”

Top Three Recipients

Arya Bosworth

Arya Bosworth of San Diego is a genuine “Renaissance woman” who has performed to acclaim in dozens of shows at the famed Old Globe Theater, broken through ceilings in robotics competitions, taught STEM to underserved students in San Diego, and with heart, soul, and fearlessness, forged a path to clandestinely teach programming online to girls in Afghanistan banned from attending school by the Taliban.

A recommender at Poway High School, where Arya graduated with a 4.5 GPA, said, “Arya is without question, the Most Remarkable Teen in San Diego – not only because she officially earned that title [one of 25 named by the County Public Defender’s Office], but because she truly embodies what it means to be remarkable. Arya exemplifies brilliance balanced with empathy.”

Having led her Poway robotics team to first place at the 2025 San Diego County Fair’s Fairbotics competition, Arya captured two 2026 Don Diego awards: the $5,000 Ranglas Family Endowment Exhibitor/Participant Scholarship and $5,000 Spanjian Family Endowment Scholarship. She will be welcomed and valued at Harvard University, where she will double-major in Mechanical Engineering and Theatre.

Arya eloquently opined, “I’ve broken through some ceilings; others almost broke me. And some, I’ve learned, won’t crack no matter how hard I push, but breaking ceilings isn’t always about shattering them; it’s about refusing to disappear beneath them. I plan to expand global STEM access, building programs that empower girls to learn, lead, and be seen.”

Zaya Kramer

Steeped in 4-H and all things agriculture, Zaya Kramer of Fallbrook won Don Diego’s $5,000 Tellam Foundation 4-H JLA Scholarship and $5,000 Joe Harper Endowment/Mark Arabo/Jim Edwards 4-H Scholarship. Zaya will put the total $10,000 to excellent use majoring in Agriculture Science at Cal Poly SLO on her way to becoming an Agriculture teacher; focusing especially on students who, like her, learn differently.

Zaya confided, “I have dyslexia, which despite its challenges, helped guide me toward leadership. Since I do not always feel comfortable in a traditional classroom setting, I want to open doors to learning by providing hands-on opportunities for students who need alternative ways to succeed.”

Zaya herself has succeeded in multiple endeavors. Attaining a 4.0 at Calvin Christian High School, she surfed and played soccer and volleyball while becoming a leader in the Fallbrook 4-H club she joined at age nine. She has served as chapter president for three years while raising and showing livestock; placing high in showmanship awards. She has also devoted time to volunteering at her church.

Zaya has pledged to be a powerful advocate for agriculture. She believes, “It is a vital part of our everyday lives; it provides our food and sustains our communities.”

Angie Santizo-Gomez

Angie Santizo-Gomez of Escondido will head to Cal Poly SLO to major in Animal Science, propelled by three Don Diego awards: a $5,000 Tellam Foundation FFA JLA Scholarship; a $3,750 FFA Scholarship, and a $1,500 Brother’s Forever Scholarship.

Angie is fueled by her powerful sense of self and fierce tenacity. She said, “My parents moved to this country with hope and determination to make a life for their children. Becoming a large-animal veterinarian will enable me to follow my dreams of animal care and uplift myself and my family from our lingering financial strain.”

While maintaining a 4.1 GPA at Escondido High School, where she captained the golf team, performed with the marching band, and provided what one recommender heralded as “exemplary servant leadership,” this industrious and enthusiastic FFA member has earned diverse chapter and state degrees, and worked as an intern at the school farm, where she got a jump on her future career by administering medications, diagnosing diseases, and caring for and about her breeding doe and ewe herds.

Raised in a family where money, housing, and food were daunting difficulties, Angie acknowledged, “These challenges have always been a struggle, but though we couldn’t afford expensive activities, we found ways to spend leisure time, such as strolling in the park and doing volunteer work.” A first-gen college student, Angie is certain to do her family, community, and Don Diego proud!

Additional Exceptional Recipients

Alexander Flores, San Diego, $3,750 Exhibitor/Participant Scholarship, Cal Poly SLO, Mechanical Engineering

Deren Erdem, San Diego, $2,500 Chicken Charlie Exhibitor/Participant Scholarship, UC Irvine, Computer Science & Engineering

Simeon Kim, Escondido, $1,500 Mannen Family Endowment Exhibitor/Participant Scholarship, Yale University, Mechanical Engineering

Bryce McCague, Escondido, $1,000 Ecke Family Exhibitor/Participant Scholarship, UC Berkeley, International Studies/Business

Eythan Browning, Ramona, $2,500 Allan Royster Endowment Vocational Education Scholarship, ABC Construction, Welding

Tessa Foust, Poway, $3,750 Zable Foundation 4-H Scholarship, Santa Fe College, Animal Science

Makayla King, Escondido, $2,500 Shewmaker Family Endowment 4-H Scholarship, Palomar College, EMT/Education

Sydney Harris, Poway, $5,000 Karetas Family FFA Scholarship, $3,000 JLA Scholarship, Creighton University, Nursing

Kaitlyn Peck, Ramona, $4,000 William and Betty Ann Tulloch Endowment JLA Scholarship, $2,500 Tulloch Family Partners/Glenn Drown FFA Scholarship, Oklahoma State University, Plant & Soil Science/Agricultural Leadership

Angel Garrett, Ramona, $3,500 JLA Scholarship, $1,500 Roxana Foxx Endowment FFA Scholarship, University of Idaho, Animal Science

Tristan Harris, San Diego, $5,000 Karetas Family Endowment Employee Scholarship, Grand Valley State University, Business

Marisol Villalobos, Escondido, $3,750 Employee Scholarship, Mesa College, Biology

Edgar Flores Ramirez, Escondido, $2,500 Schenk Family Endowment Employee Scholarship, Cal State San Marcos, Kinesiology

Addison Schmitz, San Diego, $1,500 Howell Boys Employee Scholarship, University of Missouri, Early Childhood Education

Gwendolyn Aubuchon, Escondido, $3,500 JLA Scholarship, UC Davis, Animal Science

Madison Bowman, Fallbrook, $2,500 JLA Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Meat Science/Agriculture Business

Emilie Hudson, Alpine, $2,500 JLA Scholarship, Grossmont College

Charlotte Stone, San Marcos, $5,000 Tellam Foundation FFA JLA Scholarship, Colorado State University, Pre-Vet

Benjamin Lopez Montiel, Escondido, $500 JLA Scholarship, Palomar College, Aerospace Engineering

About the Don Diego Scholarship Foundation

Don Diego annually offers college scholarships in various categories to students who reside in San Diego County and have participated in the San Diego County Fair and/or other activities associated with the Del Mar Fairgrounds. In addition to the students and scholarships listed above, in 2026, Don Diego has continued providing sequential $5,000-per-year, four-year scholarships via the Dredge Family, Edwards Family, Liss Family, and CGW Scholarships.

The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation was named for Don Diego, AKA Tom Hernandez, who served as San Diego County Fair’s welcoming goodwill ambassador from 1947-84. Since its inception in 1986, the Foundation has awarded $1,604,344 in scholarships to 456 students and in Plant*Grow*Eat agriculture education grants, which enable elementary students from San Diego area Title 1 schools to learn about agriculture and nutrition while enjoying a day at the Fairgrounds.