Continuing RJ’s Legacy into 2025

Hi Friends,

We are thrilled to share an update on Julianna Alderete, the first-ever recipient of the Rodney James Pimentel Memorial Scholarship. Thanks to your incredible support, Julianna started her Computer Science studies at UC Irvine this fall, where she’s been thriving and seizing every opportunity to grow, both academically and personally.

In a recent check-in, Julianna shared some exciting news: she’s loving her computer science classes, especially her Python course, and she’s already joined two prominent student organizations—Women in Computer Science (WICS) and the ICS Student Council (ICSSC). Through these groups, she’s participating in mentorship programs, meeting new friends, and applying for committees and hackathons. She has also already demonstrated an interest in giving back to others as she explores WICS’s outreach committee that guides middle/high school students. Julianna told us she feels incredibly fortunate to attend UC Irvine, and her gratitude for your support is clear in her heartfelt message to us:

“It’s great to hear from you, thanks for reaching out! I’m loving UCI so far and am reminded every day how lucky I am to attend such a school…I hope to make you all proud as you’ve all been a great help. Thanks for all your support!”

It’s truly inspiring to see Julianna embody RJ’s passion for learning and giving back. Knowing that this scholarship is helping a driven young person pursue her dreams in STEM is exactly what we hoped to achieve in RJ’s memory.

Our Next Goal: Continuing the Scholarship in 2025

With Julianna’s journey underway, we’re setting our sights on the future. We want to keep RJ’s legacy alive by awarding the scholarship again next year, ensuring more deserving students can access the opportunities they need. To make this possible, we’re launching a second round of fundraising, with a goal of raising another $10,000 by January.

Every contribution counts. Your donations, no matter the size, will go directly toward supporting a new scholarship recipient in 2025 or later years. With your help, we’ll continue to make a difference, one student at a time.

To donate or join our mailing list for future updates, please visit our website at friendsofrj.org or donate directly here: https://bold.org/funds/rj-pimentel-memorial-fund/

Please feel free to share this among your network, especially with others that may have known RJ as well.

Thank you again for all you’ve done to support this mission and honor RJ’s memory. We look forward to updating you on the progress we make together.

With gratitude,

Friends of RJ