by Annie Ngo
Burroughs senior Sarina Khara has received a big check — $50,000 — to help her achieve her big dreams, thanks to a prestigious scholarship from Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE).
Established in 2006, the Edison Scholars Program “recognizes students who want to be makers of tomorrow — the dreamers, inventors, guardians and pioneers — those who dare to be great,” according to the program website. Only 30 students earn the scholarship each year. Candidates throughout SCE’s service area are eligible to apply.
“I am extremely thankful for this scholarship opportunity as it will allow me to go to a UC for free,” said Khara. “This also means I won’t have to worry about attending college in Florida [where her college costs would be minimal] and that I can visit my mom often.”
This is the first time a Burroughs student has won the Edison award, which was presented April 5 in the Burroughs Engineering building. BHS administrators, counselors, and Chamber of Commerce representatives were on hand to watch as SCE District Manager Raul Valenzuela and SCE Goverment Relations Manager Cal Rossi congratulated Khara and her mother Daljit on the honor.
“I’m so proud of Sarina for earning the scholarship,” said Principal Carrie Cope. “What an incredible accomplishment and reward for the hard work Sarina has put into her academics. She is well-deserving of this award.”
The Edison scholarship is one of many that Khara submitted this year. Like most college-bound students, she has spent considerable time scouring the school’s scholarship bulletin, writing essays, and gathering letters of recommendation to market herself for awards. Many students ignore applications like Edison’s, but Khara was not deterred.
“When I first heard I won, I was in utter shock,” said Khara. “I remember the day my mom reminded me to fill out scholarships, I immediately went to the BHS Front Office the next day and found out the Edison scholarship was due in a day. I quickly got home from school and worked on the application all day, finally submitting it before the deadline. When I heard I won, I couldn’t believe my eyes and thanked my mom right away for reminding me to apply.”
The application process is quite intense but definitely doable, according to Khara. Applicants have to fill out short writing supplements and secure a letter of recommendation. If they make it to the semi-finalist section with the top 50, they submit a video detailing how they would make a positive impact in the STEM world. That video is now posted online at the Edison Scholars website.
In the video, she talks about growing up surrounded by China Lake’s engineers and scientists from an early age, and being inspired by their efforts to pursue her own. She also speaks of her brother Kabir, who recently graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s degree in computer engineering and works for AMD.
“He introduced me to the world of cybersecurity,” said Khara. “His enthusiasm and knowledge inspired me to dive deeper into this field.” Khara speaks passionately about the need for cybersecurity and the potential threats caused by malicious bad actors.
“Every day we see the staggering impacts of cyber threats, ranging from identity theft to financial fraud and even national security breaches,” said Khara. “These are not just headlines; they are the constant reminders of the vulnerabilities that exist within our society today.”
The goal-oriented senior is currently deciding between Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego. Khara credits her siblings on helping her get this far in her academic career as they always give her great advice and motivate her to work hard. Her sister Simrin is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at the University of Central Florida. Both Simrin and Kabir are BHS alumni.
With a strong work ethic, Khara takes Burroughs’ most rigorous AP and dual-enrollment courses. In addition to academics, she is involved in several campus clubs, including being Key Club treasurer, and played on the tennis team.
She offered advice for future seniors who will be looking for scholarships.
“Keep checking the office often for bulletin updates, and start as early as possible,” said Khara.
