ASU Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program

Congratulations to JBMSHP alumna, Diana Garcia Sanchez, for being named the 2026 Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship recipient! 👏

A Phoenix native and 2024 graduate of Carl Hayden High School, Diana participated in the JBMSHP in 2023 and 2024, where she excelled in MAT 117: College Algebra and MAT 170: Pre-Calculus.
Now a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Secondary Education certificate, Diana aspires to become a mathematics educator, with the goal of inspiring and supporting future generations of students. Diana has remained actively engaged with the JBMSHP community, serving as a MAT 170: Pre-Calculus tutor in 2025. She will continue her leadership journey in 2026 as the MAT 117: College Algebra class supervisor, further demonstrating her commitment to giving back and fostering student success.

What are your post-graduation plans?
• I hope to pursue a master’s in education related field. I am interested in how people learn and process math. I want to work as a math teacher, but I’m most interested in teacher pedagogy and the learning side of math education.

How has your experience with the JBMSHP helped you as an ASU student?
• The JBMSHP was a really important stepping stone for me, especially for college. It helped fill in gaps I had in my math foundations which made a big difference in how I approach my coursework now. I don’t think I would be doing as well in my college classes or would have stuck with mathematics without that support. Before the program, I had kind of given up on math back in middle school because I kept failing at it. But the welcoming environment and one of the JBMSHP supervisors that summer really changed that for me. She helped me realize that you can do anything you put your mind to as long as you want it enough. I’m incredibly grateful for her, and she is definitely one of my biggest inspirations.

What does the Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship mean to you?
• This scholarship means a lot to me, and I am really grateful for it. When I first joined the JBMSHP, I was struggling with math, even basic algebra, and had a lot of doubt in myself after being told I wouldn’t make a good math teacher. The JBMSHP changed that. From the first day, it felt like a safe space, and by the second week I realized I had to fully try instead of accepting failure. I still remember getting my first passing quiz with Kiara (the class supervisor), which was a turning point for me. I am very grateful for her support. This experience helped me see that I could pursue math, even if I wasn’t the strongest at it at first. The JBMSHP taught me that making mistakes is part of learning and that I can improve with effort. Without the program, I think I would have struggled much more academically and personally. Overall, this scholarship represents growth I did not think was possible. It shows that I can succeed in math and as a future teacher, and it has shaped the kind of teacher I want to become, someone who understands that learning involves failing and continuing to try.

The Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship is named in honor of Professor Joaquin Bustoz, who taught mathematics at Arizona State University from 1975-2003. The scholarship is offered in partnership with the Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program. Joaquin Bustoz’s defining characteristic was his passion not only for the field of mathematics but also for helping talented minority students achieve their full potential.

Donors can make a contribution to the Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship Endowment at: https://www.asufoundation.org/colleges-and-programs/schools-and-colleges/the-college-of-liberal-arts-and-sciences/joaquin-bustoz-memorial-mathematics-scholarship-endowment-CA111012.html

We spy JBMSHP alum, Abraham Lozano Serna, on the front cover of the AI Journey at Arizona State University, AI in motion magazine (vol. 4) and featured on pages 14-15!!

The AI Journey at Arizona State University showcases stories of AI in motion | ASU Enterprise Technology The AI Journey at Arizona State University showcases stories of AI in motion April 9, 2026 The AI Journey at Arizona State University, AI in motion (vol. 4) surfaces powerful stories that demonstrate AI in motion at the most innovative university in the nation.From global research initiatives to a c...

Congratulations to JBMSHP alum Cody Gillespie on earning the prestigious Fulbright Program scholarship! Cody will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Uzbekistan during the 2026–2027 academic year. Through the Fulbright ETA program, he will support local English teachers while also sharing U.S. culture as a global ambassador. Cody earned both his BS in Computer Science and MCS from Arizona State University, and will be deferring his admission to Washington and Lee University School of Law for one year. Congratulations Cody, we are so incredibly proud of you for this amazing achievement! 🙌💯🔥

What will you be doing in Uzbekistan?
• I will participate in an English teaching assistantship (ETA) where I will be paired with a local teacher at a regional university to use my native English speaking skills to assist in students learning English as a foreign language.

Why did you choose Uzbekistan?
• Fulbright is a massive program comprising thousands of grants for US students to teach English and study in most countries in the world. Each applicant is allowed to apply to exactly one country and one grant type per application cycle, so it is very important to present a compelling case in one’s application as to why they are a good fit for their chosen country. I began my search for a country right at the very beginning of application season and landed on Uzbekistan fairly quick. I had three basic requirements that narrowed things down: (1) I knew that I wanted a country in Central Asia (CA) as I find it to be a culturally interesting region, (2) I was only going to apply to countries that would allow me to bring my spouse (many grants disallow bringing dependents), and (3) I wanted a country that predominantly speaks a Turkic language (e.g. Uzbek, Kyrgyz). All of these factors taken together made Uzbekistan stand out during my initial search. Once I narrowed in on Uzbekistan, I began doing further research by watching videos and reading articles about the country. I learned that there has been a massive economic reform taking place in the country over the past 10 years geared towards modernizing the economy. This lined up with my background as an engineer pretty well. On a more personal level, I also learned that Uzbeks are known for the hospitality. As someone who likes to cook and host dinner parties for others, this lined up a lot with how I envisioned spending my time outside of working as an ETA.

What are your future plans?
• My background was working as a software engineer for five years before I took a position as an artificial intelligence patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). I ultimately plan attending law school in patent and intellectual property law. This really benefits from having experience working in an international context. I hope to one day leverage this experience to become an IP Attaché at the USPTO, which is a diplomat that lives and works overseas for the U.S. government as an advocate for improving international IP matters.

Staying in AZ for college? Check out the Beaty Martinez Foundation Scholarship! Deadline is quickly approaching so apply soon.

Congrats to JBMSHP alumni, Freyja Eckman, who was awarded the prestigious Charles Wexler Mathematics Prize at the ASU School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences 49th annual Charles Wexler Awards! This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student majoring in mathematics. Congrats Freyja!!! 👏

Deadline: April 30 - Sharing info from Wellpoint Arizona Scholarship Program. This opportunity is for Native American Students in Healthcare & Behavioral Health. For students who are members of Federally Recognized Tribes pursuing degrees or certifications in nursing, social work, and marriage and family therapy.

Scholarship Details:
- Award: Up to 12 scholarships of $5,000 each
- Eligible Fields: Nursing, social work, and marriage & family therapy

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026

Application Link and more info visit: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/wellpointarizona/

Our students had so much fun at today's JBMSHP end of the year celebration! 🎉 Good luck on your final class projects and exams, you got this! 🙌🏽

We set a $6,000 goal to take our students to the OdySea Aquarium this summer…

AND YOU SHOWED UP!!! 🎉

Because of you, we raised $8,335 🤯💛

We are beyond grateful—thank you for your generosity and continued support of JBMSHP on !

We had a great time at our JBMSHP grad school info session! 🎓✨

Thank you everyone who joined us and to the grad student speakers who shared their experiences, insights and advice on the application process, funding opportunities, and research life.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to the JBMSHP on ! Your generosity means so much to our program and to the students we serve. We’ll share our final donation total next week.

Your gift helps open doors for our students and reminds them that they have a community cheering them on. Thank you for being part of their journey! ⭐️

Missed Sun Devil Giving Day? You can still donate here:
https://www.asufoundation.org/changing-futures/inspire-tomorrows-game-changers/joaquin-bustoz-math-science-honors-program-CA100143.html

⏰TODAY is Sun Devil Giving Day, help us reach our $6,000 fundraising goal!

This summer, we hope to take JBMSHP students on a hands-on STEM field trip to the OdySea Aquarium—at no cost to them. Many of our students are first-generation or from low-income households, and opportunities like this aren’t always accessible.

Every gift makes an impact:
✅ $10: Refreshments for a student
✅ $25: Transportation support and refreshments for a student
✅ $50: Aquarium admission, transportation support, and refreshments for a student

Donate today: https://www.asufoundation.org/changing-futures/inspire-tomorrows-game-changers/joaquin-bustoz-math-science-honors-program-CA100143.html

Every gift brings us one step closer to making this experience possible. Donations are tax-deductible—thank you for supporting the JBMSHP!🏆