Scholarship program
Steps For Change Scholarship
The Wealth by Health Steps for Change Foundation awards three exceptional individuals from low-income families each year with $2,000 scholarships to pursue post-secondary education and encourage community leadership. This scholarship opportunity encourages young individuals to become community leaders and to continuously pursue their future goals.
The Steps For Change Scholarship is an income and merit based scholarship awarded to students applying to a college/university or medical schools to further their career goals. Students from low-income families are recognized for their capacity to lead and commitment to making a significant impact on communities. Award recipients must display academic excellence, exude passion in empowering the community, and exemplify a desire for continuous personal growth.
We intend to recognize and alleviate financial burden for exceptional students from disadvantaged backgrounds for their determination in working towards future goals, positive contribution to society, and a strong vision for future personal and professional goals.
Scholarship Selection Committee
The Scholarship Selection Committee is made up of at least six members. All members of the committee bring to the selection panel the unique benefits of their life and career experience, their diverse outlooks, and their commitment to improving our society. All members of the committee will be working together to select the final award winners.
The Scholarship Selection Committee understands and upholds the qualities of fairness, objectivity, and nondiscrimination within the scholarship selection process. All members appointed to the committee agree to confidentiality in adherence to the organization's privacy policy given the sensitive information the committee handles.
> 2024 Scholarship Judges
Mr. Thomas Fox : Director of Outreach & Strategic Partnerships, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific/College of Podiatric Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences
Ms. Julie Shadpa : Associate Director of Development, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation
Dr. Loretta Ng : Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs and an Associate Professor at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry
Dr. Di Chung : Family Medicine Physician, Asian Pacific Health Care Venture
Ms. Julia Davidson : Certificated teacher at Torrance Unified School District & former director with the Asian American Tutorial Project
Mr. Daniel Fong, Esq. : Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
> 2023 Scholarship Judges
Dr. Beth Carter : MD, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Ms. Victoria Pacheco : Registered Dietician at USC Arcadia Hospital
Ms. Abby Cheng : Internet and Sales Director at China Art & Jewelry in DTLA
Ms. Allison Walker : Global Health Security Technical Advisor at USAID
Dr. Felix Yip : MD, Board Certified Urologist
Ms. Julie Shadpa : Associate Director of Development, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation
> 2022 Scholarship Judges
Dr. Tom Yeh : MD, Internal Medicine & Cardiovascular Disease
Dr. Elsie Lin : MD, Internal Medicine & Family Medicine
Dr. Karissa Le : Staff Pharmacist at Walmart
Dr. Monica Hwang : Research Scientist at California Institute of Technology
Ms. Julie Shadpa : Associate Director of Development, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation
Mr. Norman Chen : Senior Engineering Specialist at the Aerospace Corporation
> 2021 Scholarship Judges
Ms. Abby Loomis, Esq. : Attorney-at-Law
Mr. Chong Le : Senior Engineer at the US Department of Defense
Ms. Polly Low : Mayor of the City of Rosemead
Mr. Tony Ng : VP New Build Performance Manager at HSBC Bank USA
Dr. Abrey Daniel : Oral Health Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Dr. Monica Hwang : Former Research Scientist at SigmaGraft Inc.
> 2020 Scholarship Judges
Ms. Abby Loomis, Esq. : Attorney-at-Law
Mr. Chong Le : Senior Engineer at the US Department of Defense
Dr. Patrick Mak : Former Principal Director of the DoD Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Ms. Polly Low : Councilmember of the City of Rosemead
Mr. Erik Hoeffs : Divisional Franchise Director at GNC
Mr. Tony Ng : VP New Build Performance Manager at HSBC Bank USA
Ms. Carolyn Corrie : Vocational ESL Professor at PCC
Mr. David Lee : VP & Financial Center Manager of Bank of America Rosemead
> 2019 Scholarship Judges
Ms. Abby Loomis, Esq. : Attorney-at-Law
Mr. Chong Le : Senior Engineer at the US Department of Defense
Ms. Sandy Wang, FNP-BC : Director of Medical Operations at the Pill Club
Dr. Patrick Mak : Former Principal Director of the DoD Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Ms. Polly Low : Councilmember of the City of Rosemead
Ms. Wendy Zimmerman : SVP Area Manager at HSBC Bank USA
Mr. Erik Hoeffs : Divisional Franchise Director at GNC
> 2018 Scholarship Judges
Ms. Abby Loomis, Esq. : Attorney-at-Law
Dr. Indra Mukhopadhyay : USC Professor
Dr. Nimfa Bemis : USC Professor
Mr. Agustin Cervantes : Cal State LA OSS Director
Mr. Chong Le : Senior Engineer at the US Department of Defense
Ms. Sandy Wang, FNP-BC : Director of Medical Operations at The Pill Club
Mr. Stephen Dempsey : Senior Research Analyst at Kantar Milward Brown
Past Steps For Change Scholarship Recipients
2018: Matthew Lau, Niabi Campbell, Karen Shi
2019: Royal Shrestha, Luisa Ruiz-Perez, Omobolade Odedoyin
2020: Michaelah Ward, Michelle Kang, Candy Zheng
2021: Seunghee Han, Senay Zedingel, Leyna Pham
2022: Olivia Chang, Gavrila Wicaksono, Solongo Shinekhuu
2023: Madylin Galbreath, Leah Cobble, Carrington Jackson
2024: Billy Nguyen, Asanti Momahed, Lesly Rosales (winners are subjected to be verified on their document status)
scholarship Winners
2024
Billy Nguyen
University of California, Berkeley ‘28, Computer Science
Asanti Momahed
University of Nebraska Lincoln ‘28
Pre-Medicine
Lesly Rosales
University of California, Berkeley ‘28, Pre-Law
(winners are subjected to be verified on their document status.)