We’d like to formally introduce our Fall 2026 1st Place Scholarship Recipient, Sabrina Mendoza. The Lisa Michelle Memorial Fund was established to assist and recognize students who have lost a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, and/or spouse to substance abuse. We are proud to award a $1,000 scholarship to assist Sabrina this year. Sabrina is majoring in Automotive Technology at the St. Philip’s College.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a first-generation college student, a mother of four, and I come from a family filled with drug use and addiction. I am the only one in my immediate family who does not use or associate with drug use and I have been on my own since I was 15. I am currently studying Automotive Technology because cars have been the only part of my life, I felt l could repair and understand. Today I want to turn the part of my life that I connected to the most into a career and a way I can help others that have experienced the same hardships as I. My main interests are Automotive restoration, ratrods, technology and transmissions.
Q: Imagine yourself 10 years from now. What goals and ambitions do you have for yourself, personally, academically, and professionally?
Ten years from now, I hope to have a shop of my own. I want to create an automotive shop that employs and is owned by women. I want to become a highly skilled transmission technician and automotive restoration tech. I want to restore and upgrade vintage cars and ratrods to possibly keep the younger generations interest in vintage cars. I also hope to create a scholarship program that repairs affordable cars for single mothers and women in college. I want to be able to repair and give away at least 2-3 cars a year as a scholarship. Academically my education will not stop at St. Philips college I hope to attend McPhearson College one and continue my restoration learning. Personally, I want my children and everyone out there that has had a hard life see what can happen when you refuse to give up.
Q: Aside from a college degree, what do you hope to gain from your college experience?
I hope to gain confidence, knowledge and even professional contacts and connections. College has taught me that the experience is so much more than just earning a degree. It is about discovering what you are capable of. I want to learn from my instructors and classmates and create lifelong friendships.
Q: What motivates you to continue working towards accomplishing your goals?
I know this is where most expect a typical answer like saying my children motivate me and they do, but my children are not the only motivation. I am motivated by the life I have lived and knowing how good of a person I am at heart, I can be the person and mentor to people that are in this world struggling alone like I was for so long. I want to help others more than anything else. My children have lived a better life than I have and better than a lot of people have, so they have not felt that kind of pain or struggle in their lives and for that I am blessed. So, my focus and motivation is to help the unfortunate women, kids and others like me.
Q: What advice would you give to other students who have been through circumstances similar to yours?
The world can be a hard place, and life will always have ups and downs, but the life and world you came from does not define who you are and what you can achieve. And always remember to never compare your timeline to anyone else’s, because some people were born on a different part of the ladder than you were. The hard parts of life create a stronger soul and person, so do not take those times for granted. Instead use them as motivation to keep going and as a lesson you needed to get where you dreamed of being one day. If you ever have trouble understanding the hardest parts of life, always feel free to come to find me out in this world and I will be glad to help with you with everything I have learned.
The Lisa Michelle Memorial Fund 