Thank Your Mentor: BUILD Scholars Share Messages of Gratitude to Mentors

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Contact Info: benjaminandrews@mednet.ucla.edu

By Benjamin Andrews-Zapata

Mentors have a tremendous impact on our community at the Diversity Program Consortium (DPC). They support undergraduate students participating in our 10 BUILD programs across the country – inspiring the next generation of scientists and researchers! 

To honor their hard work, the DPC and Enhance Science created a “Thank You Notes” campaign encouraging BUILD scholars to show their appreciation for their mentors by writing them a message. Read these Thank You Notes from scholars at XULA BUILD and CSULB BUILD

Check out our "Mentors Who Inspire" series featuring five amazing mentors from the DPC.

 

 

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Morgan Sinkfield (XULA BUILD) 

Mentor: Dr. Huckaba

"To my mentor Dr. Huckaba, Thank you for your support and welcoming me into your lab. I've learned a lot of new techniques which will greatly benefit me in the future." — Morgan Sinkfield

"To my mentor Dr. Huckaba, Thank you for your support and welcoming me into your lab. I've learned a lot of new techniques which will greatly benefit me in the future." –Morgan

 

Tyler Alexander (XULA BUILD) 

Mentor: Dr. Gross

“Thank you, Dr. Gross, for being an outstanding mentor supporting me through my personal and academic endeavors over the last three years. You have helped me grow into a more confident, Black woman in science! (continued) Thank you for all the advice and encouragement you share every time I see you. I will not forget them as I move into the next step of my academic career." — Tyler Alexander

“Thank you, Dr. Gross, for being an outstanding mentor supporting me through my personal and academic endeavors over the last three years. You have helped me grow into a more confident, Black woman in science!  Thank you for all the advice and encouragement you share every time I see you. I will not forget them as I move into the next step of my academic career." – Tyler

 

Cassius Harper (XULA BUILD) 

Mentor: Dr. Turner

"To my mentor Dr. Turner, Thank you for all that you do, your work and presence is vital to us all." – Cassius

"To my mentor Dr. Turner, Thank you for all that you do, your work and presence is vital to us all." — Cassius

 

Ana Garcia (CSULB BUILD) 

Mentor: Dr. Arturo Zavala

"To my mentor, Dr. Arturo Zavala, thank you for your guidance, patience, and kindness towards me. A year ago I did not know a thing about research, but you still allowed me to join your lab and have helped me every step of the way. I appreciate you so much. Thank you for everything!" – Ana Garcia

"To my mentor, Dr. Arturo Zavala, thank you for your guidance, patience, and kindness towards me. A year ago I did not know a thing about research, but you still allowed me to join your lab and have helped me every step of the way. I appreciate you so much. Thank you for everything!" – Ana Garcia

 

Corey Tanaka (CSULB BUILD) 

Mentors: Dr. Kevin Valenzuela, Dr. Jesse Dillon

"To my mentor, Dr. Kevin Valenzuela, thank you for providing me with numerous opportunities to better myself. Your advice and guidance throughout this year has allowed me to make improvements on not only my research skills but my professional skills as well. Thank you for keeping things fun and for putting up with my shenanigans." –Corey Tanaka

"To my mentor, Dr. Kevin Valenzuela, thank you for providing me with numerous opportunities to better myself. Your advice and guidance throughout this year has allowed me to make improvements on not only my research skills but my professional skills as well. Thank you for keeping things fun and for putting up with my shenanigans." –Corey Tanaka

"To my other mentor, Dr. Dillon, thank you for sticking with the Fellows past SURGE and through the school year to give us the resources and advice necessary to be prepared for graduate school." – Corey Tanaka

"To my other mentor, Dr. Dillon, thank you for sticking with the Fellows past SURGE and through the school year to give us the resources and advice necessary to be prepared for graduate school." – Corey Tanaka

 

Marc Barcelos (CSULB BUILD)

Mentor: Dr. Yada Treesukosol

“To my mentor, Dr. Yada Treesukosol, thank you for giving me the support I need while providing me the space to grow. You understand the chaos that is my mind and help me turn it into something amazing (or at least halfway decent!). I appreciate your help always and am always excited to come into lab! Thank you for everything!” – Marc Barcelos

“To my mentor, Dr. Yada Treesukosol, thank you for giving me the support I need while providing me the space to grow. You understand the chaos that is my mind and help me turn it into something amazing (or at least halfway decent!). I appreciate your help always and am always excited to come into lab! Thank you for everything!” – Marc Barcelos

 

Tyler Nelson (BUILD Scholar) 

Mentor: Dr. Arturo Zavala

“To my mentor, thank you for all that you do for me and the lab. I appreciate the hard work you put into training me to be a great scientist. You have always believed in me, and I cannot wait until I can be an amazing mentor to students one day like you have been for me. You have shown me that I belong in science. I will always be grateful to have you as a mentor as I advance in my science career and enter my Ph.D. program in the Fall. I couldn’t have done it without you, thank you, Dr. Zavala!” –Tyler Nelson

 

 

Oscar Juvera (BUILD PODER)

Mentors: Dr. Flores, Dr. Fricker

“Working in Dr. Flores’ research laboratory has really boosted my undergraduate skills over these past few months. He not only provided me with wet lab experience, but has also introduced me to microbiological specialists with whom I may collaborate in the future. Despite Dr. Flores being my principal investigator, he has shown to me that he is someone I can trust and rely on both at a professional and academic level.” – Oscar Juvera

“Working in Dr. Flores’ research laboratory has really boosted my undergraduate skills over these past few months. He not only provided me with wet lab experience, but has also introduced me to microbiological specialists with whom I may collaborate in the future. Despite Dr. Flores being my principal investigator, he has shown to me that he is someone I can trust and rely on both at a professional and academic level.” – Oscar Juvera

“Additionally, I will take this opportunity to thank his Postdoctoral Researcher, Dr. Fricker, for constantly providing me guidance through the realm of science. She is one of the many reasons why I keep my head high even when experiments don’t go as planned. I will be eternally thankful for having such great mentors in my quest to become a future scientist!” – Oscar Juvera

“Additionally, I will take this opportunity to thank his Postdoctoral Researcher, Dr. Fricker, for constantly providing me guidance through the realm of science. She is one of the many reasons why I keep my head high even when experiments don’t go as planned. I will be eternally thankful for having such great mentors in my quest to become a future scientist!” – Oscar Juvera

 

Mimi Truong (BUILD PODER)

Mentor: Dr. Eileen Ie

“Thank you to my mentor Dr. Eileen Ie. Who has taught me so much in such a short time about starting a research project as well as how to support my mental health. You have shown me how to ask for help, take a step back and see other people’s perspectives which I appreciate. I am thrilled to be your mentee and ready to learn so much more.” – Mimi Truong

“Thank you to my mentor Dr. Eileen Ie. Who has taught me so much in such a short time about starting a research project as well as how to support my mental health. You have shown me how to ask for help, take a step back and see other people’s perspectives which I appreciate. I am thrilled to be your mentee and ready to learn so much more.” – Mimi Truong

 

Dianna Alvarado (BUILD PODER)

Mentor: Dr. Yolanda Vasquez-Salgado

“Thank you to my mentor, Dr. Yolanda Vasquez-Salgado! From data collection to statistical analyses and scientific writing, my growth as a researcher flourished under her guidance. She taught me to celebrate even our smallest accomplishments and showed me what passion for research looks like. I feel confident and prepared to embark into graduate school with the skills and knowledge I learned from her!” – Dianna Alvarado

“Thank you to my mentor, Dr. Yolanda Vasquez-Salgado! From data collection to statistical analyses and scientific writing, my growth as a researcher flourished under her guidance. She taught me to celebrate even our smallest accomplishments and showed me what passion for research looks like. I feel confident and prepared to embark into graduate school with the skills and knowledge I learned from her!” – Dianna Alvarado


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