Student Spotlight: Liliana Medina
Big Brothers Big Sisters/Women in Entertainment Provide Scholarship
Liliana Medina, a senior studying animation, was always creative. Like many kids, she liked to draw and watch cartoons. In fact, it was while watching “Avatar: The Last Airbender” that sparked a passion for animation. But Liliana never dreamed of making a career out of drawing.
“My parents are immigrants from Mexico, I grew up in a house where the arts weren’t really a career choice,” she said. “I always thought that I had to study business, that’ll make my parents happy.”
But, while attending John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, California, Medina was introduced to the Big Brother Big Sisters/Women in Entertainment program by a teacher who asked her to attend a meeting for high achieving female students.
“I initially thought it was too good to be true, because they were talking about getting us into Hollywood,” said Medina. “Then the topic came up that they also offer full-ride scholarships to LMU. The program introduced me to LMU. I never really thought about college, I just thought I may go to a community college.”
The prestigious Big Brother Big Sisters/ Women in Entertainment Scholarship is awarded each year to a LMU student who participated in the Big Brother Big Sisters/Women in Entertainment program while in high school. Students tend to be first generation, dedicated young women who without this support would not have had an opportunity to attend LMU.
The program has opened up doors and opportunities for Medina. She’s interned at DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Animation. More than that, the scholarship has meant Medina can focus on her love of animation.
“I can’t even put into words what this scholarship means to me,” said Medina. “It gave me the opportunity to go out and do what I believe I was put on this earth to do — to really help inspire the next generation of people of color or minority kids who want to pursue the arts. I feel like this scholarship has given me the opportunity to do that.”
To support students like Liliana fulfill their dream of an LMU education, visit here.
Gift of Scholarship
Doctoral Candidate Expresses Gratitude for Scholarship
Scholarships enable quality students like Nikysha Gilliam to obtain their academic goals, regardless of financial means. Gilliam is an Ed.D. candidate in LMU’s School of Education studying educational leadership for social justice.
To learn more about LMU student scholarships, visit here.