The Bezos Scholars Program is proud to announce San Jacinto Leadership Academy student Turner Daudert and educator Priscilla Grijalva, School Counselor, are part of the 2025 Scholars cohort. The Bezos Scholars Program inspires and challenges young people and educators from their schools to address issues they are passionate about in their communities.
The applicant pool is competitive; twelve Scholars represent seven states this year. Scholars are chosen based on commitment to their education, demonstrated leadership abilities, willingness to embrace challenges, and the desire to create positive change in their communities.
The program begins with community building before embarking on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival, where students engage in leadership training, exclusive conversations with acclaimed global leaders and build lasting friendships with their fellow Scholars. This experience sets the stage for the challenge ahead: launching sustainable Community Change Projects to transform their communities.
“These student leaders and educator advocates are exactly who the world needs right now. We are honored to support and learn from such a brilliant, energized cohort.” said Molly Pencke, Senior Program Manager at the Bezos Family Foundation.
A first-generation Latina from El Paso who earned a basketball scholarship to California Baptist University, Priscilla completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and has spent her career deeply committed to supporting young people pursuing postsecondary education or training. As lead counselor at her school, she embodies the campus motto Ductus Exemplo (lead by example), ensuring students are seen, supported, and set up for success in college, careers, academics, and with their social-emotional growth. Priscilla serves on a national board and committees for school counselors and has presented at several college counseling conferences. As a Bezos Scholar, Priscilla is eager to co-design an impactful Community Change Project with Turner while trading strategies with fellow leaders committed to brighter post-secondary futures for all students.
Projects are as diverse as the Scholars themselves and are designed to align Scholars’ passions with an existing community need. Many projects address the climate crisis, education, financial literacy and lack of access to opportunities. Since the program’s inception, Scholars have launched 218 projects; there are more than 527 alums in the network.
The Bezos Scholars Program is a year-long leadership development program for rising high school seniors and educators from across the United States and Africa. It begins with an opportunity to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival and continues through the following school year when Bezos Scholars return home, participate in virtual trainings, and launch sustainable community change projects that transform their schools and communities. For 21 years, Scholar teams have mobilized communities around various critical issues. To see full Scholar biographies and photos, please visit the Meet the Scholars page of the BSP website.
The Bezos Scholars Program is a year-long leadership development program for rising high school seniors and educators from across the United States and Africa. It begins with an opportunity to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival and continues through the following school year when Bezos Scholars return home, participate in virtual trainings, and launch sustainable community change projects that transform their schools and communities. For 21 years, Scholar teams have mobilized communities around various critical issues. To see full Scholar biographies and photos, please visit the Meet the Scholars page of the BSP website.
