Oakland Student Makes The Cut, Wins $20,000 STEM Scholarship From PG&E

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- An Oakland student learned Friday that she is one of only 10 students in Northern and Central California to win a scholarship of $20,000 from PG&E to complete an undergraduate college degree.

Alondra Varela won the scholarship called the Better Together STEM scholarship, which is good for up to five years of schooling, PG&E officials said.

Varela graduated from Coliseum College Prep Academy with a 4.33 G.P.A. and tutored young people at the East Oakland Youth Development Center, according to Oakland Magazine.

The scholarship was previously known as the Bright Minds scholarship.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

More than 4,000 people applied for the scholarship, according to PG&E officials.