For our selection committee, Kaleb Alemayehu's application was a clear choice for the East African Youth Scholarship. A Computer Science student at East Texas A&M University with a 3.56 GPA, he balances his studies with two jobs: training AI models by writing and evaluating prompts, and serving elderly residents at a senior living community, where he steps up as lead during the busiest hours.

An Eritrean-American, Kaleb has known Tombossa's support since his family first moved to Texas, when it gave them hope at a time they needed it most. For him, this scholarship is a full-circle moment, and a powerful motivation to keep working hard.

With hands-on experience in Python, Java, and artificial intelligence, Kaleb hopes to build solutions that improve people's lives and give back to his community, and one day to pay that kindness forward to the students who come after him.

For our selection committee, awarding Mattania Biniam the East African Youth Scholarship was an easy decision. He embodies the very spirit of our foundation — excelling in the classroom, leading in his community, and competing on the court, all with remarkable drive.

An Eritrean-American headed to Southern Methodist University to study Management Science, Mattania carries both a rich heritage and a bold future. For his family, this scholarship is more than financial relief; it's a vote of confidence from a community that believes in him.

With a vision to use data and analytics to leave a positive footprint on the world, Mattania is exactly the kind of leader our community is proud to invest in.

For our selection committee, Elim Girma's application was a standout choice for the East African Youth Scholarship. She graduated in the top 10% of her class while leading numerous student organizations, pairing exceptional communication skills with a fierce work ethic.

A first-generation Eritrean-American, Elim is heading to Texas Tech University to pursue a career as a Cybersecurity Analyst. For her, this scholarship is far more than a door to higher education; it's a vote of confidence that lets her deepen her studies, build professional networks, and step into a new independence.

Driven by a calling to shield others from digital threats, Elim is moving into a career where her leadership will safeguard data and uplift her community.