Cerritos College student awarded Taco Bell scholarship

Cerritos College student Anahi Mireles was awarded a $10,000 Live Más Scholarship from the Taco Bell Foundation, recognizing her passion for engineering and advocacy for individuals with disabilities. She is one of only 453 recipients selected from over 15,000 applicants nationwide.

Anahi, a mechanical engineering major, plans to design affordable adaptive devices that improve mobility and independence for people with disabilities. Her mission is inspired by her brothers, who faced muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.

At 18, Anahi assisted her brother Tony at an event hosted by 5 Eleven Hoops, a non-profit organization that provides basketball training for youth on the autism spectrum. The experience propelled her into a coaching role, and today, she serves as the organization's site director, leading efforts to create inclusive athletic spaces and raise awareness about the lack of adaptive equipment.

Anahi credits the support of Noemi Rodriguez, facilitator of Cerritos College’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program, for helping her navigate the application process and pursue her academic goals. The MESA program provides tutoring, mentoring, and career development for underrepresented students pursuing calculus-based degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The Live Más Scholarship, founded by the Taco Bell Foundation in 2015, supports students using their passion to ignite change. The award is renewable for up to four years and is designed to support students on their educational journeys, whether in college, workforce training, or community impact.