Mauricio Mendez was one of ten Bay Area high school students selected to be a member of the Posse Foundation's first ever University of Puget Sound "Posse." The Posse Foundation is one of the most comprehensive and renowned college access and youth leadership development programs in the United States. Founded in 1989, the Posse Foundation opened its 10th chapter in the Bay Area in 2015.
As a Posse Scholar, Mauricio will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the University of Puget Sound and will study biology with the aspiration of one day becoming a microbiologist or a molecular biologist.
Mauricio credits Gateway for his love of the sciences. "I had a great science teacher in middle school but she didn't get the way I learned and how much I gained from hands on, real-world learning experiences. When I came to Gateway High School, that all changed. I was conducting experiments, learning how science relates to the real world, and getting set up with internships."
When Mauricio was a rising sophomore, Gateway helped him secure a summer internship at the California Academy of Sciences (Cal Academy) where he continued to intern for four years.
During his time at the Cal Academy, he led demonstration stations on the public floor and taught visitors about the wonders of science, presented research at scientific conferences, and worked side by side with an Academy scientist.
In the summer of 2016, he partnered with a senior microbiologist at Cal Academy to study infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. He cultured mosquitoes in order to better understand the spread of Zika, malaria and dengue viruses.
Mauricio is grateful for his time at Gateway and how it's helped prepare him for college and beyond. "Gateway has taught me so many skills, most importantly how to advocate for myself."
According to Leroy Foster, the Director of Posse Bay Area, "Mauricio's future is really bright. He not only has a keen mind for science, but he's also warm and very outgoing."