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Haydee Cuza

Biography

Graduate Scholarship Biography (prepared June 2007):  Haydee Cuza lived her teen years in foster care. She never forgot the unsatisfied needs or the sense of vulnerability associated with the experience. Her plans revolve around helping others in similarly challenging circumstances. "I know the power of youth leadership and how it can take youth out of the survival mode of life in foster care." Haydee hopes eventually to work in programs for development of youth leaders who can change the foster care system from within and participate in decision-making at county, state, and federal levels.

"Staying safe in my home, finishing my education, being homeless, and having a child when I was a young adult required me to continuously look at how to improve my life." Haydee's personal commitment is reflected in her constant effort. Loyola Marymount University named Haydee an outstanding urban studies student and awarded her a presidential citation in academic excellence. She graduated magna cum laude. Haydee previously received a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship after graduating summa cum laude from West Los Angeles Community College. Since finishing her undergraduate degree, Haydee has worked full-time in youth advocacy and health programs. She also remained active in her daughter's school and in politics. She helped conduct voter registration of high school students and organized community discussions on the war and legal issues. This scholarship makes it possible for Haydee to return to school and obtain her doctorate despite limited resources.

Haydee has found strength and wants to share it with others. "I believe in the human spirit and the collective voice of love."

Undergraduate Scholarship Biography (prepared October 2002):  Haydée Cuza made several attempts to attend college after high school, but circumstances made it difficult. At age 25, when her daughter started kindergarten, the single mom made college a top priority in her life and started night school.

Working as a self-employed bookkeeper since the mid-1990s, Haydée juggled work and school, and by the summer of 2001, she received an associate's degree in liberal arts. She currently attends Loyola Marymount University and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in urban studies.

While in school, Haydée also has volunteered at her daughter's elementary school, where she says she witnessed the need for more parent support and funding in the school system. "I chose to go back to school and work toward my goal of making a change and improving the public education system because of the challenges that are present in our local public school," she says.

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