2010-2011 Recipients
GRADUATE
1. Yangchen Lhamo Chagzoetsang
San Francisco, CA
University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley Law School, J.D. Degree Program
Yangchen L. Chagzoetsang received her B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University. At Berkeley Law School, Yangchen plans to study international law and human rights, a long-held passion which has guided her professional development. Yangchen worked for the International Rescue Committee in Seattle prior to college, where she joined the staff of Stanford’s human rights journal; upon graduation, she worked for United Way of the Bay Area. She hopes to continue her advocacy and activism after law school.
2. Tenzin Dickyi
Oakland, CA
Harvard University
M.A. in International Relations
Tenzin Dickyi graduated from UC Davis with a degree in International Relations, an academic focus she will continue as a graduate student. More specifically, Tenzin hopes to study Sino-Tibetan relations and the relationship between political and economic freedom in China and Tibet. In the future, she hopes to work for the American Foreign Service to promote and facilitate diplomacy in Tibet and China, as well as other parts of the world.
UNDERGRADUATE
3. Sonam Norbu Choera
Vacaville, CA
University of California, Los Angeles
Civil Engineering
Sonam’s academic interest is Civil Engineering, which he aspires to use a tool for community service, improving urban systems around the world. Sonam has been an active member of TANC, as well as an involved member of his community. He plans to continue this focus on community service and involvement by studying abroad with Engineering without Boarders, a group that travels to developing nations to improve local communities.
4. Sonam Chozom
Oakland, CA
Mills College
Biology and Biochemistry
Sonam Chozom is a Biology Major at Mills College. After an experience with a sports injury last year, she discovered an interest in physical therapy, and now hopes to pursue medical school or a physical therapy program upon graduation. She plans to volunteer at the hospital this year in order to cement her passion and interest.
5. Ngawang Gyatso
El Sobrante, CA
University of California. Berkeley
Economics
Ngawang Gyatso is a continuing scholarship recipient who just succeeded in transferring from Berkeley City College to UC Berkeley, where he will major in Economics. This past year was hard work to make that transfer a reality; Ngawang took a full course-load at college while also working weekends, helping his parents at home, and helping the Tibetan community. Eventually, Ngawang hopes to receive his MBA from Harvard.
6. Tenzin Khewang
Albany, CA
University of California, Santa Cruz
Biology
Tenzin Khewang is a student at UC Santa Cruz. He’s studying biology and wants to go into the medical field someday. Tenzin is also proud of his Tibetan heritage, and believes that education is essential for cultural survival. These values are what encourage him to participate in and organize Tibetan events.
7. Sonamtso Kunsang Lama
Oakland, CA
University of California, Merced
(Undeclared) International Law
Sonamtso wants to become a lawyer focusing on human rights. She cites the importance of the Buddhist concept of compassion as a motivating force in her life, one that has imbibe her with a sense of responsibility for the story of Tibet, and a desire to fight for human rights.
8. Yangchen Lhamo
El Cerrito, CA
California State University, Los Angeles
Nursing/Biology
Yangchen Lhamo has always been intrigued by science and the medical profession; she aspires to find happiness and satisfaction by helping people through medicine. She will be the first of her family to attend University, and she is determined to be someone with a great passion for what they do.
9. Tenzin Ngadon
Berkeley, CA
Samuel Merritt University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tenzin Ngadon is a continuing student at Samuel Merritt Nursing, and a continuing scholarship recipient. In addition to her studies, she is an assistant teacher at the Tibetan Sunday School, and a volunteer at the emergency lobby desk at the Alta Bates Medical Center. She credits her parents as being a source of inspiration and determination in the face of adversity.
10. Sharri Lhatso Raptentsetsang
Palo Alto, CA
University of California, San Diego
Sociocultural Anthropology
Sharri Raptentsetsang is a continuing Betsy Gordon Foundation Scholarship recipient who is continuing her studies at UC San Diego, and it was her personal experiences growing up as a Tibetan in Northern California that have contributed to her focus on the cross-cultural study of human rights. This year she will be studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland as an Anthropology of International Law and Politics Research fellow.
11. Tenzin Samphel
Albany, CA
University of California, Davis
Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering
Tenzin Samphel is attending UC Davis this year, with the goal of eventually becoming a pharmacist. Tenzin is also involved with the Tibetan community, and volunteered teaching Tibetan language at Sunday school while also participating in the cultural dance program. He wants to continue to work hard and be successful, so that he can help people through his profession.
12. Tenzin Seldon
Albany, CA
Stanford University
Asian American Studies and Comparatives Studies
Tenzin Seldon is a continuing student at Stanford University, where she is active in organizing events and important dialogues in her capacity as President of the Stanford Friends of Tibet. She also hopes to reform and improve the exile education system in Dharamsala to incorporate critical thinking skills in the English curriculum, a project she believes in because of the importance of education as a cultural foundation.
13. Tenzin Dolma Shakya
Albany, CA
University of California, Davis
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Tenzin Dolma is a continuing Betsy Gordon Foundation Scholarship recipient attending UC Davis, and majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She has also been active as both a member and a volunteer at the Tibetan Sunday School, and as a lead dancer for the Senior Dance Group.
14. Tenzin Wangmo Shakya
Berkeley, CA
San Francisco State University
Journalism and Women’s Gender Studies
Tenzin Shakya is a dedicated journalist and a student. She is the Media Coordinator of the San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and works at Rethink Media, which focuses on strengthening media efficacy for nonprofit and grassroots organizations. She believes that, as a journalist, she’ll be able to give a voice to communities in need and objectively highlight human rights issues on a global scale.
15. Tenzin Tselha
El Cerrito, CA
University of California, Berkeley
English
Tenzin Tselha is attending UC Berkeley after successfully transferring from Berkeley City College earlier this year. She grew up in India, and attended TCV Gopalpur as a youth. Now she hopes to major in English, pursue a career in journalism, and to someday write a novel about the life of Tibetans.
16. Lobsang Thinley
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Academy of Art Film
Lobsang was born and raised in Lhasa until the age of seven, when he was separated from his family and began study at TCV, where he developed his passion for films. Lobsang then was a community health worker with Doctors Without Borders, which gave him an opportunity to become reacquainted with his homeland, and also to film a documentary for the project. His goal is to one day have a career in film where he can tell the story of Tibet.
17. Tenzin Norzom
Vacaville, CA
University of California, Davis
Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
Tenzin Norzom is in her second year at the University of California at Davis, where she plans to major in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. With it, she hopes to pursue a career in the medical field in order to be able to give back to both her family and her community.
18. Tsering Tsomo
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Holy Name University
Nursing
Tsering Tsomo is pursuing a nursing degree at Holy Name University. As a child she had always aspired to become a nurse and help others in distress. She like to work with the people and volunteer for community work. She had been actively involved in TANC cultural performance.
19.Tenzin Yonten
Berkeley, CA
University of California, Santa Cruz
Political Science
Tenzin Yonten grew up in exile, but has a great interest in the political history of Tibet and China. She is attending the University of California Santa Cruz, where she plans to major in Political Science in order to try and learn more about the general principles of politics, history, and people that would be applicable to the Tibet issue. Additionally, Tenzin has been very active in the TANC dance group, and has enjoyed learning about her unique cultural heritage.
VOCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
20. Tenzin Dechen
Oakland, CA
Merritt College
Nursing
Dechen Tenzin was born and raised in India, and has a liberal arts B.A. from an Indian university. After her education, she served as an assistant to the Representative at the Bureau of HH the Dalai Lama in New Delhi for sixteen years. She is currently finishing her prerequisites in order to pursue a degree in Nursing, a profession she finds personally rewarding.
21. Chhime Dolkar
Richmond, CA
Berkeley City College
Business Administration
Chhime Dolkar is an intern at the TANC, and also a member of the Tibetan Youth Committee. Beyond her involvement in her community, Chhime both works and attends school, where she is working for a degree in Business Administration. She is a continuing recipient of the Betsy Gordon Scholarship, having also received it in 2009.
22.Sangay Dorjee
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley City College
Business
Sangay Dorjee, who’s favorite subject is math, is currently attending Berkeley City College. Sangay has been a part of the TANC community since arriving in the U.S., and has attended both dance and language lessons, as well as performances. Sangay aspires to attend Business School at a four year university in the future.
23. Dhondup Lhamo
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley City College
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Dhondup Lhamo is a full-time student at Berkeley City College, as well as a volunteer at Alta Bates Hospital. She is a hard-working student who hopes to use her education to become a pharmacist. In addition to her educational aspirations, Dhondup Lhamo is an active member of the TANC Tibetan Language and Music school, where she volunteers to help teach the younger generation, Tibetan language reading and writing.
24. Tenzin Nyima
El Cerrito, CA
Peralta Community College
Computer Science and Engineering
Tenzin Nyima is a continuing recipient of the TANC scholarship; while he has only lived in the U.S. for two years, he is already preparing to transfer to a four year university, where he’ll pursue a degree in Computer Science and Engineering. His main interests are web development, internet/network security, and software. Among his other accomplishments, Tenzin has volunteered on the redesign of the TANC website, co-founded a youth magazine called Tibetan World, and launched the TibetanGeeks website.
25. Tenzin Palyon Shakya
Albany, CA
Contra Costa College
Nursing
Tenzin Palyon Shakya enjoys performing cultural dances and soccer; the first has led him to be an active participant in cultural events and TANC Sunday school, and the second has inspired him to pursue a degree applicable to his love for sports. Tenzin is currently finishing his prerequisites at community college in order to apply for a B.S. degree in Nursing at a four year university, after which he hopes to pursue a career as a sports nurse.
26. Tenzin Yangzom
El Cerrito, CA
Contra Costa College
Nursing
Tenzin Yangzom is currently finishing her Nursing prerequisites at Contra Costa College, after which she will seek admission for a four year university program and a B.S. in Nursing. Since arriving in 2004, Tenzin has been a very active member of her community, performing cultural dances at many Tibetan events, and volunteering at Sunday school when she is able to.
27. Kalsang Dorji Lungkhawa
El Cerrito, CA
Nightingale Nursing School
Kalsang Dorji Lungkhawa is a full-time nursing student. From 1992 through 2005, Kalsang worked at the Central Tibetan Administration in various capacities, including Deputy Secretary. Additionally, Kalsang was active in the Tibetan Youth Congress in India before moving to the U.S. As an aspiring Nurse, Kalsang hopes to draw on a combination of the Tibetan culture of compassion and western medicine in order to help people in their times of need.
Adult School
28. Jangchup Dorjee
San Jose, Adult School
Pursuing High School Diploma
29. Dhondup Wangyal
San Jose, Adult School
Pursuing High School Diploma
30.Tenzin Dolma
Berkeley Adult School
Pursuing High School Diploma
