Brayan Olivares takes immense pride in his rich Hispanic heritage. Raised in West Contra Costa County by a Honduran mother and a Mexican father, Brayan is the oldest of four siblings and a first-generation college student at Contra Costa College (CCC).
He first learned about CCC through a friend who told him about various campus events, and a trip to visit left a lasting impression. Unsure of his future path, Brayan decided CCC was the right place since it was close to home and more affordable than a four-year university.
CCC has been a great fit for Brayan. He joined the soccer team (helping him learn about time management), utilizes the tutoring center, and visits professors during their office hours with his questions.
Thanks to taking a financial literacy class in high school, Brayan understands what he needs to do to be smart about money and not become a burden on his parents.
Learning about the CCC Foundation scholarships through a text message from the school, Brayan set a phone reminder for the application deadline and was initially daunted by the application process. He soon realized, however, that completing one application opted him in for all the scholarships for which he was qualified.
Brayan’s initiative paid off in Spring 2025: he was awarded four scholarships from the Foundation, including the ASU Leadership Scholarship, the Brandon Schnurr Memorial Scholarship, the Edmund L. Regalia Scholarship for Continuing Students, and the William A. Owens Athletic Scholarship.
In addition to these scholarships, Brayan receives other support from CCC, including from the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program. He also received a Richmond Promise Scholarship. Since he hasn’t needed some of the scholarship money just yet, he opened a high-yield savings account to grow the unused funds for future university expenses. His goal is to avoid student loans when he graduates and hopefully transfers to either UC Davis or UC Berkeley in 2026.
Indeed, hard work pays off. “I’ve grown a great deal since arriving to CCC, thanks to the great professors I’ve had, access to the tutoring center, and so many other things” he reflected. “I’m proud of my commitment to what matters most to me: my family, my soccer team, my academic excellence, and my financial health.”
We’re proud of you too, Brayan!