Mehari's Story

Mehari T. holds degrees in construction technology and urban management from educational institutions in Ethiopia, his original home.

He also spent time teaching high school and college engineering courses before moving to the U.S. in 2012. Faced with a tough economic landscape, Mehari filled out applications, went through many job interviews and was on waiting lists, but he was unable to find a job in his field.

So he began volunteering at the California Department of Transportation as a civil engineer and working as a math tutor.

"I decided to pursue a teaching credential to widen my career opportunities," he said. "My challenge was paying for the courses at UC Berkeley."

Mehari, a resident of a BRIDGE community, applied for and was awarded a scholarship under the Alan L. and Ruth Stein Educational Assistance Program.

"Receiving the scholarship will help me to achieve my goal within two years instead of five," he said. Once he graduates, he plans to teach engineering and design, perhaps at a career technical school or high school.