Queensborough Student Pamela De León Berroa Named 2025-26 Kaplan Leadership Scholar
Earning a competitive academic scholarship is no easy feat.
Aspiring students not only have to excel both in and out of the classroom, but they’re also judged in a field where that excellence is the norm.
That’s why Queensborough student Pamela De León Berroa receiving even just one such scholarship last fall was already impressive, but she has since turned the impressive into the extraordinary by doing so again a few months later by being named a 2025-26 Kaplan Leadership Scholar.
So needless to say, she was quite surprised when she heard the news.
“Being selected as a [2025-26] Kaplan Leadership Scholar truly felt surreal. I already felt incredibly honored to receive the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship, so being selected for Kaplan on top of that was something I never expected.”
The Kaplan Leadership Program was created by the Kaplan Education Foundation (KEF) in 2006 as a means to support high-potential students with financial need who are finishing two-year college programs and transferring to four-year institutions. Participating students receive financial support, tutoring, academic advisement, leadership and career training, and other resources to help them earn their bachelor’s degrees.
A notable element about this scholarship is the fact that the student’s college must nominate them, as opposed to students putting themselves up for consideration.
And based on what De León Berroa has been up to during the first half of the academic year, it’s no surprise why Queensborough thought she was a worthy nominee.
“This semester, I was chosen to serve as President of Phi Theta Kappa, which has been an exciting opportunity to step into a leadership role and begin planning ways to support and engage our chapter. I also had the opportunity to work as a Peer Mentor, where I supported individuals as they adjusted to college life and navigated academic and campus resources.”
But perhaps the most notable among her activities is her research projects.
One such project takes inspiration from her experience as an immigrant and first-generation college student. She collects and analyzes migration stories from fellow students and the surrounding community with the goal being to illustrate that migration is not just a single experience but a “collection of unique journeys shaped by history, policy, and personal circumstance.”
“Through interviews, written reflections, and academic research, I’ve explored how immigrants navigate language barriers, family responsibilities, and structural challenges while pursuing education and stability. As an immigrant myself, this work is both academic and personal, and it reflects my commitment to making these stories visible and respected.”
With reasoning like that, it's only natural that her professional aspirations follow suit. Namely, she plans to work in either law or public policy, particularly in areas related to immigration and due process.
Before that though, she needs to decide where to go after graduating (spring ‘26) — a task made especially difficult thanks to her newfound status.
Back when she received the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship, her plan was to attend Macaulay Honors College following an invitation she received last year. However, the support of the KEF now means that her options have expanded considerably, and she’s exploring all of them.
But despite that challenge, De León Berroa knows she can move forward thanks to the support Queensborough has given her time and time again; and she’s particularly thankful to ASAP and Phi Theta Kappa for helping her reach where she is today.
“I am deeply grateful to my ASAP advisor, Jackeline Almonte, who has held my hand through this journey since the moment I enrolled in community college. I’m also thankful for Stephanie Guilbaud, whose enthusiasm has consistently motivated me and who has always taken the time to celebrate my accomplishments. I want to thank Mr. Stephen Atkins for keeping me accountable and serving as an invaluable source of guidance and resources, and Ms. Renee Rhodd for nominating me for opportunities that I now get to call realities. Lastly, I’m grateful to Professor Emily Sohmer Tai, who through Phi Theta Kappa introduced me to so many opportunities and helped me find a true sense of community within our chapter. Their belief in me has made all the difference.”
To her, being named a scholar is more than just an achievement — it represents “opportunity, stability, and the ability to keep moving forward with confidence in my goals.”
And she’ll be taking that confidence with her everywhere she goes.
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