Straight-A student. Community advocate. Youth mentor.
Those accomplishments alone would be impressive. They’re even more remarkable considering Obidullah Mahmoodi arrived in San Diego from Afghanistan just four years ago as a refugee, navigating a new country, a new education system and a new language.
With support from the San Diego Foundation Community Scholarship Program, Obidullah will attend the University of California, Irvine this fall to pursue a degree in computer science.
Obidullah Mahmoodi speaking at the 2026 Scholarships Celebration
“This scholarship will allow me to move forward without worrying about any financial burden,” he said. “ I’m really excited about learning more about AI opportunities, and I’m looking forward to developing systems (to help) communities grow.”
He is one of 1,057 students recognized through this year’s scholarship program, which awarded a record $5,670,832 in scholarships. The recipients were honored at the annual Scholarship Celebration, held at the San Diego Zoo.
“My teachers and mentors encouraged me to trust my voice, take on new challenges and step into leadership,” said the first-generation college student, who served as the event’s featured student speaker. “Their belief in me, and the support of this scholarship, continues to give me the confidence to keep learning and use technology to create solutions that strengthen the communities I care about.”
More Than a Scholarship
Scholarship recipients include graduating high school seniors, community college students, graduate students and returning adults pursuing a college degree, trade school certifications, and professional education in fields ranging from STEM and health sciences to business and the arts.
“Getting a scholarship like this makes it possible to actually go to school, especially getting the higher level of degrees,” said Felicia, a recipient of the National Rainbow College Fund (NRCF), powered by San Diego Foundation. “With student loans and living in San Diego, it’s expensive.”
Her son, Ace, is also a NRCF scholarship recipient.
“It’s literally given me the opportunity to go to college. I don’t think I would be able to without it,” he said.
The Community Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of 184 charitable funds at San Diego Foundation, the largest non-university scholarship provider in San Diego County.
For scholarship fundholder Kit Wells of the Weil Family Foundation, building relationships with student scholars has become one of the most rewarding parts of her philanthropy.
“Kids are quite extraordinary,” she said. “I really admire their tenacity, their hopefulness, and their willingness to just get up and keep on going when they have setbacks. They have a ton to teach me.”
Opening Doors for Thousands
Dr. Ashanti Hands shares inspiring keynote remarks
Since its inception in 1997, the scholarship program has awarded more than $65.2 million to 16,262 students.
The event recognized the collective investment of donors and volunteer scholarship evaluators in students pursuing their educational goals. It featured keynote remarks from Dr. Ashanti Hands, President of San Diego Mesa College, along with Obidullah and SDF leadership.
“Higher education is one of the great engines of possibility,” said Mark Stuart, SDF President and CEO. “Every scholarship reflects a donor’s belief in a student’s potential. By opening that path to more local students, we are not only changing individual lives, but we are also investing in the promise of our region.”
Recipients come from myriad backgrounds and attended schools from Oceanside south to San Ysidro and east to Borrego Springs.
Among this year’s scholarship recipients:
- Three out of four identify as first-generation college students
- 94% reported a low- to middle-income status as part of the application process
- More than half participated in a college-access and readiness program, such as AVID, Reality Changers, and TRIO/Upward Bound
- One in 20 are current or former foster youth
Belief in Action
Obidullah Mahmoodi with SDF Board of Governors Gloria Corral, Gisele Bonitz, Amina Sheik Mohamed and Pradeep Gidwani
Behind those numbers is the story of students like Obidullah, whose determination helped transform obstacles into opportunity.
Along the way, he discovered that education, for him, is about finding your voice, serving your community and creating opportunities for others.
Now, as he prepares to begin his studies at UC Irvine, Obidullah hopes to carry those lessons forward while encouraging other students to pursue their own dreams.
“Never let your passion be let down because you cannot pay it,” he advises students. “There will be all these people who will support you. You just have to look for them.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the donors whose generosity made his scholarship possible, thanking them for believing in students like him and investing in futures they may never fully see, but forever help shape
“We’re looking forward to contributing back to our community, and re-investing what you invested in us,” he said.
