SGHS senior Mariah Tsui proudly displayed her $50,000 scholarship check, surrounded by her parents, SGHS principal Jocelyn Castro, and SCE Chief Operating Officer Jill Anderson.
San Gabriel High School senior Mariah Tsui was left practically speechless on March 25 when representatives from Southern California Edison (SCE) surprised her during the school’s “ME Time” with a $50,000 Edison Scholar award. The prestigious scholarship recognizes outstanding high school seniors who plan to pursue STEM careers with a focus on innovation and sustainability.
The surprise celebration included SCE officials, SGHS staff, and even Mariah’s parents, who were secretly invited to be part of the life-changing moment. Among the SCE representatives in attendance were Jill Anderson, Chief Operating Officer; David Ford, Public Affairs Manager; and Lorene Miller, Vice President of Customer Service Operations (who is a proud SGHS alumna).
Mariah is one of only 30 students across Southern California selected for the 2025 Edison Scholars program. (AUSD has a second Edison Scholar at Mark Keppel High School this year.) She is currently deciding between studying Mathematics of Computation at UCLA or Applied Mathematics at UC Berkeley. Her goal: to use math and technology to empower individuals, especially those in underserved communities, with tools to make better financial decisions.
“With an applied math degree and a background in data science, I hope to use my technology skills to help people break out of the rat race and build a future of financial stability,” explained Mariah. “Financial illiteracy often leads to poverty, debt, and limited economic mobility, and I want to create tools that can help change that.”
Mariah envisions building interactive platforms that use mathematical modeling and machine learning to help users visualize the long-term impact of choices like budgeting, debt repayment, and saving. Her dream is to bring clarity and opportunity to people who might otherwise be held back by financial uncertainty.
She said the scholarship is a tremendous relief and a powerful motivator: “To be honest, I did not expect to become a finalist. I’m incredibly grateful. This scholarship allows me to focus fully on my studies and my goals without the stress of college debt. It’s a huge help.”
The Edison Scholars program is a cornerstone of Southern California Edison’s commitment to supporting the next generation of STEM leaders. By investing in students like Mariah, SCE hopes to fuel solutions that improve lives and communities across the region.
