Climbing Higher with Escalera
For many first-generation students, the path to college can feel uncertain. AltaMed’s Escalera program has helped make that path clearer — and more achievable.
For the past 25 years, AltaMed’s Escalera program has helped more than 1,300 Latino students navigate the path to college and career success through mentorship, academic support and career exploration opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and medicine). Today, AltaMed operates the program at South East High School, South Gate High School, and Roosevelt High School. It continues to grow nationwide with our partners at UnidosUS.
Escalera celebrated the Class of 2026 with a culmination ceremony in late May where students received nearly $40,000 in scholarships sponsored by the Zimmer Biomet Foundation, BMO, Bank of America, UnidosUS, the Audrey & Sydney Irmas Charitable Foundation, Total Corporate Solutions, and Citizens Business Bank.
For scholarship recipients Damien Diego and Idania Vides, what began as an opportunity to explore college and career pathways became a life-changing experience.
A Dream Built Through Sacrifice
Idania Vides, South Gate High School
Growing up, Idania Vides dreamed of attending the University of California Los Angeles and pursuing a career in medicine. Yet for years, that dream felt distant — something that happened to other people, not to her.
Once she found out she was accepted to UCLA, Idania felt that every sacrifice her family made over the years truly mattered.
“This milestone is for my mom, who sacrificed her whole life to move to the U.S. with my dad so that my sisters and I could have a bright future,” said Idania. “It’s for my father, who after moving here worked long hours so I could study instead of worrying about bills. It’s for my older sister, who gave up her dreams of going to college after she became our main provider following the loss of my dad. It’s for my younger sisters, who see me as a role model.”
Before joining Escalera, Idania thought she would have to navigate college applications and financial aid on her own. Instead, the program helped her build a strong application, write her personal statement, and connect with resources designed for first-generation college students.
Along the way, she learned one of the most valuable lessons she plans to carry with her to UCLA: “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” She learned it is important to advocate for yourself by asking questions, emailing professors, using office hours and finding resources instead of waiting until you’re completely lost.
“Escalera meets you where you’re at,” said Idania. “You’ll get real info on FAFSA, scholarships and careers, but you’ll also get a community that pushes you. My advice: Show up, ask questions and use every resource they give you. It turns ‘I hope I go to college’ into ‘Here’s exactly how I’m going to do it.’”
She hopes her journey shows her younger sisters that college is no longer just a dream for their family — it is a path they have already started.
“This isn’t just my future. It’s our proof that we belong in those spaces, too.”
Finding Purpose Through Medicine
Damien Diego, Roosevelt High School
As a speaker at the Escalera Class of 2026 graduation ceremony, Damien Diego reflected on how much had changed since he started high school.
“When I first joined the AltaMed Escalera Program, I was honestly hesitant and unsure of myself,” Damien said to his fellow graduates.
Although he knew he wanted a career in medicine, he had no idea where to begin.
A conversation with Escalera program coordinator Jacqueline Espinoza helped him find direction and set him on the right path. One experience had a particularly lasting impact: Bio Skills Day. It gave Damien hands-on exposure to suturing, ultrasounds, and bone transplant stimulation and had the opportunity to hear from AltaMed physicians.
As Damien learned more about AltaMed physicians’ own journeys into medicine, he said:
“It made me realize that becoming a medical professional is not just about technical skills but deeply rooted in community, personal values and commitment to learn and grow within the medical field.”
This fall, Damien will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he plans to pursue his goal of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.
“Escalera has given me a clearer understanding of the path I have chosen, how to navigate its challenges and the purpose behind all the effort and sacrifices it will require,” said Damien. “Reaching this milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. It stands as a testament that, as a member of an underrepresented community, I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. Through these accomplishments, I honor my family because their support has shaped who I am today. I carry a piece of them with me as I continue this journey toward a brighter future.”
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