Honoring Community and Commitment: Brainfuse Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients

NEW YORK, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainfuse is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Elize Aunahn Memorial Brainfuse Scholarship. This highly selective award supports high school and college students from low-income households who are pursuing technical training, community college, or four-year degrees.

The scholarship honors Elize Aunahn, who served as Brainfuse's Vice President of Operations and Academics for nearly 20 years. Elize passed away in 2020. She was deeply committed to helping students who often go overlooked by traditional scholarship programs. The fund was created in her name to support students with a strong work ethic, academic success, leadership experience, personal resilience, and financial need.

Now in its fourth year, the scholarship continues to receive an exceptional number of applications. This year, Brainfuse has awarded two first-prize scholarships and recognized three additional finalists.

First Prize: James Obasiolu

The first prize recipient of the Brainfuse Elize Aunahn Memorial Scholarship, James Obasiolu, represents an uncommon combination of determination, perseverance, academic achievement, leadership ability, volunteer contributions, and personal success. Following the death of his father and the illness of his mother, Mr. Obasiolu has assumed primary caretaking responsibility for his mother. Despite serious financial constraints, he has achieved an outstanding academic record, served as the student member of the Howard County (Maryland) Board of Education, and performed environmental justice advocacy work. Additionally, he is the Principal Cellist for the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras and was selected as member of Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra. Our first-place winner, Mr. Obasiolu, is planning to attend Harvard University in the fall of 2025. He intends to pursue a dual concentration in Environmental Science & Public Policy and Applied Mathematics with a focus on computational modeling to enable him to address complex community challenges through evidence-based policy solutions and provide the scientific understanding and policy expertise required to develop evidence-based interventions for affected communities.

Second Prize: Shaya Luna Cisneros

Shaya Luna Cisneros, the second-place winner of the 2025 Brainfuse Elize Aunahn Memorial Scholarship, has achieved great success despite facing countless obstacles. She has had to cross the Tijuana-San Diego border daily since her early childhood in order to attend school. An English language learner, Ms. Cisneros will be a first-generation college student. Although she comes from a low-income family, she has attained an exceptional grade point average while participating in a myriad of extracurricular and community activities. Ms. Cisneros has tutored children in San Diego, provided community service in leading the clean up of a local park, and served as a co-leader for her school's basketball, softball, and volleyball teams. Ms. Cisneros will continue her studies at San Diego State University.

Finalist: Miguel Arroyo Mondragon

Our third scholarship recipient, Miguel Arroyo Mondragon, grew up in a low-income, Spanish-speaking household and will be the first member of his family to attend college. The only English-speaking member of his family, Miguel has served as medical translator, advocate, and caretaker while working to cover household bills as his father battled aggressive brain cancer. A Dean's List student at Raritan Valley Community College, in New Jersey, he led a book club for English language learners, assumed leadership roles in various clubs, and provides community service in the Somerville, New Jersey area.

Finalist: Maria Baltazar

Our final scholarship recipient, Maria Baltazar, excels at Greenville Technical College, in South Carolina, where she is an active participant in the TRIO Student Support Services program and the 360 Scholars program. A first-generation student, Ms. Baltazar assists her family financially by working in several jobs and cares for her younger siblings. As a mentor to other students, she has held leadership roles with the TRIO Upward Bound program and the Momentum Bike Club.

About Brainfuse

Brainfuse is a U.S.-based leader in online tutoring, serving libraries, schools, colleges, and workforce centers since 1999. We offer live academic support, writing help, test prep, career services, and tools for veterans—all delivered by professional, human tutors. Learn more at brainfuse.com.

SOURCE Brainfuse