Paving the way for foster youth to pursue graduate and professional degrees
Kuanie Julin graduated from UC San Francisco with a Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2024 and now works as a surgical nurse. She received the Regents Foster Youth Award in recognition of her involvement in the UCSF Guardian Scholars Program, which supports UCSF former foster youth pursuing graduate and professional degrees. As a student ambassador, she helped launch the program in 2023, and she remains involved today, mentoring first-generation students and welcoming new Guardian Scholars to UC San Francisco.
“Kaunie’s journey from foster care to becoming a distinguished nurse and graduate student is nothing short of extraordinary,” said UC San Francisco Chancellor Sam Hawgood. “She and her sister faced numerous challenges and her resilience saw her through … She recognized education as her path to a better future and pursued it with unwavering determination and vigor.”