Diana Garcia Sanchez was named the 2026 Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship recipient and recognized at the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (SoMSS) awards ceremony. A Phoenix native and 2024 graduate of Carl Hayden High School, Diana participated in the JBMSHP in 2023 and 2024, where she excelled in MAT 117: College Algebra and MAT 170: Pre-Calculus.

Now a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Secondary Education certificate, Diana aspires to become a mathematics educator, with the goal of inspiring and supporting future generations of students. Diana has remained actively engaged with the JBMSHP community, serving as a MAT 170: Pre-Calculus tutor in 2025. She will continue her leadership journey in 2026 as the MAT 117: College Algebra class supervisor, further demonstrating her commitment to giving back and fostering student success.

What are your post-graduation plans? 

• I hope to pursue a master’s in education related field. I am interested in how people learn and process math. I want to work as a math teacher, but I’m most interested in teacher pedagogy and the learning side of math education.
   

How has your experience with the JBMSHP helped you as an ASU student? 

• The JBMSHP was a really important stepping stone for me, especially for college. It helped fill in gaps I had in my math foundations which made a big difference in how I approach my coursework now. I don’t think I would be doing as well in my college classes or would have stuck with mathematics without that support. Before the program, I had kind of given up on math back in middle school because I kept failing at it. But the welcoming environment and one of the JBMSHP supervisors that summer really changed that for me. She helped me realize that you can do anything you put your mind to as long as you want it enough. I’m incredibly grateful for her, and she is definitely one of my biggest inspirations.

What does the Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship mean to you? 

• This scholarship means a lot to me, and I am really grateful for it. When I first joined the JBMSHP, I was struggling with math, even basic algebra, and had a lot of doubt in myself after being told I wouldn’t make a good math teacher. The JBMSHP changed that. From the first day, it felt like a safe space, and by the second week I realized I had to fully try instead of accepting failure. I still remember getting my first passing quiz with Kiara (the class supervisor), which was a turning point for me. I am very grateful for her support. This experience helped me see that I could pursue math, even if I wasn’t the strongest at it at first. The JBMSHP taught me that making mistakes is part of learning and that I can improve with effort. Without the program, I think I would have struggled much more academically and personally. Overall, this scholarship represents growth I did not think was possible. It shows that I can succeed in math and as a future teacher, and it has shaped the kind of teacher I want to become, someone who understands that learning involves failing and continuing to try. 

The Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship is named in honor of Professor Joaquin Bustoz, who taught mathematics at Arizona State University from 1975-2003. The scholarship is offered in partnership with the Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program. Joaquin Bustoz’s defining characteristic was his passion not only for the field of mathematics but also for helping talented minority students achieve their full potential.

Donors can make a contribution to the Joaquin Bustoz Memorial Mathematics Scholarship Endowment at: https://www.asufoundation.org/colleges-and-programs/schools-and-colleges/the-college-of-liberal-arts-and-sciences/joaquin-bustoz-memorial-mathematics-scholarship-endowment-CA111012.html