About | COSA - Previous Officers & Interns

Cal Opportunity Scholars Association

Who we are: UC Berkeley's faculty established the Cal Opportunity Scholarship in 2000 with the goal of attracting to Berkeley high-achieving students who have overcome challenging socio-economic circumstances. All recipients of the Cal Opportunity scholarship are in the Cal Opportunity Scholars Association (COSA).

Our mission: As the association for the recipients of the Cal Opportunity Scholarship, our mission is to serve as an academic support group on campus by mentoring incoming scholars, building bonds between scholars and faculty members, and working with the Undergraduate Scholarship office to recruit new scholars through the Outreach Program.
Interested in learning more about our scholarship? Click here!

We are a student group acting independently of the University of California. We take full responsibility for our organization and this web site.

- M e e t O u r P a s t O f f i c e r s -

COSA's President:

Peter Le

Year & Major: Fourth-year Integrative Biology with a minor in Asian & Asian American Diaspora Studies.
About Peter: I went to Oakland High School in Oakland, CA and decided to attend UC Berkeley because of the valuable opportunities made available to my college experience through COSA. The COSA community is my second family here at Berkeley, and I'm honored to act as the organization's President to oversee and bring fellow scholars together.

COSA's Secretary:

Elise Tam-Cooc

Year & Major: Third-year Cognitive Science major.
About Elise: My name is Elise Tam, and I went to Oakland Technical High School. I was fairly confident I could get accepted into college, but I wasn't sure I could afford it. COSA provided the solution to that problem and also provided me the opportunities for me to figure out my future. I'm glad COSA has helped me become who I am today.

COSA's Social Chair

Colin Leung

Year & Major: Third-year Integrative Biology major.
About Colin: COSA is awesome! It allowed me to meet other scholars from similar backgrounds and develop a close relationship with my faculty mentor. COSA also lets me go to UCB without stressing about the cost of college. I love CalOpp and GO BEARS!

COSA's Webmaster/Historian:

Amy Duong

Year & Major: Third-year Cognitive Science major with a minor in Computer Science.
About Amy: Growing up in a bad neighborhood, I never thought I would be able to pursue higher education. Not only did they make it possible for me to come to Cal, COSA has given me even more. I have met amazing people from being active in COSA. Take it from me, find a way to get involved somehow!

COSA's Academic Chair:

Ada Chao

Year & Major: Third-year Social Welfare major.
About Ada: After graduating from Oakland high and receiving the Cal Opp scholarship, I feel motivated to pursue my career. Without it, I would not be able to solely focus on academics and not have to worry about loans. Cal Opp has provided me academic, financial, and emotional supper.

COSA's Treasurer:

Angelina Li

Year & Major: Second-year Economics major.
About Angelina: Hi! My name is Angelina Li and I'm the treasurer for this year! I went to Oakland High School. I love COSA because COSA is like a big family for me. There is always someone I can talk to in COSA. Welcome to our big family!

COSA's Faculty-Mentor Relations Officer:

Lissette Valadez

Year & Major: Fourth-year Gender & Women's Studies and Legal Studies double major.
About Lissette: I attended East Palo Alto Academy High School in Menlo Park, Ca. COSA give me the opportunity to meet some amazing people from the Bay Area. I can count on them to get information about almost anything that has to do with UCB; they are my #1 resource in this campus.

COSA's Outreach Co-chair:

Andrea Mejia

Year & Major: Third-year Psychology Studies major.
About Andrea: My name is Andrea Mejia, 3rd year Psychology major. I graduated in 2011 from Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School in San Francisco, CA. COSA has helped me find a group on campus with people from the Bay Area with whom I have found the support I need to get through CAL.

COSA's Outreach Co-chair:

Phillip Chen

Year & Major: Fourth-year Nutritional Science major.
About Phillip: Hello! My name is Phillip Chen. I am a 4th year nutritional science major. COSA has most definitely played a pivotal role in my education. Without it, I highly doubt I would be able to attend this educational institution. It has provided me the opportunity to tangibly pursue what I aspire to be!