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Anyone who has attended DREAM, Achieving the Dream’s annual convening, knows that the DREAM Scholars are the heart and soul of the event. Every year, eight remarkable community college students attend the conference, where they have opportunities to learn, build leadership skills, and share their stories.
For the 2026 DREAM Scholars, their experience in March was just one chapter of their stories. We caught up with seven members of the cohort to hear how their time at DREAM has impacted them, where their journey has taken them since March, and where their aspirations will lead them next.
Bohdan Andrashko
Elgin Community College (Illinois)
Originally from Ukraine, Bohdan said he knew very little about DREAM before he sent in his scholars application — but now he thinks of it as one of the best choices he’s made.
“The strong network of DREAM Scholars who became like a family, weeks of training and refining my voice with Denice Frohman, and the leadership development I got in the process — it all came down as a one big blessing,” Bohdan said. “I started believing that my story matters and that I, too, have a chance of success in America.”
He remembers DREAM as “a week of joy, happiness, growth, and fulfillment,” where he made close connections with other scholars, overcame his fear of public speaking, and made memories that he’ll carry forever.
Bohdan completed his associate degree in the spring and was selected as a speaker for Elgin Community College’s spring 2026 graduation ceremony. He and his sister also started a blog where they share information about the American higher education system for Ukrainians living in the U.S. This fall, Bohdan is heading to Brown University to continue his studies. He plans to major in economics and international relations.
He had this advice for future DREAM Scholars: “Tell your story. However crazy, unusual, or maybe banal for you — it is your story that makes you unique, and when you’re telling it in front of thousands of people, you have no idea how strong of an impact and positive influence it might have. So don’t be afraid to be you. You matter.”
Chormrern “Chom” Chan
Middlesex Community College (Massachusetts)
As a first-generation college student, Chom shared that she has often dealt with imposter syndrome. But becoming a DREAM Scholar showed her that her story has value.
“I’ve spent a lot of my life wondering if I belonged in certain spaces or if my experiences
were enough. Being selected affirmed that the very things I once questioned about myself are actually some of my greatest strengths,” she said.
Sharing her story was a powerful part of Chom’s DREAM experience. She recalled that reading her “I Am” poem to the entire conference was one of the most vulnerable things she’d ever done, but people’s reactions reminded her that her authentic story had the power to help others feel seen.
Since March, Chom has been elected Student Government Association president at Middlesex Community College for the 2026–27 academic year. She has also opened a pop-up café with her sister, which has allowed her to combine a love for good coffee with a passion for building community. She will graduate from Middlesex in spring 2027, after which she plans to continue her education by studying art therapy.
Her advice to the next generation of DREAM Scholars: “Trust the process and come exactly as you are. Say yes to the opportunities that scare you. Read your poem. Ask the questions. Start the conversation. Sit with someone new. Most importantly, be yourself. The magic of DREAM isn’t found in trying to impress people; it’s found in the connections you make when you show up authentically.”
Josiah A. Rodriguez
San Antonio College (Texas)
“Being a DREAM Scholar meant representing many students like myself,” Josiah said about his experience at the convening. He valued the opportunity to reflect on his experiences and build his confidence, as well as the connections he made.
“Everyone put their hearts into what they do and into the mission to make higher education inclusive and attainable,” he said of people he met at DREAM.
Josiah said that many recent opportunities arose for him because of his experience as a DREAM Scholar. San Antonio College honored his achievement, and he was recently accepted to Trinity College with a full-ride scholarship to continue his educational journey.
Josiah is actively involved in local government and in nonprofits in his community and said it’s extremely rewarding to participate in volunteer activities like food drives and river clean-ups in his hometown. Of his future plans, he said, “For certain I will be getting my bachelor’s, then my master’s, and always lead with my heart and with people in mind.”
Josiah had the following tips for future DREAM Scholars: “One: be true to yourself. Two: Be open and find your ‘why.’ Three: Have fun! It goes by very quickly, so remember to breathe, have fun, and live in the moment.”
Nubia Garza
Front Range Community College (Gateway to College program, Colorado)
“Becoming a DREAM Scholar showed me how much change can be made by people who come together,” Nubia said of her experience in March. She also said it changed the way she viewed herself and her potential.
“I realized that I am capable of doing things I never thought I could do if I just keep pushing. I have to be kind to myself before I expect to grow and learn about others,” Nubia said.
She still remembers the response to her “I Am” poem: People of all different backgrounds spoke to her afterwards, sharing how it related to their own experiences. “It affirmed to me that my own story is important and is like other people’s stories in some shape or form.”
Recently, Nubia earned a scholarship to study abroad in Senegal for two weeks. She came away from the experience with a renewed desire to advocate for people with fewer opportunities than she has. She is in her final year of school through the Gateway to College program, where she hopes to establish an information tabling program about Islam. “This would be a starting point for me to help disprove stereotypes of Islam,” she said.
Nubia’s advice to future DREAM Scholars: “Be yourself to the point where it feels too much because that’s when you begin to learn things about yourself. Be yourself and be proud of it. You were chosen for a reason, so own it. People do need to hear your story because even if they don’t understand you, maybe they’ll want to learn more about your message.”
Sarah Cochran
Salish Kootenai College (Montana)
For Sarah, her experience at DREAM carried many layers of meaning. “Becoming a DREAM Scholar means adding to the success of Indigenous youth and communities.” she said. “I got to represent not only myself but also where I come from.”
Sarah said she made connections, built confidence, and found her voice with the “DREAM team” of scholars, especially as they helped her craft her “I Am From” poem. “Having many different sets of eyes helped me create a poem that said everything I’ve always wanted to say,” Sarah reflected.
Since DREAM, Sarah has graduated from Salish Kootenai College with a bachelor’s degree in Tribal governance and administration. Over the summer, she interned for the Missoula County Justice Department and was invited to speak at the Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council (MPSEOC) Summer Conference, where she shared the poem she crafted at DREAM.
This fall she’s heading to the University of Montana to pursue a master’s in sociology, where she intends to focus on Indigenous narrative sovereignty. “I want to research how different narratives have shaped the different systems of Tribal governments … and help strengthen the power of Indigenous communities to decide how their histories, experiences, and culture are represented,” Sarah shared.
Sarah’s advice for future DREAM Scholars: “Just be yourself wholeheartedly, please. Making human connections and sharing your truth is what DREAM is about. Don’t be afraid to make silly jokes, share your favorite music, make space for dance breaks, or meet your group for a late-night strategy game.”
Victor Aigbedion
Anne Arundel Community College (Maryland)
For Victor, the DREAM Scholar experience was a testament to the power of possibility. “DREAM was a life-altering experience that forever changed the way I think about myself, leadership, and the meaning of service. It forced me to take risks, discover new things about myself, and embrace them unapologetically on a national platform,” he said.
He has particularly fond memories of the team-building games the scholars played together during down time and of the reflection session led by poet-in-residence Denice Frohman on the final day of the conference. “It truly was an unforgettable experience that left me feeling fulfilled, hopeful, and excited for what I and my fellow scholars would accomplish all across the world,” Victor said.
Since March, Victor has graduated from both high school and community college. He will soon be attending George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he plans to major in political communication with a minor in English and to continue pursuing his passion for writing.
Victor had this advice for future cohorts of DREAM Scholars: “Believe! Believe that you are where you are for a reason, believe that you carry a special purpose inside you and believe that this experience will change your life and someone else’s! Be open to learning from different perspectives and discovering things about yourself that would have otherwise been left uncharted. Lastly, give yourself grace throughout this entire experience. Remember that you are excellence!”
Zoe Bok
University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa)
The DREAM experience brought Zoe a radical shift in perspective — and not just because she traveled all the way from Cape Town, South Africa, to attend the conference. “It was more than an educational journey; it was an experience that opened my eyes to a much bigger world,” she shared.
She said the relationships she built and the connections she made with her fellow Scholars made the experience unforgettable. “The scholars became more than just people I attended a conference with; they became a community. I will always carry the friendships, conversations, laughter, and sense of belonging that we shared.”
Zoe is in the final stages of completing a master’s degree in social work, aiming to graduate in December 2026. She has developed a strong research interest in play therapy and how it contributes to children’s mental well-being. Next, Zoe looks forward to gaining work experience in the field, practicing play therapy, developing her skills further, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.
Zoe’s advice to future DREAM Scholars: “Embrace every part of the experience with an open mind and an open heart. Most importantly, remember that your voice and experiences matter. You were chosen for a reason, so allow yourself to take up space, contribute confidently, and bring what you learn back to your own institution and community.”
Applications are now open for the 2027 DREAM Scholars Program. You can shine a light on an outstanding student at your institution by nominating them today.
Learn more about the nomination process
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