Tools for Success: A Rutgers Future Scholar’s Story
A graduate of Rutgers–New Brunswick now working on a master’s degree at Rutgers–Newark, Yesica Lopez reflects on how the Rutgers program she began in middle school changed her life.
Yesica Lopez was a seventh-grader in New Brunswick growing up in a single parent household when she was selected as a Rutgers Future Scholar.
“In my mind, as a Rutgers Future Scholar, I was already in college, so it was—amazing,” says Lopez, who earned her bachelor’s degree at Rutgers in 2024.
Lopez, who is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Rutgers–Newark, learned about the program from her cousin, Masiel Torres-Rosario SAS ’17, a Rutgers Future Scholar.
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“The support, mentorship, and opportunities I received as a Rutgers Future Scholar changed the trajectory of my life. They showed me the power of access, guidance, and community. These are not always available to those from backgrounds like mine.”
Launched in 2008, Rutgers Future Scholars has guided more than 3,700 promising students. The program enrolls students in seventh grade and runs through college graduation, offering college preparation along with academic and mentoring support with no out-of-pocket tuition costs for those admitted to Rutgers. It operates in more than 110 middle and high schools in New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, Rahway, and Camden. As many as 70 percent of the students, in any given year, have graduated high school and enrolled at Rutgers. The program was the first of its kind in the country and has served as a model for six other universities.
In his inaugural address in November at Rutgers–Newark, Rutgers President William F. Tate IV commended the program. “When it comes to students, excellence can be found everywhere,” he said. “Finding it and letting it flourish drives our state, our university, and our communities forward. We must commit to investing in opportunity.”
He said when he was president of Louisiana State University, his administration searched for a scholarship program which would “pull out the most talented young people,” and they replicated Rutgers Future Scholars. “It’s stunningly powerful,” Tate said.
Scholars Enjoy Rigorous Summer Programs
Lopez embraced the program, recalling fondly her first summer where she participated in recreational STEM activities. Following the summer introduction, scholars begin taking college courses and participate in field trips such as camping, visits to Washington D.C., and college tours.
The Rutgers Future Scholars program also offers support with the entire college application process. Students receive SAT prep, tutoring and guidance from mentors. Lopez remembers that her mentors were with her in fall 2019 when she submitted her Rutgers application, a moment she describes as nerve-wracking and pivotal.
The summer before senior year, scholars are given the opportunity to complete an internship. Lopez’s placement at the Middlesex County Courthouse provided her with exposure to the justice system and reinforced her interest in public service. These experiences provided her with college credits as well as a strong academic and professional foundation. She went on to major in criminal justice and sociology.
“Even though I lived in New Brunswick, I feel like New Brunswick and the Rutgers campus are two different worlds,” Lopez says. “So, I got to experience life on a college campus every summer, which was totally amazing.”
Lopez commuted to Rutgers and worked full time as a legal assistant. She also started college during the pandemic, which was challenging.
As part of the first generation in her family to attend college, Lopez says it was her and her mother’s dream for her to get a degree, which she dedicated to her sister Yomery, who passed away at age 21 while in college in the Dominican Republic. “The Rutgers Future Scholars program truly gave me the tools and support I needed,” she says.
Lopez also credits the Future Scholars program for the mentorship she received. Through the program, she met Kayla Rodriguez, one of the mentors who visited her high school each week to check in, offer support, and lead activities with the scholars. Lopez notes that Rodriguez has remained an important figure in her life and is now her sorority sister. She also recalls how Kim Williams, director of Rutgers Future Scholars, made it a priority to check on every student, creating an environment where scholars felt seen and supported.
Lopez works as a family support coordinator at Accompany Now, a nonprofit in New Brunswick, and recently started a nonprofit in the Dominican Republic called Vida Mana, focusing on marginalized communities. “I know firsthand how transformative it is when someone believes in you, invests in your potential, and opens doors that once felt out of reach,” she says.
‘My Second Home’
“Rutgers is honestly my second home,” she says. “I feel like even going back again for my master's degree feels right as the advisers have been so welcoming. I am honestly so thankful for Rutgers and the community I built through Rutgers.”
Lopez says she believes the master’s in public administration degree will prepare her for work in the nonprofit sector. At Accompany Now, she supports unaccompanied minors who have recently arrived in the United States, providing post-release services that include assisting with school enrollment, securing health insurance, and coordinating access to healthcare.
In March, Lopez held her first charity drive for a correctional center in Santiago, Dominican Republic, collecting personal care items for female inmates. “And that to me was the start of everything,” she says. “I feel like just seeing the small impact of what these kits have on individuals—these are ladies with stories, with dreams, despite the current circumstance they're in.”
Lopez is already planning her second donation drive, which will benefit a program for children who have been subject to abuse, violence, and malnutrition in the Dominican Republic.
Modeling and Pageants
In her free time, Lopez says she enjoys pageants and works as a model, recently modeling for designers during New York Fashion Week. In 2026, Lopez says her goal is to participate in Miss World Dominican Republic.
Lopez says she also participates in volunteer work with her sorority, including Women Aware, which supports women affected by domestic violence.
“I don't know what the future holds, but I know definitely Rutgers is part of my story, part of my journey,” she says. “Starting this master’s program and coming back, it just feels right. I made the right choice once again.”
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