Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R–Yucaipa) is proud to announce that Caitlyn Law and Rafia Melhem, residents of Senate District 19, have been selected to receive a 2026 Minerva Scholarship.
“Supporting young women as they pursue higher education is one of the greatest investments we can make in California’s future,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “Caitlyn and Rafia have each demonstrated exceptional leadership, perseverance, and a genuine commitment to serving others. I have no doubt they will continue to inspire those around them as they pursue their academic and professional goals. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement!”
Caitlyn Law of Yucaipa is an accomplished student leader whose passion for serving others has shaped both her academic and community involvement. She has held leadership roles in Best Buddies, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, high school and club soccer, Faith on Fire Bible Study, and Gospel Community Church. Through Yucaipa High School's ROP Medical Assistant Program, Caitlyn discovered her passion for nursing and plans to pursue a career as a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner. This fall, she will attend Grand Canyon University to continue her education.
Rafia Melhem of Cathedral City is a first-generation college student who immigrated to the United States on her own and has excelled while balancing full-time STEM coursework with multiple jobs. A transfer student to the University of California, Berkeley, she has served as a lead tutor and academic workshop facilitator at the MESA Center, founded and led engineering and cybersecurity initiatives, participated in NASA's National Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program, and is completing an internship at General Atomics Laboratory. Rafia is pursuing a degree in Computer Science with the goal of becoming a security engineer while continuing to encourage and mentor women entering STEM fields.
The WiCL Minerva Scholarship is awarded to eligible female students admitted to or currently enrolled at an accredited college or university. Scholarship recipients are selected from a highly competitive pool based on their intellectual energy, scholastic achievement, community involvement, and work history. The scholarships are distributed by Women in California Leadership (WiCL) in collaboration with the California Legislative Women's Caucus.