Building Pathways to Higher Education that Everyone Can Access

In this episode, Eli Cahan (’19 cohort) speaks with Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca (’24 cohort) who imagines a world where every child has access to quality education that can get them to a college experience as they wish, where they wish, regardless of where they were born.

Sarahi reflects on her journey from being told she was not meant for college to becoming a Knight-Hennessy scholar. She shares how finding mentors helped her carve out her own path, and how her experiences empowered her to build platforms that support undocumented students in pursuing higher education. Sarahi also speaks about the role of community, faith, and religion in her life. She reflects on the opportunity of the current moment to imagine and build systems that work for everyone. The episode concludes with Sarahi sharing her favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars memories, including an iconic trip to Japan.

Highlights from the episode

(3:00) When her college dreams were shattered

(12:48) Reckoning with an identity crisis

(18:16) Navigating systems that were not built for her

(22:24) The place of faith and religion in her journey

(28:34) How joining Knight-Hennessy Scholars enriched her life

(34:40) Reflecting on the present and looking ahead.

(40:57) Favorite Knight-Hennessy Scholars core memories