Saul Ruiz Navarrete, a student at Santa Maria High School, has been announced as a prestigious Gates Scholarship winner for 2026.
“I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Gates Scholarship, a highly competitive award recognizing academic achievement, leadership, and service,” Ruiz Navarrete said.
“This support will allow me to attend the University of California, Los Angeles to study biology on a pre-med track cost free,” he said. “I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to use it to pursue my goals.
“I express my sincerest gratitude to my family for keeping me accountable, anyone who kept motivating me, and most importantly my counseling team guiding me along the way.”
The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to 300 of these student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.
Selected scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree, that is not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the methodology used by a scholar’s college or university.
Costs covered include tuition, fees, books, room and board, and may include additional personal costs.
”Saul is a super hard-working and dedicated student, it has been a pleasure working with him,” said Estefany Jimenez Jacobo, UCSB EAOP coordinator. “I am so proud of him in becoming a recipient of the Gates Scholarship. I know that he will accomplish great things with this opportunity.”