Video produced by Wayne Bonilla
In 1999, Dr. Daniel Koshland Jr., the son of our foundation’s founding chairman, established the Koshland Young Leader Awards (KYLA), an awards program that recognizes young leaders who balance extraordinary challenges, yet continue to show academic promise and community leadership.
Candidates embrace a commitment to strengthening their families and communities despite facing formidable life challenges, such as economic and family responsibilities. Each year, 11 outstanding San Francisco Unified School District juniors are provided $10,000 each to fund tuition and/or education-related expenses. To date, the awards program has awarded nearly $1 million to more than 170 young leaders to give them a jump start as they enter college.
2023 Koshland Young Leader Award Winners
Sofie Azmi – Abraham Lincoln High School
Melany Flores – San Francisco International High School
Lucia Gomez – San Francisco International High School
Fiona Ma – Lowell High School
Nixon Ooi – Life Learning Academy
Samrawit Tesfai – Balboa High School
Meagan To – George Washington High School
Tiarri Washington – Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts
JiaHui Wen – San Francisco International High School
Mandy Zhao – Balboa High School
Cammy Zou – Galileo Academy of Science and Technology
Click on the sections below to read more about the Koshland Young Leader Awards application requirements, process, and timeline.
Application Requirements
Student applications for the 2023 Koshland Young Leader Awards are closed.
Competitive candidates must:
- be a junior in a San Francisco Unified School District High School
- have demonstrated academic excellence (at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA) and be college-bound
- have demonstrated significant leadership in their community, school, work, and/or home including active participation in school clubs, sports, volunteer work, religious community, college prep programming, family responsibilities, etc.
- have overcome significant hardship (e.g., unstable housing, non-native English speaker, economic insecurity, health issues, immigrant story, family situation, etc.)
- have a recommendation from a teacher, counselor, school administrator, or college prep program staff who can speak to their qualifications.
Tax ID or Social Security Number (SSN) is not required to apply, however, if selected, the student will need to provide either a Tax ID or SSN. If you do not have a Tax ID, visit The Unity Council website to help you obtain one.
Application Process and Timeline
February 9, 2023: Student applications are open for the 2023 Koshland Young Leader Awards.
Sunday, April 9, 2023: Applications are due.
May 2023: San Francisco Foundation notifies all 2023 Koshland Young Leader Award winners.
June 3, 2023: In-person event to celebrate the 2023 awardees.
For questions about the awards program, please contact Mayra Roman at mroman[at]sff.org.
How to Apply
Student applications for the 2023 Koshland Young Leader Awards are closed.
The San Francisco Foundation and trustees of the Koshland Young Leader Awards are excited to host this year’s awards program. Given the many challenges students are navigating today, we have significantly streamlined the KYLA application process.
You will need to submit:
- Application Video answering these 4 questions. See student application instructions.
- Copy of your high school transcripts
- Reference Form
- Consent and Release of Liability Form
- List of Leadership Activities
For questions about the awards program or the application, please contact Mayra Roman at mroman[at]sff.org.
Past Koshland Young Leader Award Winners
2022 Koshland Young Leader Award Winners
| Yuli Zhang Hung | Mission High School |
| Thailyah Leeann Miller | Gateway High School |
| Nathaly Perez | Mission High School |
| Janessa Reyes | Mission High School |
| Vicky Huang | George Washington High School |
| William Cao | Lowell High School |
| Sally Hong | Lowell High School |
| Tuvana Soronzonbold | Mission High School |
| Roman Alvarado Munoz | San Francisco International High School |
| Yena Im | Lowell High School |
| Winnie Yu | Raoul Wallenberg High School |
2021 Koshland Young Leader Award Winners
| Agnes Liang | Mission High School |
| Jazmine Guzman de Anda | John O’Connell High School |
| Joanna Chen | Balboa High School |
| John Huynh | Balboa High School |
| Johnny Lin | George Washington High School |
| Kristel Mantilla Ulloa | Mission High School |
| Lilian Emelife | Phillip and Sala Burton High School |
| Marcus Young | Galileo High School |
| Kaylie (Meiqi) Li | Balboa High School |
| Songia Goodwin | Mission High School |
| Wilson Wu | Galileo High School |