Salma Medina - ELAC Student Spotlight of the Week
Honor Society Member and Future Legislative Attorney: Salma Medina's ELAC Experience
Born and raised in East Los Angeles and a graduate of Garfield High School, Salma began her ELAC journey in June 2023 with determination and vision. In just two years, she earned four Associate Degrees simultaneously in Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Law, Public Policy and Society, and Political Science.
Her academic prowess earned her membership in the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and she graduated with an honors certification. This exceptional academic performance culminated in her selection as a semi-finalist for the highly competitive 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship, recognizing her as one of the nation's most promising community college students.
Salma's impact at ELAC extended well beyond the classroom. She served as Vice President of the Transfer Club during the 2023-2024 academic year, helping fellow students navigate the often complex transfer process. In her final year, she assumed the presidency of the Pathway to Law School Program, mentoring students with similar professional aspirations.
Her hardworking nature and optimistic outlook have made her a standout not just in academics but in all aspects of campus life. These qualities, combined with her natural leadership abilities, made her the clear choice to address her fellow graduates as the 2025 commencement speaker.
Salma delivered a powerful and memorable address that resonated deeply with her fellow graduates and their families. Drawing inspiration from an unexpected source, she connected the popular YouTube channel Recess Therapy with the college experience and the universal challenge of overcoming obstacles.
Recess Therapy, created by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, features interviews with children between the ages of two and nine who share their candid perspectives on life's big questions.
In her speech, Salma drew parallels between the unfiltered honesty and resilience of these young voices and the journey that she and her classmates had undertaken at ELAC.
She eloquently connected how, like the children in Recess Therapy, college students must navigate uncertainty with optimism and adaptability. Just as children approach challenges with natural curiosity and determination, Salma encouraged her fellow graduates to embrace the unknown with similar courage and open-mindedness.
Throughout her time at ELAC, Salma made significant contributions to the college's Marketing and Communications office. She regularly participated in creating content for the college's social media platforms, recording videos that showcased student life and academic opportunities at ELAC.
In a particularly meaningful project, Salma and her mother, who also graduated from ELAC and transferred to get her Bachelors degree, collaborated on a billboard campaign that perfectly captured their family's multi-generational connection to the institution. The campaign featured mother and daughter photographed together under the powerful tagline: "East Los Angeles College - Serving Generations for Generations." This visual representation of ELAC's lasting impact on families in the community became one of the college's most recognized marketing initiatives, highlighting the institution's deep roots in East Los Angeles.
This fall, Salma will transfer to UCLA to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, bringing her one step closer to her ultimate goal of becoming a legislative attorney. Her vision extends beyond personal success – she aims to expand equity through public policy, using her legal education to create meaningful change.
Salma Medina exemplifies the transformative power of community college education. Her journey from East LA to UCLA demonstrates how institutions like ELAC serve as launching pads for extraordinary achievement. As she addressed her fellow graduates this June, she carried with her not just her own dreams but the legacy of her family and the promise of her community.
