- Glow Scholar Year: 2009
- College: Mount Holyoke
- Year in College: 1st Year
- Intended Major: Marketing
- Date Posted: 2010-01-21
- Estimated Cost of College: $0
- Funding Required By: 2010-06-30
As she says in her essay, “My whole life, I have seen that there is a set stereotype that African American women have no desire to go to college, or better yet, cannot get in to college. Well, I am not that stereotype. I have dreamt to go to college since I can remember, and now my dream can become a reality. When it comes down to it, I am a statistic, and I want to be that one girl who tips the scales in the favor of all the other people like me.”
Taniko dedicated 7-10 hours a week to dance related activities and still kept up studies and stayed involved in programs like Foundation for a College Education (FCE) and "Colors,” a multiracial student union at school. She is interested in using her degree to work in marketing to use advertising creatively. Taniko wants to be involved with graphic designers and brand communications. She is particularly interested in Japan or China, not only due to her cultural background, but because they have a large market for new products to be sold and advertised.
Taniko received two GPA recognition certificates from Foundation for a College Education, given for a 3.0 or higher GPA. She has studied and practiced dance since she was twelve, and was crowned 1st runner up in the “2008 Santa Cruz Double Crown Belly Dance Competition” on June 18, 2008. She was also awarded a California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition for being recognized in "100 Black Men of Silicon Valley" Scholarship competition, and was nominated and attended “Camp Everytown” in 2008. Taniko was selected to be a student representative for the Western Association of Schools and College (WASC) for 2008-2009.
