Rodriguez High School Senior Trisha Macagba grew up in the Philippines and was acutely aware of poverty and the struggle her parents endured so that she could attend grade school. After her father received a job in West Virginia as a physical therapist, the journey of the Macagba family eventually brought Trisha to Fairfield. The early lessons gleaned from her parents’ sacrifices paid off this week as Macagba was awarded a $220,000 college scholarship from the Los Angeles Strategic Officer Recruiting Detachment, or SORD.

Trisha Macagba has served as the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Student Governing Board Member for the 2021-2022 school year. Macagba represents the student community by advising and giving input to the Governing Board on a wide range of policies. Little did she know her life would change when Macagba joined her Governing Board colleagues at the annual California School Board Association Conference in San Diego this past December. At the conference, she learned of SORD and the potential scholarship opportunities. Macagba discussed her reasons for applying for the scholarship, “I was interested because after serving my community, I also wanted to give back to my country. I used to live a life where I had nothing, and now I am willing to do what it takes to succeed and give back. Throughout my life, college was always a debatable issue because of lack of money. However, obtaining this full ride ROTC scholarship is an emblem that hard work and perseverance is the true author of success.”

Macagba received the scholarship award at Rodriguez High on Wednesday afternoon flanked by family, friends, school leadership, and a number of Army representatives.

The sizable scholarship can be used at any college of her choice in the United States. She plans to continue her service work. “I want to pursue my studies in law to help people have equal opportunities. I want to be the voice for the silenced and the shield that protects the innocent.”

The Strategic Officer Recruiting Detachment (SORD) promotes a college-first approach through Army ROTC. SORD centers on increasing diversity in leadership roles and provides a wide range of scholarships and college assistance programs focused on underrepresented students. Students who participate in the program must commit eight years of service to the ARMY.