Márquez-Magaña Trailblazer Awardees

All the past Trailblazer awardee's from 2025 to current.

SF BUILD Márquez-Magaña Trailblazer Scholarship

2026 Recipients

Alexander Heuer

Blazing a Trail: Alexander Heuer Journey Obstacles to Advocacy in Biomedical Science

For Alexander Heuer, the journey into biomedical science has been shaped by perseverance, purpose, and the power of representation. As a future physician-scientist, he hopes to use both clinical care and research to improve health outcomes for underserved communities while helping create more inclusive pathways into medicine and biomedical science. 

Alexander’s path has not always been easy. After facing personal challenges early in college, including his father’s frequent hospitalizations, he transferred to San Francisco State University and began rebuilding his confidence. Through strong coursework, healthcare volunteering, and campus opportunities, he reconnected with his academic goals and discovered a growing passion for medicine and biomedical research. 

A major turning point came through the UCSF Summer Student Research Program, where Alexander joined the Nagata Lab, a public health research group focused on adolescent and young adult health. Although he initially experienced imposter syndrome, working in a rigorous research environment helped him recognize that he belonged. He continued with the lab after the summer program and has contributed to multiple co-authored publications. 

Alexander’s commitment to equity is also reflected in his leadership and service. He continued his work in community-engaged biomedical research grounded in social justice as an SF BUILD Agents of Change Fellow. He also serves as a peer mentor at SF State, supporting first-generation, underrepresented, first-year, and transfer students, and volunteers at Clinic by the Bay, which provides care to uninsured and often undocumented individuals in the Bay Area. 

Receiving the Márquez-Magaña Trailblazer Scholarship is especially meaningful to Alexander because it connects him to Dr. Leticia Márquez-Magaña’s legacy of advancing biomedical science, health equity, and inclusive research environments. As a student shaped by SF BUILD, Alexander sees this recognition as both an honor and a source of motivation to continue pursuing his goals. 

Looking ahead, Alexander hopes to become a physician-scientist who bridges clinical care and research to address health disparities. He also hopes to mentor and support students from underrepresented backgrounds so they can see a future for themselves in science, medicine, and research. 

Alexander’s Message to Other Students 

our unique perspective, experiences, and voice are valuable, and science is stronger because of them.

For students navigating their own path in science, especially those who may not always see themselves represented, Alexander offers this reminder: you belong. Your experiences matter, your voice is needed, and your presence can help change what science looks like for future generations.

By showing up, persevering, and making your voice heard, you not only create opportunities for yourself — you help open doors for those who will follow. 

Kaique Carlos

Blazing a Trail: Kaique Carlos's Journey

Kaique Carlos is a junior at San Francisco State University pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Physiology. Throughout his academic journey, he has been committed to making a positive impact on community health through his work with local organizations such as Clínica Martín-Baró and Perfect Pair. He has also engaged in clinical research through programs such as Gators Reclaiming Our Workforce (GROW) and the Clinical Research Coordinators: Learners for Equity (CIRCLE) Training Program. After graduating, Kaique plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as an oncologist and researcher, with the goal of making high-quality care more accessible to underserved communities.

2025 Márquez-Magaña Trailblazer Award recipient Guadalupe Amigon

Blazing a Trail: Guadalupe Amigon’s Journey from Uncertainty to Advocacy in Microbiology

For many, the path to a career in science is straightforward. But for Guadalupe Amigon, a first-generation college student and recipient of the Márquez-Magaña Trailblazer Scholarship, the road to microbiology has been anything but conventional—and all the more powerful because of it. 

Starting at a four-year university without a clear direction, Guadalupe quickly found the environment isolating. A lack of mentorship and representation led to a pivotal decision: to start anew at a community college. Initially set on nursing, the stark healthcare disparities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic pushed her to reflect more deeply on the root causes of inequity in her own community. 

It was there, in a microbiology course and through the mentorship of passionate professors, that her true calling emerged. “That class opened my eyes to the possibilities within microbiology,” Guadalupe reflects. “It was a pivotal experience that changed the course of my academic life.” 

Transferring to San Francisco State University, Guadalupe found more than an academic home—she found belonging. Surrounded by Latinx faculty in leadership roles and professors who became mentors, she felt empowered and seen. “That support solidified my passion for microbiology,” she says, “and reaffirmed my commitment to a career that bridges scientific research with health equity.” 

In Dr. Cathy Samayoa’s Health Equity Research Lab, this mission came to life. Working on community-grounded biomedical research, Guadalupe saw the impact science could have when guided by cultural competency and lived experience. One study, focused on Latina breast cancer survivors, deeply resonated with her. “It was the first time I saw how biology and community could truly intersect,” she says. “That’s the kind of research I want to do—scientifically rigorous and socially impactful.” 

Her advocacy extends beyond the lab. Despite already completing the course, Guadalupe launched a successful petition to reinstate the Hematology class at SF State. Why? “Because educational equity isn’t just about personal success,” she insists. “It’s about ensuring others—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—have the tools they need to succeed and serve their communities.” 

Looking ahead, Guadalupe plans to enter a Clinical Laboratory Science program and ultimately pursue advanced studies, perhaps through a master’s degree or an MD/PhD track. Her sights are set on transforming biomedical research from the inside out—pushing for inclusive practices, shaping public health policy, and mentoring the next generation of diverse scientists. 

Receiving the Márquez-Magaña Trailblazer Scholarship is not just an honor for Guadalupe—it’s a responsibility. “This award affirms the value of lived experience in science,” she says. “It inspires me to keep pushing boundaries, question norms, and use science as a tool for justice and healing.” 

With purpose and passion, Guadalupe Amigon is blazing a trail not just for herself, but for the future of inclusive, community-centered science.