STUDENT PROFILE
SOLANGE JACKSON
FROM THE HEART
Scholarship recipient driven to change inequities in health care .
BY JADE GRIFFIN ’ 03
W hen Solange Jackson ’ s brother , Solomon , suddenly collapsed while exercising with his college football team in 2016 , her family was shocked . While in a coma at the hospital , he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , which causes the thickening of the heart muscle . “ No one ever detected my brother ’ s condition ,” says Jackson . “ I felt like , with all the physicals we get as athletes , why did no one do a heart check on him ? How was it never detected ?”
After a week , Jackson ’ s brother died . He was 20 . His condition could have been treated if caught earlier .
Today , as a fourth-year human biology major at UC San Diego , Jackson hopes that her brother ’ s story can be used to save lives . “ I started noticing that there were other cases of Black and brown students collapsing while doing the things that they love ,” she says . This has driven her academic and public service pursuits . She has applied to master ’ s degree programs in health care administration or public health and hopes to make a positive impact on health care policies in underrepresented or marginalized communities .
Jackson is the recipient of the UC San Diego UJIMA Network Black History Month Scholarship Endowment , which is endorsed by the university ’ s Black History Month Committee and Black Alumni Council , and is awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated academic and creative achievement in
→ To support outstanding students like Jackson , Chancellor Pradeep K . Khosla has established a matching program for the Chancellor ’ s Alumni Council Scholarships . Through June 30 , 2025 , Chancellor Khosla will match eligible gifts 1:1 that are made to any of the four scholarships endorsed by alumni affinity groups :
• UJIMA Network Black History Month Scholarship | Black Alumni Council
• Asian / Pacific-Islander Alumni Council Scholarship | Asian Pacific Islander Alumni Council
• Madrinas and Padrinos Scholarship Endowment | Chicanx Latinx Alumni Council
• Zenaida and Emilio dela Pena Scholarship | Pilipino / a / x Alumni Council
Scan the QR code to learn more about the Chancellor ’ s Alumni Council Scholarships . the study of African Americans and their history and culture .
While on campus , Jackson helped create the Black Pre-Med Society , UC San Diego ’ s first pre-med organization dedicated to cultivating the success of Black pre-med and pre-health students . She also participated in the Fade Hypertension initiative , where students volunteer at local Black-owned barber shops to offer free blood pressure screenings , which can be an indicator of heart health . Jackson , a member of the UC San Diego cheer team , also volunteers as a cheer coach at The Preuss School UC San Diego , a charter middle and high school for low-income scholars from across San Diego County who strive to become the first in their family to graduate from college .
The scholarship has helped cover costs related to food and housing and has given Jackson the opportunity to focus her time on making an impact in the community .
“ Scholarships support the education of students who want to change the world ,” says Jackson . “ That ’ s what we are all about at UC San Diego . It ’ s about making waves for a brighter future .”
46 SPRING 2024