The Dustin Tannenhaus
LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
The Dustin Tannenhaus Legacy Scholarship honors Dustin's dedication to academics and athletics by supporting soccer players from low-income families in San Diego County. Scholarships range from $500-$1,000. Recipients can use the funds for college application fees, housing deposits, tuition, and educational materials.
HOW TO APPLY
Click the button below to access the application form. The application asks questions regarding your athletic experience and accomplishments, your academic standing, your leadership, challenges you have overcome, your family’s financial situation (confidential), postsecondary aspirations, and the community impact you hope to have in the future.
The Class of 2027 application deadline is October 31st, 2026.
Class of 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
SARAH - University of California at Berkeley ($1,000)
With an impressive 4.67 weighted GPA, 11 AP courses, and consistent Honor Roll recognition at Southwest High School, Sarah balanced academic excellence with leadership and athletics at an exceptional level.
A dedicated soccer player since age 6, Sarah captained both her Rebels Soccer Club Academy team and her high school Varsity Girls Soccer team. She helped lead her club team to multiple championship finals and played a key role in helping Southwest reach the CIF Division 4 Championship for the first time in four years.
Beyond the classroom and soccer field, Sarah served as ASB Vice President, where she worked to make school communication more inclusive by translating ASB materials to make information accessible to monolingual students and families.
Despite significant personal challenges, Sarah continued to excel academically while supporting her family at home, demonstrating resilience, maturity, and determination far beyond her years.
Sarah is attending UC Berkeley, studying Spanish Literature with aspirations of becoming an educator and professor who inspires future generations through language, culture, and community impact.
JOSHUA - Community College ($500)
A graduate of Helix High Charter School, Joshua earned a 4.16 weighted GPA while challenging himself with honors, AP, and dual enrollment coursework. His achievements include earning a 4 on the AP Computer Science Principles exam, completing AP Computer Science A for college credit, and maintaining honor roll status every year.
Off the field, Joshua has played competitive soccer with Sporting San Diego since age 10, helping his team win tournaments including the Rebels Showcase, Copa Del Mar, and Legends Cup. As a team captain, he helped unite teammates from different backgrounds, building strong chemistry and trust both on and off the field.
Joshua’s journey has also been marked by perseverance. After facing the possibility of eviction during his senior year, he used the experience as motivation to stay disciplined, focused, and determined to create a better future for himself and his mother.
Joshua will continue his education at a local community college with plans to transfer to either UCLA or UC San Diego to major in Computer Science. He hopes to pursue internships in tech and ultimately become a software engineer while giving back to the mother who has supported him every step of the way.
KIANA - University of Mount Saint Vincent ($500)
A graduate of Hilltop High School, Kiana excelled both in the classroom and on the field, graduating in the top 10% of her class with a 4.14 weighted GPA while taking an impressive lineup of 10 AP courses.
A standout student-athlete, Kiana made varsity soccer as the only freshman on her team and went on to earn 1st Team All-League South Bay AND team MVP.
As the oldest sibling in a family of seven, Kiana has balanced rigorous academics, competitive soccer, and a part-time job while helping support her family and saving for college. Those experiences taught her the importance of perseverance and showing up for others both on and off the field.
“I’m glad I can use my patience and communication skills when I am tutoring underclassmen with their assignments after school and on the soccer field when I’m guiding my teammates by motivating them and keeping our energy positive. Whether it’s my family, my classmates, or my teammates, I try to make the people around me feel supported and capable of growing.”
Kiana attends the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York, where she plays collegiate soccer while pursuing studies in Pre-Med/Biology with the goal of becoming a sports physician focused on helping athletes recover from injuries and reach their full potential.
Class of 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
LARISSA - University of California, Santa Barbara
“I have been playing soccer since I was seven, dedicating my time to training, practices, and games. Since my freshman year, I have played as both a center-attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder for Rebels Soccer Club and the Chula Vista Varsity Girls Soccer Team. This position has allowed me to contribute to my high school teams' successes, including winning the All-Metro League championship and earning recognition on the Pacific All-League Second Team. I have also volunteered as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles Soccer Club, where I mentored young athletes to improve their soccer IQ and critical thinking both on and off the field. My focus is on fostering personal growth and creating a safe environment for the players. Being both a player and a coach has deepened my understanding of the game, highlighting the importance of teamwork, leadership, and strategy both on and off the field.”
Larissa completed 10 AP classes and three college courses, earning a 4.1 weighted GPA. She has committed to the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) as a Pre-Psychological and Brain Sciences major. What most impressed us is Larissa’s drive to help others.
“Growing up in a single-parent household, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges, and those experiences have fueled my passion for helping others navigate their own struggles. Giving back has always been important to me, and I hope to help create an environment where everyone feels understood and valued. Ultimately, my goal is to empower individuals to embrace their identities, overcome obstacles, and contribute positively to our community, ultimately creating a more compassionate and resilient society.”
ANTHONY - University of California, San Diego
“Soccer has been my life. I started playing when I was only 4 years old and since then, I haven't stopped playing. I started playing in a league from Tijuana and was lucky enough to be selected to represent Tijuana in plenty of state and national tournaments, allowing me to travel almost all over Mexico. Later in my life I moved to the United States and started playing here, where I was able to win State Cup twice.”
Anthony studies engineering at UC San Diego He hopes to be so successful that he inspires others in his community to follow his path. For Anthony, success isn’t only defined by financial achievement, it is about being happy with the person you are and having the people you love in your life. He wants the younger generation to be proud of where they came from and to know that they can succeed in what they are passionate about.
BRIANNA - San Diego State University
“My life has revolved around soccer since I was a little girl and I truly believe that it is what has kept me grounded. Soccer has taught me to persevere through obstacles. It is undeniable that it has a big part in shaping me into who I am today.”
“My postsecondary aspiration is to become a Pediatric Nurse. Early into my teenage years I had learned that I love environments where I am around children. As I started to take more courses that revolved around the human body and the mind, I ended up finding my true passion in medicine. I understand that this will be a long and tough path, but I am ready to take the struggles and power through them.”
Brianna enrolled in five AP classes and earned a 4.0 GPA. She is now pursuing at Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at San Diego State University.
LILIA - San Diego State University
“During my sophomore year I was one of the six girls from my school team that won a Metro Pacific League Award. During my junior year, our school’s soccer team was undefeated and we won the Pacific League. This was the first time in our school’s history that the girls soccer team became champions. Making history made me realize that everything is possible with a lot of effort. I had been going through injuries during my journey but that didn’t stop me from achieving my soccer goals. Those injuries that I went through taught me that I had to keep a positive mindset and to come back even stronger.”
Academically, Lilia was in the top 15% of her graduating class. She completed eight AP classes, earning Principal’s Honor Roll, and is a California Scholarship Federation member. She is at San Diego State University studying Psychology with a minor in Spanish. She plans to work in the mental health field.
MARIA - Point Loma Nazarene University
“I have always strived to challenge myself in all aspects of life. Academically, I made sure to perform to the best of my ability. The majority of my classes have been accelerated and advanced and I have also taken eight college classes. Throughout high school, I have maintained an average weighted GPA of 4.1 all while balancing soccer at school and in club. I have volunteered as an assistant coach for a local middle school team, allowing me to share my knowledge of soccer with younger girls. On and off the field, I am very determined and dedicated to all I do. I aspire to challenge myself in any way I can because I want to learn and grow.”
Maria attends Point Loma Nazarene University and is majoring in Nursing. She plans on becoming a Registered Nurse and specializing in Pediatric Oncology. Maria also dreams of starting an affordable, woman-led organization in her community to empower young girls from different backgrounds to have more opportunities in - and knowledge of - the medical field.
Class of 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
DIEGO | San Diego State University
In 9th grade, during virtual schooling due to COVID, Diego's grades weren't where he wanted them. He decided to double down on himself, enrolling in 4 AP classes junior year and another 4 AP classes his senior year of high school. Diego earned a 4.3 GPA his senior year, demonstrating persistence and an ability to overcome adversity.
Diego has an unwavering passion for soccer and strives to be the best at everything he does, adding "I owe that partly to the way my parents raised me." He will be attending San Diego State in the fall and majoring in software engineering with the goal of working toward a career in software development. "I want future generations to be proud of where they came from and be the example that even growing up in our area, we too can excel."
SHARLYN | San Diego State Univesrsity
Southwest High grad, Sharlyn, amazed the Just4Dust advisory board with her academic achievements and her desired impact in her community. She finished high school with an impressive 4.2 GPA, enrolling in numerous honors and AP classes and a college class while in high school.
Sharlyn demonstrates maturity and introspection, stating “I believe that what makes me the person I am today is playing soccer with new people over the years, learning to adjust to my environment, and knowing what my priorities are in life.”
She seeks to eventually bring more women into the sports community. “I have become a girl’s soccer coach for the middle school I attended. As I helped those middle school girls improve their skills with my 13+ years of soccer experience, I have become a role model for them. I’ve focused on teaching them that while working hard, you will always have fun when you’re doing the thing you love.” Sharlyn attends Webers Honors College at San Diego State & we look forward to hearing about her continued success.
NATHAN | San Diego State University
Southwest High School graduate, Nathan, was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship for his academic & athletic excellence. This past season, he helped his high school team make it to the Open Division CIF quarter finals (the first time in 10 years). He was nominated top goal scorer in the league and made the 1st Team Metro Mesa League. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Nathan has thrived academically with a 4.3 GPA.
What sets Nathan apart is not just his athleticism but also his leadership, resilience, and dedication to excellence in all aspects of life. Nathan shares, “As I grew up in a place with limited possibilities, my parents taught me that education was the path to a better future.” Nathan demonstrates deep intrinsic motivation to pursue higher education and he will be attending San Diego State University in the fall.
KEILANI | Cal State University, Northridge
In 2024, Keilani was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. She has excelled scholastically and athletically. Each year in high school, she enrolled in 2-3 honors, AP, or college courses. On the pitch she is strong, vocal, and aware all while having a calm presence. When asked about the impact she hopes to have in her community, she seeks to inspire younger students to overcome adversity and for them to know “there will always be a way to achieve their goals.”
Keilani will be continuing her education and soccer career at Cal State Northridge!
NATALIE | San Diego State University
Just4Dust Director & Founder visited her alma mater to award a $500 scholarship to Natalie. Natalie has excelled on and off the pitch and is continuing her postsecondary education at San Diego State University.
Jesua | California State University, San Marcos
Jesua just graduated from Dustin’s alma mater, Monte Vista High School, in Spring Valley. In addition to enrolling in multiple AP classes, Jesua earned player of the year and made all CIF. At the time of his application, Jesua shared, “I hope to one day make history for this school as Dustin did.” Jesua went on to become the top goal scorer his senior year and even broke the school record with 36 goals.
We are thrilled to hear that Jesua is headed to CSU San Marcos where he will continue his soccer career! He plans to use his $500 scholarship on educational expenses not covered by FAFSA and his soccer scholarship.
Scarlett | University of California, Los Angeles
Scarlett graduated from Chula Vista High School. During her high school career, she enrolled in the most rigorous courses available, taking 9 AP, 3 IB, and 3 honors classes. She earned an impressive 4.7 GPA. Scarlett's high school team won the league championship. She made the First Team All Metro Pacific and won the Goalkeeper of the Year award. Scarlett participated in the CONADE Nationals in Mexico from 2021-2022. Their team, composed of Mexican-Americans living in the United States, won the 2022 championship and earned a gold medal against teams representing different states in Mexico. She has also participated in Copa Mazatlan in Mexico for the past four years, in which her team won last year, and she received the Best Goalkeeper award.
Scarlett shares, "my years playing this sport have taught me many lessons, while also teaching me things about myself. I've learned that I'm able to persevere through difficulty. Soccer has expanded my ability to interact with others in a social setting while also promoting leadership. Being a goalkeeper forces me to be a leader on the pitch and to communicate with my teammates." We are cheering Scarlett on as she works toward her degree at UCLA.