NJ Teen Wins $20K Scholarship After Starting Vision Nonprofit

Brandon Delcid Rios spent his childhood struggling to see the world clearly, but now he's helping other kids gain the vision care they desperately need.

The Hunterdon Central Regional High School senior just won a $20,000 Coca-Cola scholarship, beating out more than 107,000 applicants to become one of just 150 recipients nationwide. That puts him in the top 0.14% of all candidates.

Brandon's journey started with hardship. His right eye was completely shut during childhood, and he underwent his first surgery at age 6. Financial limitations meant he couldn't get follow-up treatments for years, leaving his eye only partially open.

"The experience of struggling just to see the world, while others often focused on my eye instead of who I was, shaped me into someone who wants to learn, listen and advocate for others," Brandon explained. He wanted to build a world where no child faces limits because of something beyond their control.

That vision became reality when Brandon founded the See The World Foundation. His nonprofit raises money to expand vision care access for low-income children, ensuring other kids don't face the same barriers he did. He also volunteers at the same food pantry that once supported his own family.

Why This Inspires

Brandon's story shows how personal struggle can spark powerful change. Rather than letting his challenges define him, he used them as fuel to help others facing similar obstacles.

His commitment to service caught the attention of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, which runs the nation's largest corporate-sponsored achievement scholarship program. The foundation has now awarded over $90 million to more than 7,200 students.

For Brandon, the scholarship means something profound. It will make attending a four-year university possible, something that seemed uncertain before this opportunity arrived.

He plans to study government and economics at Claremont McKenna College in California. His ultimate goal? A career in public service, with aspirations of one day serving in the U.S. Senate.

From a kid who struggled to open his eyes to a young leader opening doors for others, Brandon proves that the obstacles we overcome often prepare us to lift others up.