From Scholarship Recipient to Software Engineer: Congratulations to Alana Crisostomo, UW–Madison Class of 2026

On May 9, 2026, Alana Crisostomo — recipient of the 2022 UPAA-W Guansing Regala Scholarship Award — graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. She completed her studies with a GPA of 3.328 and will begin her professional career as a Junior Software Engineer with Optum in Minnesota in June 2026.

Throughout her time at UW–Madison, Alana demonstrated remarkable determination, resilience, and commitment to excellence. While pursuing a rigorous Computer Science degree, she balanced academics with multiple work responsibilities, serving as a Dining Hall Associate and Team Member at Chick-fil-A.

Alana also gained valuable professional experience within the university community. As an I.T. Support Technician and Quality Assurance Lead at UW–Madison, she served as an escalation point for IT support agents, reviewed complex technical cases, and coordinated with advanced support teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues efficiently. In addition, she worked as a Student Developer, where she developed frontend components using React and JavaScript for an internal web application — an opportunity that helped launch her path into software engineering and development.

Beyond technology, Alana nurtured her creative side through several painting classes in the Art Department, pursuing painting as a personal passion and balance to her technical studies.

Reflecting on her college experience, Alana shared that UW–Madison provided her with a supportive and welcoming environment despite its large campus community. She expressed deep appreciation for the thoughtful instructors, mentors, and friendships that positively shaped her journey.

In a video message recorded shortly after graduation, Alana spoke about the impact of the UPAA-W Guansing Regala Scholarship on her academic journey:

“It helped me a lot especially in my freshman year. It helped me feel more confident coming to school and definitely helped me get to where I am today.”

She also expressed her gratitude to the UPAA-W community:

“Thank you so much for giving me such a good opportunity, and I hope that other students are able to take advantage of this opportunity as well.”

The UPAA-W community proudly celebrates Alana’s achievements and wishes her continued success as she begins this exciting new chapter in her career and life.

Congratulations, Alana Crisostomo! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and look forward to all the great things ahead.