When Joseph Espinosa was a boy, people told his parents that there was "no hope; he would never amount to anything because he was so wayward." However, God had bigger plans for Joseph. It was at Southwestern Junior College that Joseph first encountered Adventist young people. They made a positive impact on him and helped in his decision to be baptized before leaving to serve in World War II.

At one point during his service as a medical cadet, he was scheduled to take a flight from England to Iceland. When he arrived at the airport, he was told that his name was not on the list. He tried to fix the problem and make new arrangements, but the airline wouldn't give him a seat. The next day he discovered that the flight he had originally tried to board had crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, and no survivors had been found. He knew his life had been saved, and he decided then and there to commit his life to doing the Lord's work.

While in seminary in Washington D.C., Joseph met a beautiful nurse named Dina. They married in 1951, and Joseph said after 56 years of marriage, they were "still sweethearts." Joseph and Dina dedicated their lives to God and have faithfully served Him as pastor and nurse, evangelists, and philanthropists. In 2000, they became members of the Mizpah Society at Southwestern, and in 2006, they established a scholarship for worthy students.

Scholarship award requirements

The Joseph & Dina Espinosa Scholarship is awarded to students based on financial need and academic achievement.

Student Recipients 

2019-2020 -Zoya Thompson

2018-2019 -Leslie Sanchez-Alanis

2016-2017 -Ridge Tull