Monfredo: Worcester Latino Dollars For Scholars Celebrates Its 20th Year

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Saturday, June 06, 2015

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

The Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars, Incorporated, celebrated its 20th year of awarding Latino families in the Worcester Area with financial scholarships for students going on to higher education. The organization is an affiliate of the Scholarship of America Foundation, a national organization that provides technical assistance to local scholarship efforts and is the nation’s largest private sector scholarship organization.  

Its mission is to increase access to higher education for Latino students by involving the private sector in the financial support of these students. The group has raised more than $353,000 and awarded over 732 scholarships to area students. This year the organization awarded 38 scholarships to Latino students in pursuit of a higher education at a banquet held at The Manor restaurant in West Boylston.

The recipients and the colleges they will be attending are as follows:

Burncoat High School: Ashley Martinez , Rhode Island College; Kassandra Roque, Worcester State University; Oriris Torres, Quinsigamond College; Adry Velazquez, Anna Maria College.

Doherty High School: Jeanette Moreno, Quinsigamond Community College

North High School: Beatriz Da Silva, Quinsigamond Community College; Coralys De Jesus, Tufts University; Daniela Fraga Alvarez, WPI;  Nancy Lopez Ramirez, Union University; Carlos Cano Mijangos, College of Holy Cross; Silva Rodriguez, Worcester State University; Merci Santana, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Saint John’s High School: Jacob Vazquez, Assumption College.

South High School: Jacqueline Campos Avalos, Quinsigamond College; Christopher Colon Canales, Worcester State University; Mariah Martinez, Becker College; Selena Nepomuseno, Worcester State University.

University Park Campus: Leslie Benitez, Clark University;  Nikolle Rivera, Clark University; Sabrina Santiago, Westfield State University; Nashalli Vargas, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Worcester Technical High School: Hector Cedre, Jr, Quinsigamond College; Styven Colon, University of Maine; Jose Martinez, Ben Franklin Institute of Technology; Sofia Orellana, Bay Path College; Carlos Soto, Massachusetts Bay Community College.

College students receiving scholarships and the college that they attend are:

Zulma Chavez and Jennifer Mason, College of Holy Cross; Jeannette Cortes, Quinsigamond Community College; Shanice Grajales, Vianna Mercedis and Jean Vera, Worcester State University; Juslissa Frias Perez , University of Massachusetts Amherst; Jon Gualdarrama and Luisana Paulino, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Jacinthia Kallio and Christian Valencia,  University of Massachusetts Lowell;  Alexis Santiago, Clark University.

The President of the organization, John Rodriquez  a guidance counselor at Worcester East Middle thanked, the graduate recipients and stated, “ You are our inspiration to do the work we do as volunteers in our organization… you are the motor that keeps us going.  When you are feeling like you have not energy and want to give up, remember this night and all of your accomplishments throughout your life and get up stronger.  Believe in yourself and follow your vision and your dreams and you will be an inspiration for others.”

This year’s chair was Gordon Hargrove, CEO, from Friendly House. He was recognized for his enthusiasm, dedication and effectiveness.  Also, recognized was Edwin Hernandez for being a visionary in starting the scholarship foundation.

The Masters of Ceremony for this event were Miguel Lopez and Maritza Rodriguez and the keynote speaker was Francisco Urena, secretary of Veterans Affairs in Massachusetts.  Harvard Pilgrim was the proud sponsor of the Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars. The evening  was a memorable event for all who attended.  

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