Latino Generations Scholarship showcases recipient successes – BenitoLink
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This article was written by BenitoLink intern Ariana Rivera. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Holding its first scholarship brunch at Paine’s Restaurant on Sept. 6, the Latino Generations Scholarship organization hosted donors who’ve supported the scholarship fund, which has been running since 2016, by celebrating past recipients.
President of the Latino Generations Scholarship Committee Lizett Rodriguez Pena said the organization’s mission is to cultivate a community where Latinos can thrive.
Pena said the scholarship is intended to ensure that local Latino students are encouraged to further their education, return to San Benito County and continue to help the local Latino community prosper.
“You’re going to bring the generations that grew up in your community back to your community to be the teachers, be the principals, be the community councils,” Pena said.
In May, 10 students were awarded between $1,200 and $1,500 toward their first year of college.
This year’s awardees are Precious Alvarez, Raphael Baltazar, Kimberly Campos, Galilea Carrillo, Yesenia Castillo, Danna Cervantes Dominguez, Jayleen Chan, Priscilla Hernandez-Gonzalez, Imelda Martinez-Gonzalez and Eduardo Rosas.
Past scholarship recipients spoke at the brunch about their experience in higher education and the ways the Latino Generations Committee supported them, sharing the importance of investing in Latino student education.
Antonio Lara, a 2022 Hollister High School graduate who is studying early childhood development at CSU-Sacramento, said the scholarship reaches beyond the recipients.
“It provided me with the opportunity to impact a generation way younger than I am,” said Lara.
Founding member of the Latino Generations Committee Ana Maria DeAlba said she struggled through her own education and recognized the need for an organization like Latino Generations in the community.
“There are so many students that are financially burdened, and they need the help. They should get the help, because they’re excellent, intelligent students,” DeAlba said.
Adriana Perez, a CSU-Monterey Bay graduate, said she commuted to school, worked, helped care for her siblings, and was her family’s translator.
Perez said that with little work experience beyond her job at Hollister Super Market, she landed a position as an intern at the White House and was an employee of the Biden and Harris administration in the Office of the National Cyber Director.
“Yes, the money helps us pay for our education, but this scholarship means more than that,” Perez said, as she reflected on the role of scholarships in her journey. “It means there are people who believe in us and want us to pursue a higher education. This reaffirms our commitment and dedication.”
Yazmin Martinez, a 2020 Hollister High School graduate and scholarship recipient, shared Lara’s and Perez’s view that the scholarship meant more than just monetary support.
Every day of her last two years of high school, Martinez commuted from Los Banos to Hollister for school and then to Livermore for cheer practice. Despite her demanding schedule, she made time for on-campus extracurriculars and balanced an off-campus social life.
“It was extremely motivating to be awarded, even though maybe they didn’t see all the behind-the-scenes of what I was doing every single day,” Martinez said. “It meant a lot to be recognized.”
Martinez, who is now a University of Louisville graduate, thanked donors for their contributions and told future scholarship applicants, “We may be minorities, but our voices, our achievements, and our contributions matter. Join the clubs, step into the leadership roles, apply for the scholarships, because we’re just as worthy as anyone else to claim opportunities you’ve worked so hard for.”
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