‘Outstanding’ Dalton State students awarded $2,000 scholarships through LAA-Mohawk partnership – Dalton Daily Citizen
Published 10:49 pm Thursday, October 2, 2025
By Brady Hix / brady.hix@daltoncitizen.com
As a first generation college student, Dalton State College senior Brizeyda Casas said she strives to “set an example” for her two younger siblings as the first one in her family to graduate college.
“I know college isn’t for everyone, but I have a responsibility in at least showing them that, even if some people don’t have the same opportunities, through perseverance you can accomplish anything.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, Casas was one of five Dalton State students to receive a $2,000 scholarship as part of the Latin American Association and Mohawk Industries Scholarship Program.
Through a partnership with the college, which began in 2019, the LAA and Mohawk celebrate “outstanding” local students by opening the scholarship annually to those “involved in the Hispanic community through heritage, community connection and volunteerism,” said Lauren Sneary, Mohawk’s senior director of communications.
“The scholarship is awarded both on need and merit,” Sneary said. “We saw a ton of applications this year, and what was so impressive to us is how much we saw these recurring themes of family, community and support.”
Alongside Casas, who graduated from Southeast Whitfield High School, four Dalton State students received the 2025 scholarship, including Dalton High School graduates Jose Jacobo, Jamir Rendon and Vianey Vidana, and Calhoun High School graduate Oscar Orellana-Morales.
“The themes that (these students) found important to tell us about in these applications were how much it meant to receive something like this to be able to give back and help the people who helped (them),” Sneary said. “That is incredibly meaningful and that is what this community needs and what this world needs more of.”
Casas, who is completing Dalton State’s social work pathway, said she believes in giving equal opportunities to her future social work clients.
“In the future, I want to work with children or immigrant individuals who don’t have the same opportunities that others have,” she said. “I’m really fortunate to have this opportunity. It really makes me think about the future. I want to go to graduate school, so this is definitely a stepping stone towards that. I’m just really thankful and appreciative.”
Jacobo said he plans to use the scholarship to continue his studies in Dalton State’s engineering technology pathway, while Vidana said she hopes to use the award to continue in the college’s early childhood education pathway.
As part of the application process, each student submitted a 250-word essay on how the scholarship would benefit their lives and education.
Vidana said she hopes to use it to help the next generation of students, believing “that all children have the right to education” while focusing on those who are new to the English language.
An accounting major at Dalton State, Orellana-Morales said he is “grateful” to be a 2025 recipient of the scholarship.
“It’s not something I expected to win,” he said. “Overall, I’m excited to receive this opportunity. I mostly plan to use this towards my tuition and my student fees, and whatever doesn’t go towards that, I plan to save it. I want to have something for the future, just in case, for bills, rent or anything like that.”
Also a first generation college students, Orellana-Morales said he is “glad” to be able to help his family.
“It’s a big feeling,” he said. “I’m glad I can help my parents and help propel the narrative that we can do it too, and that our communities can’t fall behind either. I’m just very grateful to be a part of this and I’m excited for what this opportunity can entail.”
Rendon, who is majoring in nursing at the college, said he hopes to “help out as many people he can” in the future.
“Actually holding this certificate, it doesn’t feel real,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to receive this scholarship. I’m going to use half of this towards my education and then half of it towards my personal needs outside of school.”
Rendon, who currently has two older siblings attending college, said his parents told him about the scholarship opportunity in early September before completing the process.
“I’m studying nursing, so I think this will be able to help me get more resources and help me to continue to study,” he said.
LAA CEO Santiago Marquez said the association first partnered with Mohawk six years ago to help develop opportunities to those in need in Northwest Georgia and the surrounding communities.
“This is the American dream,” he told recipients at the scholarship ceremony. “This is a legacy piece and a transformation piece for you. You have an opportunity to do something very special, not only for you but for your families and for those that come after you. We’re proud of you and congratulations, because this is going to change your family’s trajectory.”
Jami Hall, Dalton State College’s vice president for student enrollment and success, said the ceremony was a cause of celebration.
“At Dalton State, we know that behind every scholarship award is not just financial support, but also a powerful message: We believe in you,” she said. “We believe in your dreams, we believe in your potential, and your ability to change your life in our community through education.”
Hall said the college is “50% needs-based.”
“That means half of our students receive some type of financial aid,” she said. “That also means for many, the cost of higher education is a real barrier. We are proud to be one of the most affordable institutions in the university system of Georgia, but as we know, affordability alone is not always enough. Sometimes it is the availability of scholarships, like the ones we are recognizing, that determine whether students will return the next semester or will have to step away from college.”
Hall said Dalton State is also a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with 39% of the college’s student body identifying as Hispanic.
“This is something that we are incredibly proud of as it reflects the growing diversity of Northwest Georgia and the strength of our community,” she said. “In addition, a large number of our students are the first in their families to ever attend college.”
Sneary said the partnership between the college, the LAA and Mohawk exists to “invest in programs and resources that can have an impact for local communities, employees and families.”
“We have generations of Hispanic families and culture here in Northwest Georgia and the greater Dalton area,” she said. “And as we look at how both our community and our workforce has grown over the last three decades, we really believe that education, professional resources and family services are critical for everyone, and that is what the LAA helps provide to the Hispanic community in Northwest Georgia.”
