Hispanic students awarded college scholarships
Some of the students honored at the Hispanic Leadership Alliance awards ceremony on May 4 are the first in their families to go to college, others came to the U.S. alone, and some just learned English a couple of years ago.
Their families are from Honduras, El Salvador, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.
But they all have things in common: They worked hard in high school, excelled academically, took on leadership roles in their schools – and look forward to successful careers.
The Hispanic Leadership Alliance presented $1,000 scholarships to 29 Fairfax County seniors at a banquet at the FCPS Willow Oaks Administrative Center.
One of the scholarship recipients, Ashley Claros-Roca, earned a 4.158 GPA at Falls Church High School. She is president of the school’s Spanish Honor Society and the Bolivian Student Association and the founder and president of Voces Para Salud (Voices for Health).
Ashley will study public health and nursing at the University of Virginia.
The following honorees are students at Justice High School:
- Diana Gomez Lopez has completed the coursework for an International Baccalaureate diploma and plans to study nursing at George Mason University. “I want a life dedicated to helping others. Nursing offers me this opportunity,” she said.
- Erick Elvir is president of the Student Government Association and is a member of the National Honor Society and English, Math, Science, and Hispanic honor societies. “I want to uplift others by reminding them that their stories matter,” Erick said. He plans to study economics and international relations at Northwestern University.
- Vania Trejo earned a 4.326 GPA and serves as a Mu Alpha Theta tutor and participates in Girls in STEM, Girls Up, and Cancer Kids First. She plans to major in civil engineering.
- STEM Scholarship recipient Venus Mejia-Martinez attained a 4.218 GPA, earned an IB diploma, attended the Morehouse School of Medicine High School Community Health Worker Program, and participated in the Odyssey of the Mind World Event. She plans to major in environmental science at Lewis and Clark College.
- Jordin Ramos-Galdamez earned a 4.337 GPA and is a member of numerous honor societies. He attended the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar Program and plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.
- IB diploma candidate Kelly Romero-Romero is a member of several honor societies. She is the first in her family to go to college. Her experience working for her father’s construction business sparked her interest in entrepreneurship. Kelly will study business management at the University of Virginia.
- Estafani Vega-Galicia plans to study biology at the University of Mary Washington on a pre-med track. She is a member of the National, English, Hispanic, and Tri-M honor societies, the orchestra, the track and field team, and the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program.
- Ariela Ventura-Paloma is editor-in-chief of the Justice literary magazine, works on the yearbook, is an assistant teacher at a child development center, and an English tutor. She is heading off to American University to study justice and law.
- Liz Mejia-Maravilla will major in nursing at Juniata College. She already completed a clinical nursing program and earned a nursing aide certification.
- Dayana Meruvia is an executive board member for Howl for Change and a member of Future Business Leaders of America. She plans to enlist in the Marines before studying international business or law in college.
The other scholarship awardees are from Centreville, Chantilly, West Potomac, Lewis, Mountain View, Westfield, and West Springfield high schools; Lake Braddock Secondary School; and FCPS family literacy programs.
Martha Paz-Epinoza, president-elect of the Hispanic Leadership Alliance, told the students, “You are the living manifestation of the dream your parents and grandparents carried for generations.”
FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid noted that the alliance has awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship funds since 2006. “The event tonight is about the power and promise of public education in action,” she said.
Former scholarship recipient and Justice High School alum Jasmin Chavez Cruz told the students about her journey from poverty to a successful career. After her family immigrated to Falls Church from El Salvador when she was two, they often had to rely on food banks.
She went on to work in the White House during the Biden Administration and served on the transition team for Gov.-Elect Abigail Spanberger.
“The scholarship is not just a recognition of what you achieved,” Chavez Cruz said. “It’s a reminder of what you’re capable of becoming. Never underestimate the power of your voice and your story.”