Hispanic Chamber Scholarship

In the past three years of high school I have participated in the Spanish Club and have taken four years of Spanish. Throughout high school I have done many activities for the Spanish club, for example I have tutored kids during lunch for the past 2 years, I have attended mandatory and important meetings, and I presented a Spanish lesson to Spanish 1 students. Many kids need more help with their Spanish homework or need tutoring and I have volunteered 40 plus hours helping these kids. Like any other club, the Spanish club has meetings almost every month and they are very important in deciding the future of the club.

Through this university I have been able to become involved with various student organizations, including CEPA and the PILOT program. CEPA stands for the Club de Español Para Amigos. This club provides opportunities for its members to practice their Spanish speaking skills, meet and collaborate with organizations that support the Hispanic community, and volunteer in areas that support Spanish speaking community. This club has allowed me to combine my love for Hispanic language and culture, and do philanthropic work. As a Spanish major, it has provided me with the opportunity to network and practice the skills that I have learned in the classroom. Another organization I am affiliated with is the Pilot program. This is a leadership program on campus. As a member of this club I attend a variety of workshops in order to receive credit as a certified leader and then a master leader. These workshops cover topics including diversity, skill building, self- improvement, and leadership programs. This organization has allowed me to grow as a leader, and become a more well-rounded

By spending a month in Pachuca, Mexico, with the Lott Institute, I hope to learn more about the Mexican culture and people. By being afforded such an opportunity, I will be better equipped to do political work, as US relations with Mexico have become a more serious issue recently. My desire in working in politics is to bring common-sense solutions to communities to make life better for all Americans, including recent immigrants. As such, I have taken particular interest in Mexican culture, which is growing locally and across the country. Following this interest, I studied Spanish in college, and wish to become fluent in it; by studying in Mexico where I can be immersed in the Spanish language, I should be able to become more familiar with it. Through studying in Mexico, I will be able to receive a broader and more accurate perspective on issues that those of Mexican heritage, and therefore the community that I wish to

What's influenced me about living and working in this community is, not to take for granted all the opportunities that are offered. I am so lucky to be bilingual because having that ability can open a lot of doors for me. The hispanic community is increasing which makes businesses and health related offices eager to hire bilingual speakers. It’s important to take advantage of opportunities that offer to help you because of your background and skill that you’re able to speak two fluent languages. Some people want

At my all-girls high school, I’ve always stood out for having a “thick accent”. Aside from not fully understanding English, being different has taught me how to be a creatively gifted, intelligent, and influential entity among my peers. Throughout the years, I grew frustrated with myself for being unable to speak clearly to my classmates. Additionally, my friends did not understand how I spoke, where I came from, or what I cared most about in my culture. This stood out to me to make a change and prompted me to take action towards it. In tenth grade, I became the founding Vice President of the Spanish Honor Society, an organization that executes community service and immerse students in the different Hispanic cultures. Our school was on the need for a display of diverse Hispanic cultures. For example, the school's student profile tends to show a racial disbursement of “51% African American, 40.4% Hispanic, and 4.5% White.” Additionally, that “40.4% Hispanic” for students is only “Mexicans.” Taking this issue, Spanish Honor Society (SHS) presents students with an exciting way to learn more about their diverse peers and their cultures such as music, food, and beliefs.

I am a U.S. born citizen. My parents moved to the United States in 1984 without knowing anything about this country. Looking for a fresh start and new opportunities, my parents settled in Houston. With hardly knowing any English, my parents knew this was the place to make dreams become a reality. Luckily, I had older siblings to look up to whenever I needed help. Like Lahiri, I was trapped in between two different cultures while I was growing up. At home, I only spoke Spanish, but in school it was English. My habits and customs were different than others. Life as an immigrant’s offspring can be very difficult. As I grew older, I allowed myself to open my eyes and see the beauty of being an American from Hispanic descent.

Along with being a diligent student who has been enrolled in 11 Advanced Placement classes, I have also dedicated my time to other causes. For example, I have volunteered at public libraries, Special Olympics events, orphanages for intellectually disabled children, and food pantries. While maintaining a rigorous course load and volunteering, I also work at Kumon. I tutor children to boost their confidences and understanding of concepts vital to their future success. Moreover, I have received membership to The National Honor Society and have been awarded an AP Scholar with Merit Award. My dedication to becoming more culturally aware and five years of enrollment in Spanish classes has allowed me to be inducted into Spanish Honor Society. Within

I was born in Inglewood, CA son of two immigrant parents. As a young boy, I always knew the importance of education, it was engrained in me by my mother and father. They both grew up in Mexico where they both loved school until their economic hardships forced them to come to the U.S. and work. I was the first generation in my family to go to college and will be the first to pursue a graduate degree.

Winning the title as Miss Hispanic Delaware helped me find my passion. I got the opportunity to intern as a host for a bilingual TV show called “Que Bien.” Que Bien allowed me to grow and gain the confidence that I was missing and embrace my Hispanic culture. Through Que Bien, I got to travel to different cities in the Delmarva and Philadelphia area. I also got the chance to interview politicians, Latino and American music artist, and citizens from the area. From that point on I discovered my passion for television. Once I got accepted to the University of Alabama all I wanted to study was broadcasting. As a first generation student attending a University was already a dream. However, due to financial reasons my parents encouraged me to join

I am grateful for the opportunity to be allowed to address joint meeting in this country that I personally call my home. This country is the land where people can be free and pursue their dreams that can not be done in any other country. As the United States Congress the whole body of this organization is to be able to defend the lives and rights of the people. This country is the home of the people that keep this country running, and part of those people is the Latino community. The Latino community now make up 1 out 4 school students in the United States and are a rapidly growing population in nontraditional settlement areas (Gandara 2017). But as the Latino community keeps growing the youth is not getting enough help to continue into higher

Socorro Alvarez is the Hispanic Outreach Director at Western Avenue Community Center in Bloomington, Illinois. Mrs. Alvarez has been at the center for over 20 years. She came to the United States, from Mexico, when she was seventeen. She was the oldest in the family and her Father did not think she should go to high school or college. He thought she needed to find a husband and stay close to the family because it was her responsibility as the oldest. Espinoza (2010), states this is a common value in Hispanic families, that comes from the value Marianismo. This is a value that has an expectation that a “good Latina woman” will always place family above her own needs (Espinoza, 2010). Socorro says that her father encouraged the rest of the children to attend both high school and college.

Although the journey through the first year of college is not as perilous as Enrique’s trek to America, it is still full of hardships that must be faced head on. Enrique’s Journey pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me think of how others must think of this country. As a natural born citizen, I have had these

Since my transfer orientation at UCR, I was interested in getting involved with the Chicano students Program. It was the main organization that I felt connected to. Fortunately I had the opportunity to intern at CSP, it has been one of the greatest experience of my collage years. I am so proud of my self of getting out there and doing something for our college campus. This quarter I discovered skills that I had hidden, before this internship I didn’t now some skills that I had hidden. I have always been and introvert student but was hoping to get my extrovert side and have learned that I do have it. I am proud to say that Spring 2016 internship has been one of the best experiences.

As a Covington Latin student, we are expected to help at the open house. At the open house we show off the school in the hopes of attracting new students. I have done this for two years now and I will certainly do it in the future. Both years, I have worked in a teachers room helping display what that particular class is like. I am also always asked about my experience at Latin school. I tell the families that Latin school is a great challenge for kids and that it has helped me so much as a person. This, of course, is the absolute truth. The whole open house I usually am talking to parents, answering questions. I have developed better social skills. I really enjoy helping out at the open house and

Dish-washing was the first job I was able to attain after obtaining my Associate degree. Initially, the prospect of washing dishing wasn’t particularly appealing, but, as an undocumented student my choices were limited. Diversity comes in many forms and whiles my ethnicity and spoken language have provided me with access to a broader community (benefiting the public health clinic); it is my willingness to take any opportunity that has provided me with a diverse background. Being Hispanic and speaking Spanish has allowed for the retention of jobs, translating for doctors, and for the generating of bonds with Hispanic patients at the clinic. Translating for the doctor permits the patient calmness and faith that the doctor is looking out for