Longmont Latinx Voices awards scholarships to 10 SVVSD seniors
Local nonprofit Longmont Latinx Voices is supporting 10 high school seniors with scholarships as they pursue their college dreams.
Giovanni Montez Chavez. (Courtesy photo)
The Longmont nonprofit awards scholarships annually to St. Vrain Valley School District seniors, who were presented with their scholarships earlier this month. The Latino and Latina students each received $1,000, which they can put toward their higher education plans.
This year's recipients are Diego Doton, Giovanni Montez Chavez, Justice Montoya, Edgar Nevarez Pena, Litzy Ortiz and Gisselle Sales Rodriguez of Skyline High School; Maria Arrece Garcia and Mahuiztli Martinez of Niwot High School; Emanuel Palacios of Longmont High School; and Alexander Westbrooke of Frederick High School.
A few of the scholarship winners are going to the University of Colorado Boulder. Sales Rodriguez plans to study psychology at the university.
Before heading to CU Boulder, Sales Rodriguez was recognized by a different higher education institution. She received her business certification from Front Range Community College last week through a dual enrollment program at Skyline.
Sales Rodriguez will be the first person in her family to go to a four-year college. She said the scholarship will be a 'really big help' with her college expenses.
'College isn't going to cover itself,' she said. 'Even just a little help goes a really long way, and I'm really thankful for that.'
Fellow Skyline student Edgar Nevarez Pena plans to study aerospace engineering at CU Boulder. Since he likes planes and working with his hands, he thinks the major will be a good fit for him.
Maria Arrece Garcia is heading to Vanderbilt University, where she wants to study mechanical engineering. As a Niwot High student, she participated in the robotics program and the student council.
Arrece Garcia's mom is Mexican and her dad is Peruvian. She said she's thankful that local students and their families are supported by Longmont Latinx Voices, and hopes that her scholarship will inspire her younger sister to pursue college.
Justice Montoya. (Courtesy photo)
'Applying for this scholarship seemed perfect, because culture is really important to me,' Arrece Garcia said. 'I really love Longmont, and being able to get a scholarship from such a vibrant community is obviously a really great thing.'
Litzy Ortiz wants to study data analytics at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder. She said the scholarship will ease the financial burden on her and her parents.
'It helps me not feel overwhelmed,' Ortiz said.
Each Longmont Latinx Voices scholarship is named in honor of a community member. Ortiz's scholarship honored Linda Marquez, who was a Longmont resident and activist.
'I thought that was really nice, on their part, to have someone to honor,' Ortiz said.
Most SVVSD schools will host their commencement ceremonies on Saturday.
Alexander Westbrooke. (Courtesy photo)
Emanuel Palacios. (Courtesy photo)
Mahuiztli Martinez. (Courtesy photo)
Maria Arrece Garcia. (Courtesy photo)
Gisselle Sales Rodriguez. (Courtesy photo)
Edgar Nevarez Pena. (Courtesy photo)
Litzy Ortiz. (Courtesy photo)
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