Sentara Health and F&M Bank help support students studying health and business
Shenandoah Valley Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI) has awarded a record level of financial aid to 45 SLI scholars and alumni attending college this fall.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SLI supports Latino/a/x high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships. Through collaborations with university and high school staff, faculty, and students, SLI provides college access opportunities to SLI scholars throughout high school.
Awards for the new academic year total $157,500 and include a $6,000 college scholarship and $1,250 technology grant each for 14 high school class of 2024 SLI scholars (vasli.org/grads24) for their first year of college, plus $56,000 in college scholarships for 31 SLI alumni continuing their undergraduate studies.
Of the 45 recipients, 24 are entering health related studies, six are entering business and entrepreneur-related studies, and 15 are studying computer science, education, engineering, foreign affairs, political science, and other fields. A grant from Sentara Health is helping to fund awards for students in health related studies, and a grant from F&M Bank is helping to fund students with interest in business and entrepreneurship.
“The unique support of these local grants helps us to communicate to students the value of reaching out and actively searching for individuals and institutions that will support them in their own academic interests, career aspirations, and life goals,” said Carlos Alemán, Ph.D., professor of communication at James Madison University and one of SLI’s program directors in Harrisonburg.
Since 2012 SLI has served 203 scholars in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester, including 73 current and 130 alumni. As of this fall its scholars will have attended 25 colleges and universities, and SLI financial support for students now totals nearly $700,000.
“Looking back, my time as a SLI scholar played an extraordinary role in my life by giving me the glimpses of a future that could possibly be mine,” said SLI alumna and 2024 scholarship recipient Ariana Hernandez Perez (Harrisonburg High School ’23).
Now in her second year at the University of Virginia majoring in commerce with a minor in Korean and concentrations in information technology and finance, Hernandez Perez said experiencing imposter syndrome has made her stronger.
“I gradually began to use my insecurities as a means of perseverance rather than hindrance,” she said. “I transformed my mindset from one that made me feel inferior into one that gave me the strength I needed to push forward and excel.”
In addition to financially supporting its scholars with college scholarships and technology grants, SLI provides its scholars with tuition assistance for college dual enrollment and AP courses while in high school.
“It is an honor to be part of the SLI community standing with students who are pursuing life-changing opportunities in higher education,” said Fawn-Amber Montoya, Ph.D., SLI board chair and professor of history at James Madison University. “Many individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations, and certainly partners such as Sentara and F&M Bank, are cheering on these students as they overcome barriers.”
Twenty-four of the scholarships awarded for the 2024-25 academic year are supported in part by the Sentara grant to support students pursuing health related studies and careers (vasli.org/sentara). These recipients include:
- Adriana Jimenez (Harrisonburg ’20) is studying communication sciences and disorders and Spanish at JMU
- Amy (John Handley High School ’21), biology/physician assistant track and Spanish, Shenandoah University (vasli.org/amyja)
- Ana Pereira (Harrisonburg High School ’24), nursing, Eastern Mennonite University
- Aylen Matamoros Ramìrez (Harrisonburg ’24), nursing, EMU
- Daniela Owens (J.R. Tucker High School ’24), biology and environmental science/physician assistant track, Randolph-Macon College
- Edgar Martinez Villeda (Harrisonburg ’24), nursing, EMU
- Everth Hernandez-Ventura (John Handley High School ’21), nursing, SU (vasli.org/everth)
- Galilea Gallardo-Mena (Huguenot High School ’21), psychology and Latin American Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University (vasli.org/galilea)
- Gedalia Garcia (John Handley ’22), nursing and psychology, Old Dominion University (vasli.org/gedalia)
- Heidy Garcia-Granados (Harrisonburg ’24), nursing, JMU
- Helen Duarte Guerrero (Harrisonburg ’23), biological sciences with the goal of biomedical engineering, Virginia Tech
- Helen Rivera Rivas (Harrisonburg ’21), health sciences/pre-occupational therapy and Spanish, JMU
- Hillary Estrada Alvarado (Harrisonburg ’23), biology/pre-physician assistant, University of Virginia
- Janefer Lobo Funez (Harrisonburg ’22), health science, JMU (vasli.org/janefer)
- Johana Alvarenga (Harrisonburg ’22), nursing, EMU (vasli.org/johana)
- Kristy Rios Ramos (Harrisonburg ’23), nursing, UVA
- Mairene Laureano Cruz (John Handley ’24), biology/physician assistant track (cardiology), SU
- Marvin Rivera Martinez (Harrisonburg ’22), computer engineering and data science, UVA (vasli.org/alex)
- Nataly Almendarez Funez (Harrisonburg ’24), nursing, EMU
- Rozana Aleman Pineda (Harrisonburg ’24), nursing and medical Spanish, JMU
- Savannah Figueroa (Harrisonburg ’21), kinetic imaging, Spanish, and immersive reality, VCU
- Tatiana Sanchez-Aguilar (Harrisonburg ’20), nursing and chronic illness, JMU
- Yeyhlin Velasquez-Zavala (John Handley ’23), public health and Spanish, Hollins University (vasli.org/yeyhlin)
- Yoselin Bermudes-Olivares (Huguenot High School ’24), nursing, VCU
Six scholarships are supported in part by F&M Bank SLI Scholar College Awards for students pursuing business and entrepreneur-related studies and careers (vasli.org/fmbank). These recipients include:
- Amy (John Handley ’21), accounting and philosophy, University of Pittsburgh (vasli.org/amy)
- Ariana Hernandez Perez (Harrisonburg ’23), commerce, Korean, information technology, and finance, UVA
- Eiby Galindo-Hernandez (Harrisonburg ’24), accounting and music, UVA
- Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez (Hopewell High School ’22), accounting and business administration, EMU (vasli.org/guadalupe)
- Jennifer Carcamo Bonilla (Harrisonburg ’21), business administration, Bridgewater College
- Lisbet (Harrisonburg ’21), liberal arts and business, EMU
Additional scholarships were awarded to:
- Abygail Henriquez Diaz (Harrisonburg ’24), education, Blue Ridge Community College
- Axel Vega-Mancinas (John Handley ’23), electrical engineering, Harvard University (vasli.org/axel)
- Cristian Romo Bermejo (John Handley ’21), ocean engineering, VT
- Dariana Martinez Bautista (John Handley ’24), political philosophy, policy, and law, UVA
- Heidy Gonzalez-Amaya (John Handley ’24), history and social science, Longwood University
- Irais Barrera Pinzon (George Wythe High School ’21), political science/pre-law, Spanish, and Hispanic studies, EMU (vasli.org/irais)
- Israel (Huguenot ’21), homeland security and emergency preparedness, criminal justice, justice and political science, VCU (vasli.org/israel)
- Jimena Marquez-Marquez (John Handley ’23), American Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Spanish, Dickinson College (vasli.org/jimena)
- Keiry Lazo (Harrisonburg ’23), foreign affairs, global studies, and global development, UVA (vasli.org/keiry)
- Lindsey Ruvalcaba (Harrisonburg ’23), college transfer degree, BRCC
- Ma Guadalupe Ruiz Cortes (Huguenot ’24), political science/pre-law, University of Richmond
- Maria (Mills E. Godwin High School ’22), English and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, VCU
- Noel Ayala-Gallo (Harrisonburg ’21), leadership, public policy and foreign affairs, and astronomy, UVA (vasli.org/noel)
- Raquel Perez Torrico (John Handley ’21), computer science and web development, Washington Adventist University
- Rosely Alvarado Villegas (John Handley ’22), computer science, George Mason University (vasli.org/roselyav)
SLI is a community-based, 501(c)(3) public charity built on partnerships with high schools, universities, communities, students, and parents, and dedicated to advancing Latinx students’ post-high school educational opportunities. SLI advocates for Latinx opportunities and strives for social justice and equity. Scholars are mentored to be leaders that positively contribute to their communities.
