Fajitas and drinks with live music are great reasons to celebrate anytime. But when the Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI) community of support gathered this weekend, it was also to celebrate the accomplishments of SLI alumni and SLI’s record year of support for students.
A college access nonprofit based in Harrisonburg, SLI hosted its annual “Celebración” on Saturday, November 8. Returning to the stunning downtown venue The Loft at Liberty St., the 5:30-9pm event featured sharing by SLI alumni from Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester, a fajita bar with locally sourced Mexican cuisine, wine and local beers, the music of Lua Project before and after dinner, a silent auction and 50/50 raffle, and more.
“I had a destination in mind, but not a road map,” SLI alum Guadalupe Tenorio told the gathered community. “That’s where SLI made all the difference.” READ FULL COVERAGE IN THE DAILY NEWS-RECORD
The mission of Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI) is to support Latino/a/x high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships. Through collaborations in Harrisonburg, Richmond and Winchester with university and high school staff, faculty, and students, SLI provides college access opportunities throughout high school. In addition, its scholars can become eligible for financial support for college success.
A Celebración social hour featured music by Lua Project, an open bar with wine and local beers, and chips and salsa. Dinner then included a fajita bar with shredded chicken and pork carnitas, corn and flour tortillas, beans, Spanish rice, roasted vegetables, curtido, guacamole and queso fresco, salsa and pico de gallo, and fresh kale chop chop salad – with coffee, flan, Mexican wedding cookies, fresh fruits, and chocolate chili bites for dessert. Vendors included La Bendición Bakery, A Bowl of Good, La Morena, El Sol, Merge, and others.
“An effective way to help solve the problems of today is to celebrate and invest in young people who show incredible talent and positive drive,” said SLI board chair Fawn-Amber Montoya, a professor of history at James Madison University. “That describes the students SLI serves, and I am so grateful for the community of individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations whose support has enabled SLI to support their access to college.”
The event was generously sponsored by Cargill, SLI founder Peter Iver Kaufman, Genworth | CareScout, Glass and Metals, Inc., Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Dick & Pat Gardner, Brent Holsinger & Laura Toni-Holsinger, Eastern Mennonite University, The Gaines Group Architects, LD&B Insurance and Financial Services, Larry Miller & Liz Yoder, Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, CT Assist, DuPont Community Credit Union, Everence Financial, F&M Bank, Herr & Company, Highest Roofing & Exteriors, InterChange Group, Inc., Lantz Construction Company, Park View Federal Credit Union, Sentara Health, Steven Toyota, Christopher & Maria Clymer Kurtz, and Phil & Loretta Helmuth.
Silent auction items were provided by Parentheses Books, Silk Moth Stage, Edible Landscaping, Massanutten Resort, Mary Jo’s Flowers, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, Luray Caverns, and others.
Since 2012 SLI has served 223 scholars, including 67 current and 156 alumni. Its scholars have attended 28 colleges and universities, and SLI financial awards for students now total more than $913,000.
SLI awards announced this summer for the 2025-26 academic year totaled $215,500, a 37 percent increase over 2024’s then-record $157,500. This year’s awards include a $6,000 college scholarship and $1,250 technology grant each for 22 high school class of 2025 SLI scholars for their first year of college, plus $58,000 in college scholarships for 27 SLI alumni continuing their undergraduate studies.
Scholarships for scholars pursuing studies in health sciences were funded by a $25,000 grant from Valley Health for awards for Winchester SLI scholars. A $5,000 grant from Sentara Health also helped fund awards for students in health related studies, and a three-year grant from F&M Bank helped fund students in business and accounting studies.
Of this year’s 49 awardees, 24 are in health-related studies, eight are in business and entrepreneur-related studies, and 17 are studying architecture, education, engineering, political science, and other fields. They are studying this fall at Dickinson College, Eastern Mennonite University, Harvard College, Hollins University, the Illinois Institute of Technology, James Madison University, Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Randolph-Macon College, Shenandoah University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, Washington Adventist University, and Blue Ridge, Brightpoint, Harrisburg Area, J. Sargent Reynolds, and Laurel Ridge Community Colleges.
