The Winchester SLI Meet & Greet on April 19 celebrated college access by bringing together SLI scholars and alumni, family, board members, and community supporters for delicious food and drinks. Sponsored by Laurel Ridge Community College, Valley Health, and First Bank and hosted by Lolita’s Mexican Restaurant and Bakery, the evening featured speeches by SLI alumni. SLI “helped me so…
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Spring programming at SLI sites include a variety of opportunities, events
SLI programming this spring included unique opportunities at each of its sites, with students experiencing a variety of events including college visits, guest speakers, and more. “Accessing college is no small task,” said Fawn-Amber Montoya, Ph.D., SLI board chair and associate dean of James Madison University Honors College. “SLI is proud to support its remarkable scholars as they pursue the…
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Outgoing board leaders recognized as “integral” to SLI’s growth
SLI has recognized the extensive service and leadership of two board of director executives who exited their roles at the end of 2023. Jason Good, Ph.D., joined the board in 2018 and served as board chair from 2019 through 2022. Brent Holsinger, M.Ed., joined the board in 2015, was chiefly tasked with board member development starting in 2016, and served…
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Second Sentara Health grant to increase college access, bolster health career pathways for SLI scholars
Sentara Health has awarded a second grant of $60,000 to the college-access nonprofit Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI). The grant will help provide college access opportunities for students to gain awareness of their college and career options, including those in health care, plus support college scholarships for SLI scholars who are pursuing health-related studies and careers. A previous grant from Sentara…
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SLI board of directors welcomes new members, leadership
Pictured from left: Lourdes Sandoval, MSW, and Andrea Smith, Ph.D., are new members of the Scholars Latino Initiative board of directors, and Carlos Alemán, Ph.D., is the new vice chair. The college-access nonprofit Shenandoah Valley Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI) has welcomed two members to its board of directors, and appointed a new vice chair. SLI’s mission is to support Latino/a/x…
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Meet Onesimo ’20, SLI scholar
Onesimo ’20 studied political science and history and graduated with cords of distinction. I was surprised by how difficult sometimes it is to get into college, because it feels that once you’re there, it becomes certainly easier because you have a community and there are resources and people who pretty much are in charge of making you feel welcome and…
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From healthcare to space, SLI scholars explore college and career opportunities to “make our world a better place”
Approximately 60 high school and college students attended an annual College and Career Access Day, which for the first time featured local health professionals sharing their expertise in promoting salud y comunidad, or health and community. “Young people are more motivated than ever to make our world a better place as leaders, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and scientists,” said Carlos Alemán,…
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Meet Maria ’21, SLI scholar
Maria ’21 is pursuing degrees in political science and Spanish with a minor in pre-law. I always knew that at some point I had to become that person, the person that I had in my mind because of the things I used to like, the things I like, about politics, helping the community, and being really active in our society,…
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Why support college access?
Your support is welcome at vasli.org/donate. Thank you!
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Meet Daniela ’22, SLI scholar
Engineering How do you think going to college will change your life? I expect to have more opportunities [with a college degree]. Most of my siblings or even my parents did not finish high school, so they don’t have a GED or anything. My dad and my brothers all work construction, so it’s a heavy job, and I feel like…
