Pictured: Emilia Hodal of the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, left, presents a Collaboration for Change Award to SLI student leaders represented by University of Richmond students Ángel-Xavier Elizondo, Luis Montano, and Denis Velazquez-Mondragon.Photo courtesy of the University of Richmond
Scholars Latino Initiative student leaders at the University of Richmond received the Collaboration for Change Award at the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement’s Engage for Change Awards celebration in September.
The award honors a collaborative community-based partnership between campus and community stakeholders, and is given to an individual or group who recognizes the importance of authentic relationships and genuine collaboration to affect change. Criteria include: a sustained commitment to an evolving and iterative relationship over time; partnerships that exemplify collaboration as a process of co-creation; a respect for the knowledge and expertise of all stakeholders; and a demonstrated outcome that reflects mutually shared goals emerging from the partnership.
Accepting the award for SLI were the university’s student-led SLI mentors group co-presidents Denis Velazquez-Mondragon, a Richmond and Oliver Hill Scholar studying cognitive science, psychology, and linguistics (pre-health), and Luis Montano, a Bonner Scholar studying biochemistry and molecular biology major, and treasurer Ángel-Xavier Elizondo, a Bonner Scholar studying philosophy, politics, economics, and law.
“We are motivated by a desire to contribute, foster connections, and create positive, shared growth,” they shared. “The satisfaction of helping others, especially those in the shoes we once wore, and learning from collective experiences drive meaningful interactions.”
The original SLI was founded by Peter Iver Kaufman and others in 2001 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2008 Kaufman brought SLI to the University of Richmond, Virginia, where he holds the George Matthews & Virginia Brinkley Modlin Chair in Leadership Studies, and later to the Shenandoah Valley, where this organization was incorporated in 2012 and became a 501(c)(3) public charity. With programs in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester, Virginia, its mission is to support Latino/a/x high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships.
To apply for this position, please email your resume and a cover letter to [email protected] by November 1, 2024.
The primary responsibility of this part-time contractor (non-employee) role is to support program directors at four high school sites by coordinating organization practices and training, identifying college access resources and opportunities, and innovating program curricula specific to first-generation Latinx high school students in pursuit of higher education. Expected workloads are up to 25 hours per month, depending on school year programming needs and quarterly travel to program sites in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester, Virginia. Opportunities for further program innovations and work hours may be later considered and will be contingent upon funding.
Coordinating Support
Maintain a current database of student and family contact information (including an alumni database that may be used for soliciting award applications, disbursing awards, and tracking matriculation)
Conduct quarterly on-site check-ins with site directors (Aug, Nov, Feb, May) to hear support needs, observe program environment, and verify training and compliance
Submit 2-3 page summary report to the SLI board regarding site support needs and program opportunities (Sept, Dec, March, June)
Identify and coordinate quality college application and FAFSA training opportunities for site directors that are specific to the needs of first-generation students and the challenges experienced by students of migrant family households
Develop a succession plan for site directors; assist with recruiting and selecting (new) site directors
Work with SLI Director of Development to facilitate social media posts regarding HS programs
Program Specialization
Innovate an organizational onboarding and off-boarding plan for site directors at all sites
Innovate synchronous online tutorial for college application and FAFSA for site directors, as needed, to fill gaps of identified available training opportunities
Identify or innovate programming curriculum and support frameworks consistent with SLI’s mission and goals that can be adapted to site programming needs, local stakeholder interests, and policies of host school sites
Identify (new) partners and funding opportunities for further support programming
Requirements
Minimal degree of bachelor’s degree with a master’s preferred
Knowledge of SLI or 501(c)(3) organizations, or other non-profit experience (employment or volunteer)
Reliable vehicle for on-site visits
Preferred applicants will possess both English and Spanish language fluency
Knowledge of working with first generation, aid eligible, and Latino/a/x/e students
Salary and Compensation
$36/hour up to $10,800 annually (August 1-July 31), hours submitted for compensation at the end of each month
Reimbursement for costs for site visits, up to $1,500 per year (mileage at IRS rate)
The Richmond SLI Meet & Greetat the University of Richmond on September 21 brought together SLI scholars and their families as well as SLI mentors, board members, and advocates.
The event, which was planned by SLI mentors at the University of Richmond, took place during a SLI Saturday program and featured highlights such as sharing by SLI alumni Maria (Virginia Commonwealth University ’26) and Ariel (Eastern Mennonite University ’24), plus current SLI scholar Lindsay (Huguenot High School ’26) and SLI summer instructor Gretchen (University of Richmond ’25). They are shown in the top right of the above photo.
The mentors group provides a variety of on-campus college access and social activities for SLI scholars in high school, such as Saturday’s leaf-drawing project, shown in the bottom left of the photo. The university students are led by Denis Velazquez Mondragon, Luis Montano, and Ángel-Xavier Elizondo, shown in the top left photo with SLI founder and program director Peter Iver Kaufman. Photos by Ava Boghosian
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
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)
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.
At the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony on May 30, 2024, Richmond SLI scholars Guadalupe and Yoselin were recognized as among the top 10 of their graduating class of 206 students.
Guadalupe was ranked 4th, with a GPA of 4.60. She will attend the University of Richmond to study political science and pre-law to become an attorney, an interest that was already developing early in her high school career.
“Something that I’ll miss about SLI is the friendships that I made along the way, as well as all the mentorship and all of the support that I received through Dr. Kaufman and various people within the program,” she said in a recent video.
Yoselin, who was ranked 9th, had a GPA of 4.31. She will attend Virginia Commonwealth University to study biology and pre-medicine, to become a nurse.
As a high school sophomore, she called SLI “a life changer,” and this spring she shared this advice for students following in her footsteps: “I would recommend actually trying on your essays [in SLI Early College] because as time goes by you can look back at your old essays and then you can see how much you’ve improved.”
SLI in Richmond is generously funded by the Herndon Foundation, the SLI Founder’s Fund, and many others in the SLI Community of Support. Programming is led by SLI founder Peter Iver Kaufman, Ph.D., a professor at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, and Huguenot High School LIEP teacher & department chair Ester Orellana, pictured below with SLI’s 2024 cohort including (from left) Daniela, Guadalupe, Yoselin, Bryan, and Jason:
At their SLI graduation celebrations this spring, SLI scholars took a moment to share about their college plans, what they’ll miss about SLI, advice for other SLI scholars, and more. Meet all 17 in these three videos:
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 higher education they so keenly desire and merit.”
SLI’s mission is to support Latino/a/x high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships. SLI is a community-based, not-for-profit organization built on partnerships with high schools, universities, communities, students, and parents in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester. Dedicated to advancing Latinx students’ post-high school educational opportunities, SLI advocates for Latinx opportunities and strives for social justice and equity. Scholars – currently there are 67 – are mentored to be leaders that positively contribute to their communities.
Through collaborations 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, which since 2012 has included more than $542,000 in college scholarships, technology awards, and dual enrollment and AP course tuition assistance.
Harrisonburg
SLI program directors Hannah Bowman Hrasky, a teacher at Harrisonburg High School, and Carlos Alemán, Ph.D., a professor at James Madison University, develop and coordinate academic, leadership, and mentorship activities for the SLI scholars in Harrisonburg. SLI Early College is one program where students meet twice monthly after school for college planning updates, reflective writing exercises, and college-level discussions. This spring, student teams researched Latina girlhood as represented in mass media targeting audiences ages 10-14 years.
SLI on Saturday is another program, with monthly gatherings held on the JMU campus and built around themes of community and civic engagement, cultural identity and empowerment, and healthy relationships and well-being. The April meeting (pictured below) invited the JMU student organization, SLI Mentors, to present a Women’s History Month-centered program. Activities promoted empowerment and solidarity for Latinx women, a crash course on intersectionality, and writing letters of appreciation to inspiring women in the students’ lives.
Several ad hoc events in April were also developed to meet student needs and interests. SLI partnered with the NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center to host an exclusive workshop featuring immigration attorney Steven Smith and social work intern Catalina Marquez, who provided information and answered questions about family petitions to scholars and their parents. Many scholars also participated in a “shadow day” organized and hosted by SLI Mentors that included attending classes with college mentors, major-specific guided campus tours, visiting student support spaces, meeting with professors, and experiencing a typical college day. Finally, scholars served their community by volunteering at La Fiesta, an annual food and game fair for children and families of Smithland Elementary School.
Richmond
SLI in Richmond is led by SLI founder Peter Iver Kaufman, Ph.D., a professor at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, and Huguenot High School teacher Ester Orellana. University students act as mentors of the SLI high school students, routinely offering mentor-mentee bonding activities.
In March nine high school freshmen were welcomed as Richmond SLI’s newest cohort at an induction gathering of approximately 80 that included all current SLI scholars, family members, and guest speakers Ricardo Jofre and Kathryn Perez, an alumna of SLI in North Carolina. In April, scholars and their families gathered for a graduation celebration (pictured below), which included a speech by SLI alumnus Israel (pictured below with Kaufman). The event will be further featured in an upcoming news release.
Early College programming featured readings about the history of Palestine and the current crisis in Gaza, with essays to come this summer. Richmond SLI alumni have described the required academic writing for Early College as a “crazy” amount of work but “worth it, definitely” – and helpful for both high school and college success.
“‘Wow!’” SLI alumnus Ariel (pictured below, left) said he realized in his first writing class in college. “I could tell, seeing my other peers, that I was pretty much ahead of them because of SLI.”
Winchester
John Handley High School counselors Lara Maquera and Elizabeth Cranford are the SLI program directors in Winchester, where this spring SLI scholars worked on College 101 Workbooks and shared research about colleges they are considering attending.
Guest speakers included Shenandoah University admissions director Calyn Lutz, who shared practical information about the college application process, and Valley Health hiring manager Lisa Spencer, who discussed academic and training paths that can lead to careers in the medical field.
SLI has “allowed me to get a feel for what to expect in college,” SLI scholar Mario (pictured below) said in a feature about SLI in the March issue of Cooperative Living Magazine. “Honestly, I would be lost [without it] because SLI has helped me visit different types of colleges and meetings related to programs offered.”
The program was highlighted during the Winchester SLI Meet & Greet (also pictured) at Lolita’s Mexican Restaurant and Bakery on April 19. Sponsored by Laurel Ridge Community College, Valley Health, and First Bank, the event provided opportunities to meet SLI scholars and alumni, board members, donors, and other community members.
RICHMOND, VA – A University of Richmond article features SLI mentor Anum Merchant, who has mentored Yoselin, the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, ever since they were first-year students in college and high school, respectively.
“This year, I helped Yoselin with her college essays and applications,” Merchant said. “When you grow up in a culture unfamiliar to your family, you have to work twice as hard. I have seen that in Yoselin. I love watching her grow and figure out what she wants to do. She’ll be attending Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall.” READ MORE
RICHMOND, VA – “Being the first in your family to go to college requires determination. Chris Mitchell demonstrated just that when, as a high school senior, he researched and applied to some 30 colleges and countless scholarships…. Now the first-generation, Afro-Latino college student is paying it forward. He shares his knowledge about preparing for, applying to, and experiencing college with Latinx high school students participating in a nonprofit college-access program.” READ MORE
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 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 throughout high school, plus financial support for college success.
The new directors are Lourdes Sandoval, MSW, of Reston and Andrea Meador Smith, Ph.D., of Winchester, and the newly appointed vice chair is Carlos Alemán, Ph.D, of Harrisonburg. They have diverse backgrounds in higher education and social services.
“Supporting SLI’s mission through board service means providing opportunities for our youth to achieve their dreams as future leaders!” said Sandoval, a senior case manager at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, where she has also served as senior accounting coordinator and refugee health education and outreach liaison. She earned her master of social work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor of science in public health with a minor in human services from West Virginia University.
Smith is associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Shenandoah University, where she is also Professor of Hispanic Studies and serves as an NCAA faculty athletics representative.
“I first learned about SLI 10 years ago, when I started recommending my students to serve as mentors,” she said. “I have been fortunate to work with vibrant, committed, and successful students from SLI since then, and am excited to further support SLI’s mission by joining the board. I look forward to getting to know the many promising Handley High School students and their leaders in the months ahead.”
Smith’s current research addresses representations of race and gender in Latin American film, and at the local level, she is a film screener and board member for Skyline Indie Film Fest. She has also been a faculty member for Semester At Sea and a Spanish instructor at the University of Virginia, where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Spanish, a master of teaching in Spanish and English as a Second Language, and a doctorate in Spanish. She studied abroad as an undergraduate and did doctoral research at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
Alemán is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at James Madison University and has served as a SLI board member and program director since 2012. He received his doctorate in communication studies at the University of Iowa and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech communication at California State University in Fresno.
“SLI scholars are changing the world as they grow into leaders, artists, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and scientists – and that inspires all of us to stay true to our mission,” he said. “Walking with these first-generation students as they embrace the challenges and opportunities of college access opens our eyes to the beauty of their will and the strengths of our communities.”
SLI board chair Fawn-Amber Montoya, Ph.D., associate dean of the Honors College at James Madison University, welcomed the experiences and expertise that Sandoval and Smith bring to their new board service, and the opportunity to share board leadership with Alemán.
“As SLI continues its second decade, we look forward to continuing our young legacy of supporting students in our communities who are pursuing life-changing college access,” she said.
Since 2012 SLI has served 180 scholars (67 current and 113 alumni) and awarded more than $542,000 in financial support for students in college scholarship awards, computer awards, and dual enrollment tuition assistance. Its alumni have attended 24 colleges and universities.
“Not only did [SLI] equip me with a wealth of knowledge about higher education, but it also instilled a sense of belonging within me,” said Jennifer, a SLI scholar who graduated from John Handley High School and is now studying public health and data science at William & Mary. “Often, students from underrepresented backgrounds experience feelings of displacement or inadequacy. I would say SLI encouraged me to apply for other Hispanic college programs, volunteer opportunities, and colleges because it made me feel worthy of these opportunities.”