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Meet Ariel, SLI scholar
Ariel (Huguenot High School ’20) studied political science and history at Eastern Mennonite University, where he received Cords of Distinction.
Interview transcript:
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 working for you, towards your success. So yeah, I was surprised by the huge contrast between how hard is to get into college, all the barriers that exist, all the bureaucracy, and especially when you’re first generation, it’s even harder because you have no idea how to go. Once you’re [in college] it’s more accessible than getting into it, actually.
In Richmond I remember my freshman, sophomore, and even junior year, I was pretty skeptical if going to college was going to be a reality for me, but once I saw Angela, Gabriela, and Katherine actually getting into college and doing well in their first year, I was like, “Okay, so it’s possible.”
I guess some advice for all the people who are students right now in SLI is that sometimes it’s crazy, the amount of work you have to do, especially if you’re working with Peter. You have to do a lot of papers, you have to read a lot, but at the end is worth it, definitely. It not only helps you with your work in high school because you definitely get an advantage, you get ahead of your peers in high school, but you definitely get another advantage once you get to college. Either in your critical skills or your writing skills or written skills, you’ll definitely see the results.
A year after I arrived [in the United States] I started in SLI, in high school. Reflecting to that, it’s been great, it’s been a lot.
SLI was a great experience for me. I felt that it prepared me pretty well for my college experience in every aspect. I was able to improve my English skill set. I mean, when I came here I barely knew English, so that was one thing. I was also inspired by all my mentors and developed my curiosity and critical thinking skills, too, so that was pretty good, too.
When I came here and I took my first writing class in college, I realized, Wow, yeah – I could tell, like seeing my other peers, that I was pretty much ahead of them because of SLI, and because of the work I did before coming here. That was definitely something I was really like happy about it. So yeah, SLI was definitely great for me.
When I got here [to college] I was shy, definitely, and more timid. I became more confident in my skills and in myself as a person. I learned more about the Latino culture here in the U.S. I got to know and become friends of a bunch of new Hispanic people and at this point they’re like my brothers and sisters and family, pretty much, because of the same situations we face and like sharing the great things about our culture, like our food and music.
I feel I’ve become more understanding, humane, and empathetic toward my community and toward all the other BIPOC communities, immigrant communities as a whole, so I think that’s something that my experience in college taught me and I learned through here, to be more humane, more empathetic, and definitely proactive towards these communities, towards the issues that we face in this society.
That was the first thing I did when I got [to college] was be involved with [the Latino Student Alliance]. I eventually became their co-president. That was a fun experience and now, towards my senior year, I became more involved with [Student Government Association], like a bigger picture club.
I’ve been involved with a bunch of clubs and orgs here on campus. It’s been definitely a learning experience for me, getting to know and interact with all these different people and get to know them better and form new friendships.
My main major was political science, and then I took a couple history classes and I realized, Oh wow, political science and history work pretty well together, and I ended up adding the history major, too.
I had a chance to take a couple Spanish courses with a focus on Latin American politics, and about like social movements and dictatorships in Latin America and it was great definitely, a good experience.
Playing soccer here at EMU was fun, to play four years, to connect with new people. I pretty much learned a lot about leadership and put into practice some skills, too, that was great, too. Overall it was a pretty good season for us. We did a bunch of good stuff this year, so that was good.
[Approaching graduation] is kind of bittersweet. It’s exciting definitely because it’s a transition time and actually I am excited to see and put into actual practice all the skills that I’ve learned here, all the theory and academic work, and actually interact with people from my community, so that’s pretty exciting, too, but at the same time kind of sad, definitely, since I think EMU was definitely a great fit for me. I’m going to be leaving a couple friendships here.
Now I’m thinking about what I’m going to do. I’m definitely applying to a couple grad school programs. I’m not sure if I’m going to go right into it after undergrad. I might work for a year or a couple months and get a sense of the work. We’ll see from there.
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Meet Irais, SLI scholar
Irais (George Wythe High School ’21) is pursuing degrees in political science and Spanish with a minor in pre-law at Eastern Mennonite University.
Interview transcript:
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, to make things better.
When I was in Mexico, I always wanted to go to college, that was one of my dreams. But when I came to the US, that dream changed because of my status at that time. I knew that it was going to be really hard to get into college, not only because of that but also because financial. I was just learning English, so it was really hard. It was like a dream. I didn’t see a future for it until I knew about SLI. I went to the meeting. I didn’t know English. I remember Dr. Kaufman there. He was trying to say my name, and I couldn’t say even “Hi” or “How are you,” because I didn’t know English. The same day Dr. Kaufman asked me if I wanted to be part of SLI, and that’s when my dream became into life again because I knew that there was hope there.
SLI was going to help me, and it did eventually. I’m here today thanks to SLI and Dr. Kaufman.
Many times people don’t look for help because they’re afraid. They think that there’s no hope. My younger self used to think that, that there was no hope because when I came to the US college wasn’t a dream anymore, and I met Dr. Kaufman and I knew that there was hope. I saw that. Never stop dreaming.
My major is political science and Spanish, and I have a minor in prelaw. I’m part of the SGA which is the Student Government Association, and I’m also part of LSA, which is Latinx Student Alliance. For SGA I’m part of the senators. I’m working on a project about having menstrual hygiene products for free in school. We look for what’s the best for students, and for LSA I’m just a co-historian.
I’m from Mexico. I feel like my passion for political science started when I was 12 years old and I saw a lot of injustice around my community, and that’s when I started reading about it, watching the news. I would like to become a lawyer first and then when I have the connections that I will need in the future, maybe become a politician.
My mom, when it comes to like my dreams, she supports me but it was also hard for her to think about me going to college because she also knew that there are so many things in the way to get into college. When I just came to the US she had two jobs. There was no time to express my goals or like my dreams to her because she has to work. SLI does have meetings where families can go and talk. She went to a couple of those meetings and that’s when she started helping me. She was like, “Yeah, you should do that. You should study.”
I have three brothers and two sisters and I talk to them. I’m always like, “I will support you if you want to go to college. I will help you to apply to any school that you want, and we will get financial aid, we will apply for scholarships, and there’s hope.”
When I was in high school I used to be like really afraid of talking in public or even talking to someone in the classroom. I was really really really afraid. It’s been 6 years. I feel more confident about myself, about talking in public, about seeking for justice. I used to think like, “Oh I wish I can be that person. I wish I can help others,” but at that moment I felt like I couldn’t help them because I guess I didn’t have the tools to do so. But now I feel like I have the desire to help people, and now I can help people, and I feel like the majority of that is because of SLI, because of college, because of the experiences that I have faced during this six years. So yes, I feel like I have changed.
Right now I’m taking flavors of the Hispanic culture, social economy and politics, American politics, comparative politics, international relations.
What would you say to yourself, or someone like you who is a freshman in high school?
To keep seeking for their dreams and their goals because it’s not impossible. It might be hard to do and to keep dreaming, to never never never stop dreaming about anything that they want to do, especially when it comes to college, especially when it comes to their future. They have the power and the ability to make it reality. There will always be someone there to help them. There’s hope, and there’s people just like SLI.
I feel like [SLI’s program] “Early College” helped me a lot because we had to write different papers for Dr. Kaufman and I had to write a 10 page essay about democracy, and like if it works or not. And that paper when I was writing about it, I was like, “Wow, it’s so many pages, so many pages about democracy.”
But in the long run I came to college and I have to write a 12 page paper and it has helped me because I write papers and I’m like, “Oh yeah, I know how to write in APA style or MLA style” because of SLI – and I actually got an A in my writing English course. I told Dr. Kaufman it was thanks to SLI.
Sofia and Alejandra were my [SLI] mentors, and I love them both because they helped me so much. I feel like that’s something that SLI does a really good job about, writing papers and having mentors for their students to ask for help.
I just want to thank SLI for all for the opportunities that they gave me and they are still supporting me through college. I’m really glad. Thank you so much.
You’re helping us. I can focus on school and not think about how I’m going to pay this semester, and it’s thanks to you, thanks to SLI.
Thank you so much.
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Meet Guadalupe, SLI scholar
Guadalupe (Hopewell High School ’22) is pursuing an engineering degree at Eastern Mennonite University, where she is the driver for the Super-Mileage Car club. Watch and read her 2023 interview below, and see her share during Meet SLI – Richmond in 2021.
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 they have worked a lot for me to have what I have right now. I expect that [my] opportunities will give me the economy to help them as well, give it back, because that’s what they did for me.
SLI was so helpful in general, because I was in Mexico my whole life, so when I came here I was not familiar with the educational system. It’s completely different. I didn’t know about the SATs or the FAFSA. The college application process was totally unfamiliar for me. None of my siblings or parents went to college, so they didn’t know how the process goes, either.
When I joined SLI they helped me through all those steps and also implemented other things, like writings. The writings were really hard, but these assignments prepared me for what we do here [in college]. So I can say that SLI is a really big factor on me getting to college and on me.
How old were you when you came from Mexico?
I was turning 15. I started freshman year, but I think it was because the school system is completely different. I think I took a year extra. I’m grateful for that because SLI accepts freshman students and I was a freshman there.
Going to college was always my goal ever since I remember. In elementary school I always wanted to go to college. My parents always supported that. When I was a little kid I really enjoyed doing math homework and stuff, but sometimes I didn’t have homework so I just put homework to myself and was working on my homework, and my mom was like, “Why would you do that? You have your all-free day, and you prefer to put yourself some homework?” I was like, “I don’t know, I just enjoy it.”
Now I hope for less homework.
I decided to come here [to EMU] because I was like I need a little independence now, because I am an adult already and if I would be really close [to home] they will probably still keep me like a little kid right there. Two hours and a half is not bad because I can drive whenever I want to come back.
I’m taking calculus, stats, experimental methods – a lot of physics and labs, and programming. I was the type of person that kind of wanted to do something but was scared of it, so I was like “No, at this point I have to join various things.”
What are some things you are involved in?
Super-Mileage Car is a club. I joined when I was a freshman and it was like only boys and just me, but they were really nice and they were like trying to explain me through the steps, or if I needed, they would assign me something and help me out with that, so it was really nice.
Since I’m the shortest one I am the driver. Being the driver is kind of like, “Oh, I have their entire project in my hands.”
In the fall we built this car and then in April we went to the competition. We passed inspection the second day I believe, and we got to the road, so that was something really fun. Now I decided to continue, to stick with it, and we’re going to do it again.
I am part of CAC (the campus activities council) and LSA, which is a Latino Student Alliance. I am a co-historian there. We usually just try to spread our culture and make some events that will be enjoyable for the school.
Even though it’s kind of stressful sometimes, I’m just trying to have this balance between my social life and my educational life, because if you concentrate more on one than the other, you probably will have a lot of stress and that’s not good.
Has college been surprising in any way for you?
I did not have an idea exactly of what I expected for college because I’m the first generation of my family, so nobody really told me about anything. We get to do a lot of fun things and even interact sometimes with the teachers and students, like we are all getting along together.
So it’s really nice, really comfortable.
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$43,000 to match donations during SLI’s year-end campaign
During SLI’s 2023 year-end campaign, donations are doubled, matched by $43,000 from the SLI Founder’s Fund, the Open Hearts Foundation, and anonymous donors, while funds last.
Contributions can be made at vasli.org/donate or mailed to SLI, PO Box 1245, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803, and will help make SLI’s mission possible: to support Latinx students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships.
SLI scholars experience unique circumstances as in many cases first-generation college students; as talented but often invisible individuals; as children from families that are disproportionately under-resourced and disenfranchised; and as members of a growing population in Virginia and the U.S. that is underrepresented on college campuses.
Support for navigating these obstacles is vital for reaping the long-term benefits of a college education: Higher education is linked to increased wellbeing and better health; first-generation college students give their own children increased college opportunities; adults with higher education are more likely to engage with friends, family, and neighbors for greater wellbeing and resilience; highly educated adults are more likely to vote, volunteer, and donate; for college grads, work fits better with their talents and interested; and college grads earn $1 million more in their working years than other adults.
SLI programming is collaborative between high school faculty and staff and university faculty, staff, and students who mentor the participating high school students. Events include “college days” that offer networking opportunities for students. SLI alumni are also invited to maintain connection with each other through the new SLI Alumni Association virtual group, and to continue to share their developing stories with the SLI community.
SLI’s mission has been sustained through the generosity of its Community of Support, which includes many individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations.
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EMU soccer recognizes SLI scholar Ariel on senior day
SLI scholar Ariel (#17, Huguenot High School ’20, EMU ’24) was recognized Saturday at EMU men’s soccer senior day game, which they won. But we’ve always known that Ariel’s a winner, and you can hear him share his SLI story during a 2020 Zoom.
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SLI awards $143,000 this summer for college scholarships, tech
Sentara Health and F&M Bank help fund health and business career studies;
JustPax Fund and the Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation support computer awardsScholars Latino Initiative (SLI) has awarded $143,000 in financial aid to 32 graduating scholars and SLI alumni from Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester who are attending college this fall. These new awards and previous SLI financial support for students since 2012 now total more than $535,000.
This summer’s awards include $87,000 for a $6,000 college scholarship and $1,250 computer award for each of the 12 graduating SLI scholars for their first year of college (vasli.org/grads), plus $56,000 in SLI Raíces Brillantes scholarships for 20 SLI alumni.
Along with many additional individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations in SLI’s community of support, scholarship funders include Sentara Health and F&M Bank, and computer award funders include the JustPax Fund and the Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation.
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.
SLI financially supports its scholars through college scholarships, computer awards for purchasing technology needed to start college, and tuition assistance for taking dual enrollment college and AP courses while in high school.
Since 2012 SLI has served 159 scholars, including 46 current and 113 alumni. Before this summer it had already paid more than $392,000 in financial support for SLI scholars, who will now have attended 24 colleges and universities.
“It is SLI’s honor to support students accessing higher education,” said Fawn-Amber Montoya, Ph.D., SLI board chair and associate dean of the Honors College at James Madison University. “We are proud of our SLI scholars, and grateful for the outpouring of support from Sentara, F&M Bank, the JustPax Fund, the Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation, and so many others in our communities who have generously donated to make these scholarships and technology awards available.”
Eighteen of the scholarships awarded this summer are in part funded by Sentara, which provided $30,000 for Sentara SLI Scholar College Awards for students pursuing health related studies and careers (vasli.org/sentara). These recipients include:
- Adriana Irene Gonzalez Salinas (John Handley High School ’22) is studying health information management at Laurel Ridge Community College (vasli.org/adrianags)
- Amy Jui-Arteaga (John Handley ’21) will study biology and Spanish at Shenandoah University (vasli.org/amyja)
- Andrea Santiago Calixto (Harrisonburg High School ’23) will study clinical laboratory science at Eastern Mennonite University
- Axel Vega-Mancinas (John Handley ’23) will study neuroscience/pre-medicine at Harvard University (vasli.org/axel)
- Consuelo Elizabeth “Elly” Mazariegos Agustin (John Handley ’16) is studying nursing at Shenandoah University (vasli.org/elly)
- Everth Daniel Hernandez-Ventura (John Handley ’21) is studying nursing at Shenandoah University (vasli.org/everth)
- Galilea Gallardo-Mena (Huguenot High School ’21) is studying psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University (vasli.org/galilea)
- Gedalia Garcia (John Handley ’22) is studying nursing and psychology at Old Dominion University (vasli.org/gedalia)
- Helen Duarte Guerrero (Harrisonburg ’23) will study biological sciences and biomedical engineering at Virginia Tech
- Helen Rivera Rivas (Harrisonburg ’21) will study health sciences, occupational therapy, and medical Spanish at James Madison University
- Hillary Dayami Estrada Alvarado (Harrisonburg ’23) will study biology/pre-medicine at University of Virginia
- Janefer Lobo Funez (Harrisonburg ’22) is studying biology and medical Spanish at James Madison University (vasli.org/janefer)
- Johana Alvarenga Cruz (Harrisonburg ’22) is studying nursing at Eastern Mennonite University (vasli.org/johana)
- Kristy Rios Ramos (Harrisonburg ’23) will study nursing at University of Virginia
- Leydy Ayala Arteaga (John Handley ’20) is studying speech pathology at Laurel Ridge Community College
- Lindsey Ruvalcaba (Harrisonburg ’23) will study biotech science at Blue Ridge Community College
- Marvin Alexander Rivera Martinez (Harrisonburg ’22) is studying computer engineering at University of Virginia (vasli.org/alex)
- Yeyhlin Velasquez Zavala (John Handley ’23) will study biology/pre-medicine at Hollins University (vasli.org/yeyhlin)
Three scholarships are in part funded by F&M Bank, which has provided $15,000 for F&M Bank SLI Scholar College Awards for students pursuing business and entrepreneur-related studies and careers (vasli.org/fmbank). These recipients include:
- Amy Vargas Aguillon (Handley ’21) is studying accounting and philosophy at University of Pittsburgh (vasli.org/amy)
- Ariana Yoselyn Hernandez Perez (Harrisonburg ’23) will study business and economics at University of Virginia
- Naomi Rosas (Harrisonburg ’23) will study business administration in marketing at James Madison University
Additional SLI college scholarship award recipients include:
- Adriana Ayala (John Handley ’18) is studying environmental sciences at George Mason University
- Ariana Perez (Millbrook High School ’23) will study education at Laurel Ridge Community College (vasli.org/ariana)
- Ariel Morales Bonilla (Huguenot ’20) is studying political science, history, and Spanish at Eastern Mennonite University (vasli.org/ariel)
- Irais Barrera Pinzon (George Wythe High School ’21) is studying political science/pre-law at Eastern Mennonite University (vasli.org/irais)
- Israel (Huguenot ’21) is studying criminal justice, homeland security, and political science at Virginia Commonwealth University (vasli.org/israel)
- Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez (Hopewell High School ’22) is studying engineering at Eastern Mennonite University (vasli.org/guadalupe)
- Jimena Marquez-Marquez (John Handley ’23) will study political science at Dickinson College (vasli.org/jimena)
- Noel Ayala-Gallo (Harrisonburg ’21) is studying foreign affairs, public policy and leadership, and astronomy at University of Virginia (vasli.org/noel)
- Keiry Lazo (Harrisonburg ’23) will study political science at University of Virginia (vasli.org/keiry)
- Raquel Perez Torrico (John Handley ’21) is studying computer science and web design at Washington Adventist University (vasli.org/raquelpt)
- Rosely Alvarado Villegas (John Handley ’22) is studying computer science at George Mason University (vasli.org/roselyav)
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Richmond SLI student leaders creating a path to success for Latinx students
Reposted from urnow.richmond.edu. Pictured: Sofia Ringvald (left) and Sofie Martinez.
Senior leadership studies student Sofia Ringvald has always been passionate about volunteering, especially with other Latinx students.
“Coming here from Florida as a Latinx female, I knew I wanted to get involved in a Latinx organization,” Ringvald said. She now serves as co-president of the Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI). She and co-president Sofie Martinez, also a leadership studies major, work with high school students in the Richmond area to help them apply to and prepare for college.
“This work is important because our program creates meaningful relationships with our mentees,” Ringvald said. “For some of these high school students, SLI is their way to have a future and have a mentor who cares enough to make sure they get to where they want to be.”
The University of Richmond chapter of SLI pairs Spider undergrads with high school students. They meet at events throughout the year. This month, they answered questions about preparing for college and the application process.
“I had always wanted to contribute to the greater Richmond area, but never really knew where my time would be utilized the best,” Martinez said. “I see my time at SLI as the most impactful work I have done to serve a community, not because of the impact I have made on the program, but on the ways the members of the program have impacted me. I have met some of the most determined, hard-working, compassionate, funny, and inspirational people in this program.”
Martinez, the first in her family to attend college, said the world of higher education can sometimes seem daunting.
“You don’t know the right things to wear, to say, to believe, or to be taken seriously,” she said. “SLI’s main goal is to create a community for our mentees and their families who want to enter into this environment for the first time, and help them through that process.”
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Partnership awards $1,000 “For Your Success” scholarship for second year
PHOTO: Micael (bottom left) is the recipient of the 2022 “For Your Success” college scholarship award sponsored by Canastas Chicken Restaurants, Sacred Heart Center (SHC), Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI), and an anonymous donor. Pictured with Micael are SHC Executive Director Tanya Gonzalez (top left), SHC Director of Programs Carolina Lugo, SHC College and Career Bound Facilitator Selena Pacheco, and SLI Advisory Council Member Lyons Sanchezconcha.
Micael, a graduating senior of the Sacred Heart Center (SHC) College & Career-Bound Program, has been awarded the $1,000 “For Your Success” scholarship sponsored by Canastas Chicken Restaurants, SHC, Scholars Latino Initiative (SLI), and an anonymous donor.
“I couldn’t write or speak a single sentence when I got to the U.S in my freshman year, but I was determined to do my best at school as it was always something that mattered a lot to me,” Micael wrote in the scholarship application. “I started on level one of ESL at my school, took the exam, and was advanced to level three in my first year. I strongly believe my effort helped me improve my English proficiency.”
Now studying in the honors program at the Richard Bland College of William and Mary, Micael has volunteered as an interpreter in hospitals, pharmacies, schools, and elsewhere, and in high school was a member of Rho Kappa, National Beta Club, and Spanish Honor Society.
The SHC College & Career-Bound Program “was amazing,” Micael said during the scholarship award presentation ceremony. “It introduced me to the college world, and made me understand … that I can go to college.”
The second-annual scholarship for College & Career-Bound Program graduates was sponsored by:
- Canastas Chicken Restaurants has locations in Glen Allen, Richmond, and Henrico, and boasts “the best Pollo a la Brasa you will ever try.”
- Sacred Heart Center supports Latinos in Richmond through programs such as adult education, family literacy, citizenship classes, and more.
- Scholars Latino Initiative supports Latinx high school students with college access through rigorous academic challenge, leadership development, scholarships, and supportive mentorships in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Winchester.
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Saturday SLI in Richmond: “Why College?”
SLI in Richmond began the 2022-23 academic year with a Saturday SLI event for scholars and their families that included a “Why College” presentation by University of Richmond’s Edward Peebles, a mentor-mentee goal-setting activity, and lunch. The event was led by UR SLI co-presidents Sofie Martinez (in final photo, left) and Sofia Ringvald (right), pictured with SLI managing director Stephania Cervantes.
(Photos by curlyheadphotographer)
