The TELACU Education Foundation and Latina Grad Guide are excited to introduce the third cohort of TEF x LGG Scholarship recipients! Together, we awarded $10,000 in scholarships to four accomplished Latina graduate students attending some of the country’s top universities. To date, we have awarded a cumulative sum of $30,000 in scholarships to Latina graduate students.
About The TEF x LGG Scholarship
Despite their growing share of the U.S. population, Latinas rank at the lowest levels of educational attainment and are less likely to earn a college degree than women from other racial or ethnic groups. Given that higher educational attainment is associated with higher lifetime earnings, better health outcomes, and longer life expectancy, more needs to be done to support the academic success and socioeconomic upward mobility of Latinas in the U.S. Our scholarship aims to address the racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in higher education and increase the representation of Latinas in graduate studies and the workforce.
The scholarship honors the paternal grandparents of Valerie Gómez, the founder of LGG. Her grandparents, Jesus and Maria Gómez, fled war-torn El Salvador in 1981 for a chance at a better life in the United States. They believed that education had the power to transform their children’s lives and encouraged them and their grandchildren to pursue higher education. Today, Jesus and Maria’s children and grandchildren hold nine bachelor’s degrees, three master’s degrees, and a PhD.
Meet the Recipients
Alejandra Avitia
Ale is a 3rd year physician assistant student currently completing her clinical rotations. Ale hopes to provide primary care in under-resourced communities upon graduation. She is passionate about mentoring future health care providers and to help them reach their goals through mentorship.
When asked about the impact of the scholarship, Ale shared, “I am very grateful for Latina Grad Guide and TELACU for the unwavering support during these last three years of PA school. Besides the financial support, the opportunity to meet and network with other Latina graduates has been an invaluable experience.”
Angie Belen Monreal
Angie Belen Monreal is a 4th year sociology student at the University of California, Irvine. She holds a M.S.W. from Columbia University and a B.A. in sociology from UCLA. Angie is also a proud community college student graduating from Fullerton College with an A.A. in sociology. When asked about the impact of the scholarship, Angie shared, “the TEF x LGG Scholarship will help cover research and educational expenses. Most importantly, it has helped me build and maintain community with other Latinas as I navigate higher education.”
Ariana Aparicio Aguilar
Ariana was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and grew up in Northern California where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, Cum Laude, with distinction from Sonoma State University. Ariana also holds a Master of Arts degree in Education with a concentration in Higher Education from Harvard University. Currently, she is a third-year, Ph.D. candidate, in the Higher Education Administration and Policy program at the University of California Riverside. In 2019, she received the Latinx Amplifier award, in 2022 received the 10,000 Degrees Changemakers award for her advocacy work on behalf of the immigrant community and in 2023 received the California College Personnel Association’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Ariana has over 10 years of work experience in higher education and the non-profit sector. Her professional career is influenced by her experiences navigating life and higher education in the U.S. as an undocumented and DACA recipient. In addition to being a doctoral student, Ariana is committed to guiding the next generation of leaders and has mentored many college and graduate students. She is passionate about issues on undocumented students, immigration, social justice advocacy, and access & retention of minoritized students in higher education.
When asked about the impact of the scholarship, Ariana shared, “this scholarship will support me in my last year of my Ph.D. program so I can focus on my research and dissertation writing. I have become a Ph.D. Candidate and am excited about getting my IRB approved this month, so I can begin interviewing folks in September. I will not be able to work while I am conducting my research, so this scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial stress. Thank you so much!”
Valeria Barrientos
Valeria was born and raised in El Salvador and moved to California at 15. She is now a second-year Master’s student in Biomedical Science at the University of California, Riverside. Despite juggling multiple jobs, she earned an Associate’s degree in Biology at a community college and later transferred to obtain a Bachelor’s in Microbiology. Valeria’s career focuses on healthcare, research, and advocacy for the immigrant community, addressing health disparities for undocumented patients, and overcoming language barriers. She volunteers at clinics, using her Spanish-speaking skills and is learning Arabic to connect with more immigrant communities. Her research experience includes investigating lung tissue repair mechanisms using advanced techniques like immunofluorescence, ELISA, and bioinformatics. Valeria has also contributed to clinical research on COVID-19 health disparities in Riverside County, presenting findings at a community symposium in collaboration with the Riverside Mayor’s office. Additionally, she participated in the 10th anniversary of DACA in Washington, DC, advocating for immigration reform. After completing her Master’s degree, Valeria plans to pursue medical school, aiming to become an internal medicine physician focused on providing equitable healthcare access to her community.
When asked about the impact of the scholarship, Valeria shared, “this scholarship will help me afford my study materials to study for the medical school admissions test (MCAT) and the remaining balance will support my tuition expenses to continue focusing on doing research and participating in clinical volunteer opportunities.”
Congratulations Ale, Angie, Ariana, and Valeria for your incredible achievements! We have no doubt that you will continue making a positive impact in our community.
Support our Scholarship Fund
Our scholarship was made possible through the generous support from our network of donors. To support our scholarship fund, donate at: gofundme.com/f/teflgg-scholarship
