Annual Hispanic scholarship ceremony awards $75,000 to 21 Mid-Columbia students
Xitlaly Mendoza knows about the mental health struggles her peers have had to face.
The Connell High School senior created a student survey to show the community just how deeply impacting depression and other mental health issues have been to students.
She presented her findings to the North Franklin School Board and the Mesa City Council, where she serves as student representative.
Superintendent Jim Jacobs said the district ultimately hired more counselors and more students were connected with resources due to her research.
“Xitlaly is a wonderful, young, future leader who has more leadership experience and opportunities at her age than I ever did at her age,” Jacobs said. “This young lady is a civic-minded, future leader and she’s headed to the University of Washington and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
It was a significant contribution to her school of 640, and it’s part of the reason why she was awarded the Hispanic Academic Achievers Program’s (HAAP) $10,000 top scholarship, sponsored by Fiesta Foods.
On Friday, Medoza and 20 other high school seniors were awarded a total $75,000 as part of HAAP’s 33rd annual scholarship night.
“This year’s graduating class has had the toughest path to academic excellence based on two and a half years of the COVID pandemic,” read a statement from the organization.
“HAAP is especially proud of this year’s seniors, who had to battle not only the pandemic but learning online and holding down jobs to help their family members who lost their jobs.”
This year’s keynote speaker was former Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez. The ceremony was held partly online and in-person.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be enrolled in a public or private school in either Burbank, Connell, Finley, Kennewick, Pasco or Richland, and have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher by the end of the first semester their senior year.
HAAP also recognized honor students, in grades 4th through 12th, with certificates.
Senior scholarship winners
Xitlaly Mendoza is the recipient of the 2022 Fiesta Foods top scholarship, worth $10,000. She plans on attending University of Washington to study sociology and communications, with the hopes of working as a media manager.
Alondra Maqueda, of Connell High School, was awarded $7,500. She’ll also graduate with her associate’s degree from Columbia Basin College this spring. She plans on pursuing a criminal justice degree at a college or university soon to be determined, and hopes to become a criminal defense lawyer.
Valentina Iturbe Fuentes, of Richland High School, was awarded $7,500 from the Sue Frost scholarship. She will attend Washington State University to study neuroscience, and plans to become a doctor.
Angel Ruiz, of Pasco High School, was awarded $5,000 from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He will attend Washington University in St. Louis with plans to study mathematics and statistics.
Erika Melo-Flores, of Connell High School, was awarded $5,000. She’ll graduate with her associate’s degree from Columbia Basin College this spring. Melo-Flores will choose between either Gonzaga University or Washington State University to pursue a nursing degree.
James Michael Arana, of Kamiakin High School, was awarded $4,000 from Numerica. He plans on attending Walla Walla Community College to major in culinary arts. He hopes to own a restaurant and bakery.
Nereida Cruz, of Tri-Cities Prep, was awarded $4,000. She plans on attending University of Washington to study neuroscience with hopes of becoming a cardiovascular surgeon.
Nora Ramirez Perez, of Pasco High School, was awarded $2,500. She’ll attend Eastern Washington University to major in mathematics, and plans to work as a math teacher.
Adelina Perez-Pollard, of Kennewick High School, was awarded $2,500. She’ll also graduate from WSU Tri Cities, where she’ll continue her education next fall in pursuit of a speech and language pathology degree. She hopes to establish her own department study at a college one day.
Anthony Esquivias, of Delta High School, was awarded $2,000 from the League of United Latin American Citizens. He plans on attending Washington State University to study bioengineering, with hopes of working as a prosthetist.
Jesus Martinez, of Kennewick High School, was awarded $2,000. Martinez is also graduating from Columbia Basin College. He has applied to WSU Tri-Cities, where he’ll major in psychology and hopes to eventually work as a psychologist.
Brizeida Dayanara Meza-Ortiz, of Southridge High School, was awarded $1,500. She plans on attending either University of Washington or Washington State University to study either genetics and cell biology or public health. She plans on pursuing medical school or a physician assistant’s program after that.
Zugehilee Angel-Centeno, of Southridge High School, was awarded $1,500. She’s also graduating with her associate’s degree from Columbia Basin College, where she’s involved in a chemistry research program. She hopes to one day work as a general surgeon.
Briceyda Meza Zurita, of Connell High School, was awarded $2,500 from Columbia Basin College. She will attend the college in pursuit of an English degree with hopes of working as a preschool teacher. Afterwards, she plans on transferring to Washington State University for women’s studies.
Kimberly Mora, of Connell High School, was awarded $2,500 from Columbia Basin College. She’ll also graduate this spring with her associate’s degree. She plans on continuing her education at CBC and plans on working as a nurse.
Perla Cipres, of Pasco High School, was awarded $2,500 from Columbia Basin College. She plans on attending Eastern Washington University to study biology and eventually become a teacher. Cipres also plans on working on a nursing degree.
Celeste Rodriguez, of Kennewick High School, was awarded $2,500 from Columbia Basin College. She plans on attending the college to study early childhood education to eventually work as an elementary school teacher.
Angel Machado, of Kennewick High School, was awarded $2,500 from Columbia Basin College. He’ll attend the college, with plans to study education and become an elementary school teacher.
Jamilette Briceida Leon Zurita, of Pasco High School, was awarded $2,500. She’ll also graduate this spring with an associate’s degree from Columbia Basin College, and plans on attending WSU Tri-Cities in the fall to major in family nurse preconditioning.
Brian Andres Licon-Vazquez, of Chiawana High School, was awarded $2,500 from WSU Tri-Cities. He’ll graduate this spring with his associate’s degree from Columbia Basin College, and plans on attending WSU Tri-Cities in pursuit of a business administration degree. He hopes to eventually own his own construction company.
