Annual Hudson Valley Latino Scholarship Awards

Thursday night 11 area high school senior girls were honored with Latin Scholarships of the Hudson Valley for their impressive academic and community feats and contributions. Since 1991 when the Scholarships were created, Eddie Ramirez and his wife Norma, along with several very supportive area businesses, have been assisting area Latino-Latina youth with their college endeavors as well as becoming future leaders.
Thursday night 11 area high school senior girls were honored with Latin Scholarships of the Hudson Valley for their impressive academic and community feats and contributions. Since 1991 when the Scholarships were created, Eddie Ramirez and his wife Norma, along with several very supportive area businesses, have been assisting area Latino-Latina youth with their college endeavors as well as becoming future leaders.

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – Tiana Vazquez describes it as “something that’s pretty special, even rare, because it’s a scholarship for Latinos by Latinos.”

In the case of this year’s honorees, it was for all (the first time ever) Latinas, 11 total, each carrying some hefty academic as well as community accolades. Vazquez, who will be graduating from The Storm King School next month, serves as her Senior Class President, is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as a captain for both her soccer and lacrosse teams. The latter sport is one in which she is also a member of the Puerto Rican National U19 Women’s Team, hoping to spread her passion to the game to her native land. When discovering her selection as a Latino Scholarship Award finalist through email while sitting in a coffee shop, she was struck with emotion.

“I screamed to my mom with joy,” recalled Vazquez, who will be attending the University of Hartford with a major in Biochemistry in the fall. “It just feels so good to be representing my culture in this way; it’s very empowering.”

Area high school Latina seniors were recognized with Hudson Valley Latin Scholarships Thursday night at Newburgh’s Ramada Inn. For the 21st year, area Latino-Latina youth have been honored and assisted with their post secondary academic endeavors thanks to the arduous efforts of Eddie Ramirez and his wife Norma as well as a host of very supportive local sponsors. Pictured here are some of the recipients, along with their mothers, who the girls each presented flowers of appreciation to for al of their ongoing support and love.
Area high school Latina seniors were recognized with Hudson Valley Latin Scholarships Thursday night at Newburgh’s Ramada Inn. For the 21st year, area Latino-Latina youth have been honored and assisted with their post secondary academic endeavors thanks to the arduous efforts of Eddie Ramirez and his wife Norma as well as a host of very supportive local sponsors. Pictured here are some of the recipients, along with their mothers, who the girls each presented flowers of appreciation to for al of their ongoing support and love.

It’s that level of confidence that Eddie Ramirez and his wife Norma aspired to spark within Latin youth when they created the Scholarship Awards back in 1991. Now, over two decades later, it is flourishing with a host of dedicated, supportive sponsors including; Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, C.O.L.O.R.S Foundation, Karen Kaplan Tax & Accounting Services, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Pat Cannizzaro Real Estate Center, Los Hornitos Bakery, and Ulster Savings Bank, enabling the Ramirez couple to continue to realize their mission.

“This is a different kind of scholarship,” said Eddie Ramirez at Thursday’s celebration, held at Newburgh’s Ramada Inn. “It is our way of saying we as Latinos care about your education, and we look to you as future leaders.”

The evening’s guest speaker, Melinda M. Martinez, whose work focuses upon empowering community and youth, epitomizes just how far one can go with that critical leadership attribute, as well as many other admirable qualities entwined in what the Latin Scholarships symbolize. From a poverty-stricken neighborhood, Martinez’ parents always stressed kindness, appreciation and hard work, inspiring Melinda to reach for as much as possible.

Excelling on multiple levels as an adult, she delivered critical lessons learned along the way to the scholarship winners, as well as all those in attendance.

“Although we are growing personally, we always need to help each other out, make an impact, and give back in this life, and be able to ask for help when we need it,” said Martinez. “I have also learned about the power of education, and that no one can take that away from you as well as to always be proud of where I have come from, my ancestors; we as Latinas can really work together to raise each other up.”

She added, “Go after your vision; do what it takes to make it happen, and be the future generation that inspires and helps others find their voice.”

Anita Sanchez Garcia, another of the recipients, appears to have already heeded much of Martinez’ wisdom. A Newburgh Free Academy Main Campus Senior taking several Advanced Placement Courses, she created the Buddy Pass Project, participated as a representative at the Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute as well as the Empire Girl State. Known as a leader in her school and community, she will be attending The College of Saint Rose, majoring in criminal Justice with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

“Not all who wonder are lost,” she follows as her life mantra. “It’s my very explorative ways to try a lot of different things that have led to my success.”

Rounding out the other highly successful winners this year were; Andrea Cortes (Middletown High School), Alejandra Esquivias (Middletown High School), Catherine Illescas Duque (Roy C. Ketcham High School), Rachel Landru (Warwick Valley High School), Allison Ortiz (Roy C. Ketcham High School), Tatiana Palacios (Pine Bush High School), Alexa Rivera (Wallkill Senior High School), Isabella Rose Sapio (Pine Bush High School), and Sophia Soler (Wallkill Senior High School.)

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