Jan. 7, 2008 – The University of Utah Chicano Scholarship Fund (CSF) is now accepting applications for the 2008 Chicano Scholarship Awards. CSF works to support the success of outstanding Chicano/Latino students with financial awards while attending the University of Utah. The goal of CSF is to recognize students who promote the cultural pride and traditions of the Chicano/Latino community while overcoming their own life challenges. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of family background, involvement in community activities which strengthen the Chicano/Latino community, and life challenges which exemplify the Chicano struggle for opportunity. Last year CSF, with a generous donation from the Ibarra Foundation, awarded ten $1,000 scholarships and renewed two, full ride Ibarra Foundation scholarships for the 2007 – 2008 year.
“Winning the CSF scholarship was important to me because I felt that members of the Latino/a community acknowledged the good works that I have helped accomplish. They were giving me the opportunity to further my education so that I could continue to be a positive contributor in this community,” says Victoria Morales, a sophomore at the U majoring in social justice and creative writing.
Mayra Cedano, a sociology major with a minor in Chicano studies and psychology, received a Chicano Scholarship award in 2005. She says the award helped her, not only with financial aid, but also made her proud to be a Chicana. During high school she was active in the community and had a passion for helping her gente or people. “It inspired me to keep working for the cause of the betterment of our gente,” she says. “At the same time it sparked a great interest that helped me decide to minor in Chicana/o Studies. The scholarship is my inspiration because it reminds me that I still have a responsibility to my people. Now I work as a tutor in one of the school districts to help our students through their education. Receiving the scholarship inspired me to continue working for la causa/the cause and to be an example of que si se puede/yes we can!”
Karla Motta, enrollment management generalist, University of Utah, and a member of the CSF committee, encourages students to apply by the January 31, 2008 deadline. She adds, “I’d like to encourage students to apply regardless of what they believe they’re eligible for. Give the selection committee the opportunity to make that decision for you and apply today!”
The Chicano Scholarship Fund was initiated in 1973 by Chicano representatives from the community, University of Utah students, staff, and faculty to honor the ideals and principles of the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Individuals active in the Chicano Movement overcame obstacles while working for opportunity and social justice in education and public affairs.
Students selected to receive the Chicano Scholarship Award must be enrolled full time at the University of Utah and meet all application requirements. To view the requirements, and to apply, please visit http://www.chicano.utah.edu/. The application deadline is January 31, 2008.