Hispanic Gala Announced Final 2015 Scholars

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and the Hispanic Gala Steering Committee have announced 60 students to receive a one-time $2,000 scholarship at the annual Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala (MCEHG) scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Fillmore in Silver Spring.

“This year the scholarship opportunity opened to all qualifying students from our diverse communities throughout the State of Maryland and there was an overwhelming quantity of applicants,” Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett said in a news release.

The MCEHG is in its third year, and the program has received 1,097 applications, which included 169 “highly qualified candidates.”

Selected awardees attend fifteen colleges and universities throughout Maryland including Frederick Community College, Frostburg State University, Goucher College, Harford Community College, Howard Community College, Lancaster Bible College Greenbelt Campus, Montgomery College, Mount Saint Mary’s University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Stevenson University, Towson University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

To be considered for this scholarship, students needed to have a grade point average of 2.5 or greater; graduated from a Maryland High School or obtained a Maryland GED in the last four years; be a U.S. Citizen, Resident or Dreamer, as defined by the Maryland Dream Act; have proof of financial need to continue higher education, and be registered to attend  a Maryland College or University in the spring of next school year.

According to a news release, the MCEHG kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County. The Gala brings together volunteer stakeholders and organizations that are committed to helping students in financial need to pursue higher education.

To find out more information about the Hispanic Gala, click here.

Find the 60 scholars below:

1. Juliana Ahumada Serje – Stevenson University
2. Edio Alarcón – Montgomery College
3. Leilani Alvarenga – Howard Community College
4. Monica Amponsah – Towson University
5. Grace Baisden – University of Maryland College Park
6. Jeremiah Bennett –  Montgomery College
7. Xia-Ling Bovell – Montgomery College
8. Diego Camargo – Frederick Community College
9. Dainaly Caraballo – Harford Community College
10. Gabriel Cárdenas – Lancaster Bible College, Greenbelt Campus
11. Diana Cayetano-Salinas – Notre Dame of Maryland University
12. Rosy Chacon – University of Maryland College Park
13. Magdalena Chandlee – Mount Saint Mary’s University
14. Lalitha Cheruvu – University of Maryland College Park
15. Ana María Chitiva – Montgomery College
16. Marco Cifuentes-Urtubey – Montgomery College
17. David Cuevas – Montgomery College
18. Cindy Díaz – Montgomery College
19. Brenda Díaz del Valle – Notre Dame of Maryland University
20. Gerardo Espinosa – University of Maryland College Park
21. Gabriella Figueroa – University of Maryland College Park
22. Jarlene Flores – University of Maryland College Park
23. Monica Funes – Montgomery College
24. Angelica González – Towson University
25. Antony González – Montgomery College
26. Chantal Gutiérrez – Towson University
27. Aixa Hernández – Montgomery College
28. Iliana Hernández – University of Maryland College Park
29. Richard Janampa – University of Maryland Baltimore County
30. Yulissa Jaramillo Anaya – Howard Community College
31. Francisco Jovel – University of Maryland College Park
32. Melissa La Noire – Montgomery College
33. Jamon Ligon – University of Maryland Eastern Shore
34. Isabella Louis – Goucher College
35. Juan Maraboli – Montgomery College
36. Melissa Márquez – University of Maryland College Park
37. Miguel Mora – Montgomery College
38. Paola Oliveras-Rosario – Montgomery College
39. Alexis Ojeda-Brown – University of Maryland College Park
40. Raquel Ordoñez – Montgomery College
41. Laura Ortíz – Montgomery College
42. María Monica Ortíz – Montgomery College
43. Katherine Pérez – University of Maryland College Park
44. Tatiana Pérez-Mojica – Montgomery College
45. Christopher Piñeda – University of Baltimore
46. Sandra Puetate – Montgomery College
47. Flor de María Quiñones – Montgomery College
48. Elliot Quinteros Valdés – Frostburg State University
49. Diana Ramirez – Notre Dame of Maryland University
50. Nicole Rojas – University of Maryland College Park
51. Katherine Romero – University of Maryland College Park
52. Luis Rosales – Montgomery College
53. Britney Sagastizado – University of Maryland College Park
54. Victor Sarmiento – Montgomery College
55. Manuel Sibrian – University of Maryland College Park
56. Bethany Smith – Montgomery College
57. Vanessa Taffo – University of Maryland College Park
58. Kenneth Valle – University of Maryland College Park
59. Daniela Velásquez – Towson University
60. Natasha Velásquez – Towson University

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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