17 UA Little Rock Students Receive LULAC Scholarships

Seventeen University of Arkansas at Little Rock students have been awarded scholarships from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) for the 2023-24 school year. The 17 students are collectively receiving more than $30,000 in scholarships, including some matching funds from UA Little Rock.

The students were honored at an awards ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of students at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, held Oct. 13 at Brave New Restaurant in Little Rock. The event featured UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale as the keynote speaker and Ambassador Carlos I. Giralt Cabrales of the Mexican Consulate as a special guest speaker.

UA Little Rock was recognized as a premier Latino Destination Campus for the university’s continued support of the Latino community, an award the university has received since 2010. This incredible recognition is awarded to higher education institutions who have a long-standing partnership with LULAC to provide support and scholarships to Latino students.

“We are especially excited to welcome Chancellor Drale as our keynote speaker for this year’s celebration since LULAC 750 has worked so closely with UA Little Rock, and specifically Chancellor Drale, to assist in providing funds for Latino students who attend the school,” said Christine Jones, scholarship chair of LULAC 750.

The scholarship recipients include Ursula Anchondo, Brayan Arias, Maria Avalos, Jessica Avalos Juarez, Mariel Diaz, Maria Elkhattabi, Emily Gonzalez Baltazar, Carol Gomez-Rios, Joel Hermosillo, Luis Martinez, Kiara Ramos Moreno, Dajany Ramos-Cano, Emily Richard, Joshua Rivera, Yvonne Rodriguez, Maria Roman, and Ivan Vasquez.

“Every single one of the UA Little Rock LULAC Scholarship recipients has worked hard this year and is seriously committed to finishing their education so they can go out into the world and become contributing members and leaders in their communities,” Jones said.

In addition to the scholarships, Yvonne Rodriguez, a double major in political science and sociology, and Dajany Ramos-Cano, a nursing major, were honored as the 2023-24 LULAC Students of the Year.

“I would like to thank LULAC for being a part of my college journey,” said Jessica Avalos Juarez, a social work major. “Receiving this scholarship has meant that I will be able to continue my studies to become a behavior therapist. Knowing that I have the support of LULAC motivates me to continue to do more.”

Kiara Ramos Moreno, a biology major, said she was incredibly grateful for the support she’s received from LULAC.
“I promise to make the most out of this opportunity,” she said. “Your generosity and belief in my abilities have provided me with an incredible opportunity to pursue my dreams and further my education.”

LULAC is the largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States and seeks to empower the Latino community at the local, state, and national levels through its seven councils chartered in Arkansas. The organization focuses heavily on education, civil rights, health, and employment opportunities.

UA Little Rock was the first higher education institution in Arkansas to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with LULAC to create a partnership to recruit and retain Latino students on campus. Since 2006, UA Little Rock has provided a dollar-for-dollar match for students who receive scholarships from LULAC of Arkansas.