by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Dreams took some steps toward reality at the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 12th Annual Scholarship Event on Sept. 18 at Main Library.
The chamber’s “Achieving a Dream” scholarship program helped five students get closer to a college degree. The scholarships are open to all Hispanic college students who have proven academic excellence.
“The scholarships can make a difference in whether or not someone can go to college,” said Giselle Carson, president of the chamber and an attorney at MarksGray. “Going to college is not necessarily something parents are going to encourage if they can’t afford to send their children. Kenny (Anaya-Solano) will be the first in her family to get a bachelor’s degree.”
Anaya-Solano attends the University of North Florida and is majoring in nursing. She received a full scholarship to UNF through a partnership between the Hispanic Chamber and UNF. She has earned the Superintendents Diploma of Distinction and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Two $2,000 scholarships were awarded to Sarah Conde and Adriana Hernandez. Conde also attends UNF. She graduated from Bartram Trail High with a 4.5 grade point average and she was co-president of the Spanish Club, 2007 American Youth Character Award Winner as a junior, and a member of the Hispanic and Social Studies Honor Societies. Hernandez attends UNF and has a double major in Spanish and psychology. She earned UNF Music and Spanish Scholarships.
Two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Sharon Reyes and Oscar Rodriguez. Reyes graduated from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and is majoring in English at Flagler College. During high school she was active in The Writer’s Festival, Poetry Festival, Elan literary magazine and the Arts Creative Writing Program. Rodriguez is majoring in fine arts at UNF. He has earned an associate’s degree in graphic design and an associate’s in fine arts from Florida Community College of Jacksonville. He has also been recognized on the President’s and Dean’s list.
The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce started out as the Hispanic-American Business Association in 1992 and changed to its current title in 2003. The organization is an advocate for Hispanic businesses and promotes the region’s Hispanic culture and heritage. It offers the “Achieving the Dream” scholarship program annually and starts accepting applications in June.
“This is a good opportunity for those students who might not be able to afford a college education,” said William Mora, first vice president of the chamber. “(UNF President) John Delaney was instrumental in working with us so we could offer a full scholarship to UNF for one of our applicants.”
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