2009 Recipients: Please click on one of the following names to read their inspirational story.

• Viridiana Avila
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    My name is Viridiana Avila, and I was born in Mexico City. Around the age of ten I realized how crowded my world was, but that didn’t seem to bother my parents; what really bothered them was the insecurity of the streets. Staying away from drugs and gangs was an obstacle I had to face each day. My parents weren't able to complete high school, causing them to struggle with job opportunities; everything we had came from all their hard work.

    These problems pushed my parents to make the decision of moving to the United States. Like any other immigrant we also suffered while trying to communicate and adjusting to the American culture. However, those obstacles were not big compared with my biggest one, the FAFSA. For reasons beyond my control, I couldn’t meet certain requirements to apply for it, making it harder for me to continue my education. Although I come from a low-income family, I knew without my FAFSA I could not apply for financial aid scholarships, I could apply only for merit scholarships.

    This is why in my Sophomore year in high school, I decided to do community service and participate in extracurricular activities. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it was a risk I had to take if I wanted to continue my education. By receiving this scholarship my dreams of becoming a professional will come true. This scholarship will also help me pay for most of my school.

• Marco Ayala
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    My name is Marco Ayala and I always have had the dream of being the first one in my family to graduate from high school. I want to be a good role model for my younger brother who is a freshman at South Medford High School; he is a 4.0 student. My first year of college at Rogue Community College has been a whole new and extraordinary experience. During my first year of college I had a wonderful and unique experience working with electronics and building a robot. Working with electronics is what I really like. That’s the reason I want to get a two year Electronics Technician Certificate and then I will transfer to the Oregon Institute of Technology to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. Also, I’ve been working with my community for almost three years. I have volunteered with some community service organizations like UNETE and NWSWA . I have been part of many different school and community clubs, volunteering at HAO, Razas Unidas, Club Latino, OLI, 4H, NLA, Kids Unlimited, among others. I have had the opportunity to mentor high school students and I discovered that there is nothing more satisfying than helping students just like teachers, friends and mentors helped me in the past. I am very thankful for the Chamber Latino Network and the community for choosing me as a recipient of the SOLSF Scholarship. I will keep working hard with my community and school to take advantage of the money generously given to me.

• Lucero Castañeda
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    My name is Lucero Castaneda and I am a Crater Graduate. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico and later settling in Oregon with my family, I have been granted the opportunity to become both bilingual and bicultural. When I was ten years old, in April of 2001 my father suffered from a bitubular aneurism. Everything I had ever known had been stripped away from me. My father lost most of his vision and memory. To this day he cannot distinguish his own children from mere strangers. The following year my eldest brother past away from pneumonia. I believe that because of the strong family bond we have created we were better able to adapt and overcome what life had set in our paths.

    Education has always been the highest priority in my life and that of my family’s. I am the youngest of eight siblings and part of the first generation to attend a post-secondary institution. Due to our large family all of whom are attending college and the fact that my mother can no longer work outside the home because of the 24-hour attention and care my father requires, we find ourselves in financial hardships. In reaching my dream of attending the University of Oregon to study child psychology. My ultimate goal in reaching my dreams is to construct a stronger, longer lasting bridge between young Latinos and the never-ending world of opportunities education brings to one's mind.

    I endlessly thank the Chamber Latino Network for your time and consideration

• Rafael Castrejon
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    My name is Rafael Castrejon and I was born in Morelia, Michoacán. Born into a family with financial hardships, I never had any luxuries or materialistic possessions that today’s generations are used to; my action figure was a stick, and my Gameboy was a bag of marbles. When I was five years old, my parents sold all they had and risked everything to bring our family to Central Point, Oregon. Coming to a completely new world, I was forced to adjust to the new lifestyle and culture of the U.S. Despite all the setbacks, I learned quickly and persevered through all my challenges. Battling past soft racism, I excelled throughout all of my 12 years in school and became a first-generation high school graduate. My constant push to better myself finally paid off the day I was accepted into the University of Oregon. My future goals all include giving back to my community. I would like to confirm that my parents' sacrifices were not in vain and I also want to be living proof that anybody, regardless of background, can accomplish their dreams. I would like to inspire the next Hispanic generation not only to believe in themselves but to live above stereotypes and it is with the help of the Chamber Latino Network Scholarship that I can attain these goals and much more. This scholarship will not only affect me in the coming school year but will be a part of the foundation for my future.

• Crystal Mena
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    My name is Crystal Mena and I was born in Ashland, Oregon and I have lived in the valley ever since. I am the oldest of 5 siblings. My parents have always encouraged me to be of service to others. Therefore throughout my life I have volunteered in many places due to the fact that I love and enjoy helping my community. Before I began volunteering, I attended programs that helped me prepare to become a better leader such as The Migrant Leadership Institute that educated me and helped me become a stronger leader in my community to which I returned as a student counselor the year after. I also became a Peer Tutor for the English Learning Development program at my high school where I helped my peers become academically succesful. For my senior project, I volunteered for the Hispanic Outreach Program that is connected with Community Works which I attend every Monday and helped take care of the children. To this day, I still volunteer there. In my free time over the summer I like to volunteer in different types of summer camps; I just recently attended a science camp as a chaperone. My plans are to attend Southern Oregon University and study psychology and criminology where I plan to get the necessary education and training to become a social worker. With the support of the SOLSF scholarship, I will be able to focus only on school and my education at SOU, which is my highest priority.

• Mirella Mendoza
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    My name is Mirella Mendoza. I have now completed two years at Southern Oregon University where I have enjoyed academic success. This past term I was acknowledged on the Dean’s List for my outstanding emphasis on receiving good grades. I am very motivated and ever since I graduated from high school I left with a plan that I have not given up on pursuing. My plans have been to work in the medical field, specifically in medical imaging with a specialty in vascular technology. I applied to the medical imaging program at Oregon Institute of Technology where I was accepted for this upcoming school year.

    I have been involved with Latino Student Union (LSU) both years where we put on many Hispanic cultural events such as Cinco de Mayo taco sale and dance, Las Posadas, and many other events to introduce our culture to the university and community. Outside of school I am very involved with my church in Medford. I help volunteer for many church events and I’m a part of Southern Oregon Young Adults (SOYA), which is a Medford based church youth group. I also take pride in my work, Kids Unlimited, where I help elementary students in an after school program as well as the summer program, where we believe that the pursuit of higher education is the most important pursuit for our youth membership.

    This scholarship has made my first two years of college possible; I appreciate your support and thank you again for facilitating these two wonderful years.

• Rocio Mendoza
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    My name is Rocio Mendoza. Growing up, I came across obstacles that at times, it seemed that attending college was just a dream for me. I was aware that I lacked perfect English skills and that many statistics stated that there is a low percentage of Hispanic students graduating from high school and even fewer attending college. Through the support of “mi familia” which includes both my biological family and the community that surrounds me, I was able to overcome the language barrier and not be included in the above statistic. I spent two years completing prerequisites at Southern Oregon University and I have now completed my second year at Oregon Health & Science University and looking forward to one more year before I graduate with a BSN in 2010. I look forward to becoming a nurse and working in the valley since I have become close to the people through my volunteer and community involvement. Through my efforts of pursuing a career in nursing I hope to be setting an example and becoming a positive role model for my younger sisters and my community. Even though these goals are going to take time and a lot of dedication, they are goals that I feel very motivated and determined to accomplish. I am very grateful and blessed to say that I have been a recipient of this scholarship for four years; I thank the SOLSF for being a great support in my education, and for believing in me as well.

• Martha Regalado
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    My name is Martha Regalado and on is July 8, 1999, my life changed completely when my parents decided to emigrate to the United States from Jalisco Mexico. My parents made this decision with the hope of seeing their children achieve better lives. They have always believed that education is the best way to succeed and have always encouraged us to go to school no matter how hard they had to work. It always upsets me to see them waking up early in the morning and preparing themselves to work for eight to ten hours doing hard, physical labor. The work that my parents do is what motivates me to get a degree in Business Administration.

    I will be attending Rogue Community College and graduating with an Associate of Science degree. This will give me the opportunity to transfer to Southern Oregon University where I will obtain a bachelor's degree. My dream is to serve as a role model and a mentor to students, and I also want to encourage other Hispanic youths to set goals and have dreams for their future lives. It will be a privilege to be awarded The Chamber Latino Scholarship. I want to feel proud of myself while at the same time, make proud all of the people who put trust in me and believe that I was able to accomplish my goals.

• Erika J. Sanchez
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    My name is Erika J. Sanchez. My family does not have the funds to pay for my college education. I am an ambitious and hard working person. If I have a goal, I will work hard and achieve it. My education has always been a top priority to me and I would like to continue it. I am working my hardest to apply to as many scholarships as I can. I have also been working multiple jobs this summer to save up for college. Receiving the Chamber Latino Network Scholarship will help my childhood dream of becoming a nurse come true. This scholarship will help me pay for living expenses, tuition, books, and transportation. My parents will try to contribute to my college expenses; however, it will be difficult due to their many other expenses. I am the second person in my family to attend college and I feel very privileged because of it. Representing the Hispanic community in a positive way is what I always strive for. I know that I will make the Chamber Latino Network Scholarship very proud. Serving others is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I am determined to achieve that goal.

• Raul Tovar
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    My name is Raul Tovar and I am a very green person. Recycling has become an extremely addicting habit. I recycle all plastic I can, I take quick showers, and I turn off every light that is not in use. I do this not because of the money it saves my family, but because it is my responsibility to care for the world I live in. I also understand that the Earth doesn't belong only to us, but also to future generations. I boycott all fast food restaurants not just because their food has a high fatty content, but because of their marketing strategies that target young children and their support of large meat packing companies that abuse of vulnerable illegal immigrants.

    I have a great passion for the sport of soccer. I have played it for twelve years and I will continue to play at the Oregon Institute of Technology. Soccer has given me the chance to travel across Oregon and to meet many great coaches who I now call friends. I have played on 5 different teams and have met a wide range of diverse players that I have enjoyed to travel and play with. At OIT I plan to become a renewable energy engineer. This scholarship will help me get my degree and make my ideas of a cleaner environment a reality. It will take me one step closer to the car that produces no emission, the wind turbine that fits in your backyard, and the solar panels that can power your children's school.

• Liliana Gabriela Villanueva
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    My name is Liliana Gabriela Villanueva. I was born in Crescent City, California. I am 20 years old and I was raised in Medford, Oregon. I went to Howard Elementary and McLaughlin Middle School. I graduated from North Medford High School and finished two years at Rogue Community College. I will be starting my junior year of college in Eugene, Oregon at the University of Oregon.

    I am the eldest of four siblings. I was raised by my mother, my father past away when I was a little girl. I have always enjoyed being involved in the community. I started as one of the organizers of the May 1, 2006 march for immigrant rights. I was very active in high school; I started the first Amnesty International club. When I started college, I became involved with the Oregon Leadership Institute as a mentor, Razas Unidas mentor, Sexual Assault Victim Services Victim Advocate, Lynn Howe Campaign canvassing volunteer, Oregon Student Association Voter Registration, Club Latino President and member, UNETE volunteer, EMO Conference, and Coordinator/Organizer. At the same time as my community service work, I work part time at the Rogue Valley Manor as a food server and trainer. Your Scholarship would allow me to work less and spend more time concentrating on studying and being involved in the community. With the help of your scholarship I can finish my bachelor's degree, my master's, then to law school, so that I can come back to Medford as an immigration lawyer. I can then help undocumented immigrants become legal residents of our country.

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