2014 Recipients: Please click on one of the following names to read their inspirational story.

• Luis Ayala
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    I am the youngest of five children. I was born in Morelia, Michoacán where I spent eleven years of my life before my mother decided that it was time for us to immigrate to the United States in search of the “American Dream.” In Mexico, my mom lacked the support of a husband. Although she had a difficult time providing for my family, through hard work and dedication, she was able to offer us the things we needed until she became ill. That’s when she decided to immigrate to the States; it was a necessity. In her struggle, she sacrificed everything to give us opportunities for success, but she left it up to us to take advantage of them. When I turned fourteen, my mother could no longer afford the health care she needed, so she moved back to Mexico leaving me here with my aunt and uncle. That is the moment I knew my future rested upon my shoulders alone. I had no one to lead me, so I led myself. I was a young Latino with a typical past but a bright future. I believed the American dream was available to me if I worked hard and smart, following my mother’s example of perseverance no matter how hard the struggle.

    At the moment I am a biology major and plan to pursue a degree in the medical field as an optometrist. I have been interested in this career because I once needed glasses but could not afford them. Thanks to an amazing teacher I had in middle school I was able to obtain glasses, and later on contacts. She was able to find me financial assistance and changed my life. It is so nice to be able to see things clearly and hope to make a difference in someone’s life like my middle school teacher did in mine. Once I become an optometrist I want to hold free eye clinics for kids and teenagers who cannot afford to get glasses like I once experienced and I will also be able to serve my Latino community.

    I was fortunate to be accepted into the Honors College at SOU because it has provided me with many opportunities to get involved in my community and has allowed me to meet a large number of community members. In order to stay in the Honors College at 3.5 GPA is required as well as attending at least 4 events that happen around campus per term. Because the bar has been set high, I am pushed to succeed in classes and be largely involved while being at SOU in order to fulfill my contract with the Honors College. Excellence here is really my only option.

    Thanks to the SOLSF I was able to live on campus this year as it provided me with an enormous financial help. Because living in the residence halls is so expensive, I plan on living off-campus next year. I hope to receive enough financial help that will allow me to work less and focus more on school, community service, and sports.

• Cristol De La Cruz
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    I am half Mexican because of the father I never knew; I am half Caucasian because of my single mother who raised my four siblings and me. I am American because I am a citizen of the United States. I am Mexican because I am a person of Mexican descent. I am Latina because I am a female living in the United States and my ancestors are from Latin America. These are a few of the terms used to describe a person with my background, but that is all they are: terms, they do not describe my identity. I am not Mexican-American because I have to check the “Hispanic” box on applications. I am Mexican-American because of the blood that runs through my veins, because of both of the heritages I embrace, because of the traditions I insist on keeping alive. I know the pledge of allegiance in both English as well as Spanish.

    My mother taught me that nothing is impossible, and that college was not a question, it was an answer. I grew up knowing I would be going to college, regardless of our financial situation; she has helped me tremendously when she is able to. I have been saving as much as I can but I cannot afford the complete college tuition. I am a year away from graduation; it is so close and yet so far. I do not want to put my education on hold solely because of finances. I am not asking for a handout, just a hand up.

    My mother showed me that nothing comes easy, she taught me to work hard and be dedicated to my work. Because of the morals I was brought up with, I have always excelled in school and have held myself to a high standard. I graduated high school with a 3.7 cumulative GPA and currently maintain a 3.62 GPA in college. I have been on the honor roll and dean’s list throughout my educational endeavors and I’m very proud of it. I am natural in my leadership abilities because I believe in the fair treatment of all. My community service activities have had a profound impact on why I wanted to major in criminology and become a juvenile probation officer. Latino youth are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system and data indicates they are treated harsher than youth of other races, despite similar offenses. I want to become the voice that these children need, help them get out of trouble and give them the tools they need to achieve all they’ve ever dreamt. I want to be the inspiration for them to want better for themselves. It is a ripple-effect, I will touch the heart of one, and one day they will touch the heart of another, and then another. As a Latina, the goals I set and achieve for myself are not only for me, I am proving the Latino name for my people as well.

• Alondra Flores
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    My parents came from Mexico to the United States with very little. My parents had two jobs: my father in the orchard, while my mother at a daycare in Ashland and afterwards we would all go clean Umpqua Banks. My parents could not afford a babysitter for me and my brother, so they would take us with them and assign each a task. I was in charge of sweeping and mopping. We began at 6:00 pm and would be finished by 10:00 pm. This routine continued until I entered fourth grade. My parents slaved away to provide for me and my brother an opportunity to be someone; to go to college, a dream they were never able to reach.

    Recognizing my parent’s financial problems caused me to constantly challenge myself academically. I realized that it would be up to me to pay for college, so I entered rigorous classes that have had me glued to my desk every day.

    Life Art, a program designed for teens that need a place to positively step back from the pressures life brings by creating visual art to cope with their emotions. Life Art focuses on preventing teen suicide and I knew I wanted to be part of it. I began to volunteer in November, it was great experience to get involved in a program that promoted art because it is my passion and I know firsthand the impact art can have. The emotions and feelings you can get when paining are indescribable; it is outlet for the many emotions we bottle up.

    I plan to become a high school counselor. I believe that I can connect with kids, understand their hardships and the goals they are trying to obtain. Guiding students ensures that they can become all that they can be, and reach their aspirations. My career plan is to attend a Southern Oregon University and study psychology. My past experiences have triggered in me the desire to help others achieve their goals while achieving mine. If I had the chance to change my past and make my family wealthy, I wouldn’t, because beginning from such a humble state has taught me to value education.

• Celines Garcia
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    I am the youngest out of three children raised by a hard-working single mother who has worked two to three jobs at a time. Fleeing poverty, my mother migrated to the U.S. 30 years ago, and has had to work in some of the lowest paying jobs accessible in America. We are currently facing an economic downfall as my mother is a seasonal worker who can barely manage to pay monthly bills and still help support our family in Mexico. Currently, my grandparents, who are living in our household, have put a strain on the extra money my mother has worked hard to raise in order to pay off their medical expenses.

    My mother cannot contribute to any of my future educational goals, because financially it is impossible. The amount of money my mother makes annually would barely cover half a year of my college tuition and housing. My academic drive has been fueled by the most important person in my life, my mother.

    My long-term goal has been to earn a degree as a labor and delivery nurse, and I’ve been preparing myself for this science-intensive field through taking 4 years of science here at Phoenix High School, and also I’ve taken two medical courses at Rogue Community College. I’ve also been present at several births which have reassured me that this is something I want to pursue in the future.

    The short-term goals I’ve set for myself and achieved have been stepping stones of reassurance that have helped prepare me for the rigorous academic work that college entails. Due to my experience as a Chicana and seeing the discrimination non-English speakers experience, I would love to apply my bilingual skills in the medical field so that this is diminished. I want to be able to work particularly with my community in order to facilitate the experience for those who do not know the language and do not know the medical system.

    All throughout high school I have always been involved with my school and community, the one club that has impacted my life the greatest was the one I started, Latino Student Union. During my freshmen year in Phoenix High School I realized one thing; my high school was segregated. Latinos usually socialized with Latinos while other races followed the same trait. After I realized that other schools had multicultural clubs that embraced diversity I took it upon myself to start a cultural club at Phoenix High School. Latino Student Union’s (LSU) mission statement is to create a welcoming community where we not only interact with each other but also organize certain events that show our school’s community the Latino culture.

    I hope that through creating a space for Latinos to get together and build a healthy and educational community, LSU will be able to make a positive impact for future generations to come. I hope that this student union will provide a space for Latinos to talk about their struggles, and in the future inspire students to be more open to people of different cultures.

• Jeef Hernandez
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    My parents have taught me the importance of education through hard work, never missing a chance when there is the opportunity, and never being afraid of the unknown. This is my Latino heritage. My dad is very smart and had the potential to be successful in life. Unfortunately his family was very poor and couldn’t afford his education. My dad told me that my grandpa had six cows and wanted to sell one so my dad could get a bicycle to go to school, because the school was far away from where he lived in Mexico. My dad refused my grandfather’s offer because he knew that if he sold even one cow they would not be able to afford future expenses.

    My mother is also a very smart woman, but had to quit school in Mexico because her dad didn’t approve of women going to school. Neither of my parents finished middle school. They have always told me that education must be taken seriously and not be taken for granted, because if you don’t have the opportunity to go to school, all your dreams and goals vanish.

    That is why I have committed myself to be one hundred percent efficient in school. I had four free periods and I used them to take pre-Calculus AP, Geometry, Personal Condition Training and Physics. I’m also taking an ELD class to learn English as a second language.

    My biggest financial challenge right now is that I have to come up with $ 21,800 dollars, which is the average cost for a year of education at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT). My father has been laid off as a maintenance person at a golf course. My mother works in a food processing factory. They are willing to help me financially, but I know it will not be enough because of their low income. The cost for one year of education at OIT is the equivalent of the average salary that my dad or mom make working full-time in an entire year.

    The reality of all this is that I will be pretty much on my own in paying for college. I plan to get a job to save some money to pay for college expenses. I do not know for sure if I will be able to pay for my college education on my own by having a part time job and with the help of some scholarships, but what I do know is that I will do everything I can. I have been working hard since I moved to Oregon almost three years ago without speaking a word of English. I have earned awards for my outstanding academic progress. I have volunteered as an English Second Language (ESL) tutor for Latino students at South Medford High School. I want to show them that I can get my bachelor’s degree. If I do it, they will say “If Jeeff can do it, why not me?”

    My goal is to be a civil engineer. I have been accepted to OIT, which has a strong program in civil engineering. Once I become a civil engineer, I will design green environment projects such as houses that will help the environment where we live and also will be affordable for Latino communities of low income.

• Viki Hernandez
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    My mother has always told me that Mexicans are determined, Mexican families help one another, and Mexicans have faith in God; that is great and will help you to achieve what you want sooner or later. When I went to Mexico, experienced firsthand how Mexican families are united. For example, my uncle Prajedes helped my mother with government issues involving immigration so that her children could get dual citizenship. He would miss work just to take my mother to the places she needed to go and get the paperwork done, and he didn’t complain. When I hear the stories that my parents tell me about how they crossed the border and what they went through to get to this country, I understand how determined Mexicans are and how their faith in God helps them get through hard times.

    These stories and experiences make me want to challenge myself and climb to the top so that I can prove to people that Hispanics are not inferior, useless, or have only come to ruin this nation. I will show them that Hispanics are equal and can do the same things as Americans can. I will prove doubters wrong and will inspire future generations of Hispanic people to have pride in their heritage. Also, I will be an example that Hispanics can accomplish great things and are not here to ruin, but to contribute to this nation, and despite our differences we will be able to understand each other and better this nation. I will help this nation by becoming a doctor. I have already been accepted to Pacific University which is a private school and hard to get into. I have also been accepted to Oregon State University and Southern Oregon University, but decided to attend Oregon State University because Oregon State University has the College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP) program that will help me in my studies, into which I have already been accepted.

    My parents work hard to support our family and cannot help pay for my education. My parents also have to worry about my younger brother who has autism and needs special services and therapy. The only source of a stable income is my father’s and he has seven dependents. My mother sometimes works, but her job is only seasonal. Sometimes my father cannot work due to the weather because he works in the reforestation business. This makes it difficult for my family to pay the mortgage, the bills, and the necessities for a household of eight people.

    Even with these obstacles I will find a way to get my education and become a doctor. I plan on getting my major in Biology and continue to medical school. After I complete medical school I will continue to do my residency. After I complete my residency I will participate in the program Doctors without Borders as an anesthesiologist

• Lidia Perez
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    I was born and raised in Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca and I love to share information about my indigenous Mixtec-Zapotec culture. One of the values that people from my culture taught me is to respect each individual in society no matter the person’s origin or socio-economic background. This value has helped me to respect the different ideas from people around me. I learned the importance of family values and supporting each other in the community. Besides respect, I learned at a very young age to value the food that we had every day because I had the opportunity to help my parents to grow our own food. By helping my parents with the chores, I also learned to be responsible and learned the ethics of work.

    Searching for a better opportunities and a better life it has been a hard journey. Coming to a country where I could not communicate because the English barrier was a significant experience in my life. This personal experience gave the opportunity to respect and value the diversity in cultural backgrounds, social conditions and family arrangements. I have learned that if I understand, tolerate and appreciate a person’s origin, race and social economic background I will contribute to have a unified nation. Due to my immigration status I can’t apply for federal financial assistance. Your investment in my future will pay off in the futures of all the children whose lives and dreams I hope to encourage.

    I dream of creating a classroom that values diversity and community among my students, a classroom that is free of inequality and hate, where my students can develop a strong compassion for one another. I aspire to set up my own classroom, where I can help them learn who they are. As an educator I want to offer positive tools to the children that will facilitate their journey in the first years of school, taking into consideration that there is a large diversity in cultural backgrounds, family arrangements, and social conditions. My plan to meet my goal is to transfer to Southern Oregon University this Fall of 2014 and get my degree in Elementary Education. Volunteering to serve my community is important to me and it will continue to be a part of my learning. With courage and sacrifice I will be a teacher who can positively influence children’s lives. I am willing to work hard and intensely to follow my passion of become a teacher.

• Heriberto Perrez Rivera
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    My family and I came to the United States from Villa Victoria, Michoacán when I was just eight months old. I felt at home in Watsonville not only for what it provided for my family, but also because of the Latino population. It was a close-knit community of many Latino families. When we moved to Oregon, it took us some time get used to, given how few Latinos there were compared to California. However, we met many other wonderful Latino families who welcomed us into their arms. Latinos are strong minded, focused, fearless and supportive. I see these traits in my heritage because it tells who we are as people.

    I know that achieving this will require hard work, dedication and perseverance, especially because I’m undocumented. I was only eight months when my family left Mexico for the United States—the US has been the only home that I’ve ever known; I didn’t really understand what it meant to be “undocumented” until by mother explained the reality of my situation when I was 13; as I entered high school, I began to understand the very real limitations in front of me. I learned how to hide it and blend in with everyone else around me. At times, I was unable to participate in academic events or sporting competitions—competitions for which I had worked very hard—because I didn’t have a Social Security number. Not having a nine digit number has isolated me and has taken many privileges away in this land of the free, built by immigrants. Along with many other individuals and families in this county, I’ve tried to be patient and hope for a solution.

    Obama passing the Deferred Action for Child Hood Arrival offered me some home. Applying for it took patience, but after four months, Christmas brought the best present I could have asked for, one that changed my life forever by allowing me to stay in the United Sates and receive a Social Security number. With this acceptance I’ll be able to get my driver’s license, apply for scholarships, and accept any scholarships given to me and choose the college or university that will suit me and help me find my dream career.

    I have received many honor roll awards, the Top 5 % award (meaning I am in the Top 5% of my class academically), the Principle’s Award for maintaining a 3.5 GPA, and Student of the Month of October 2013 for the Lions Club. These awards that I received made me more motivated and kept me on track to graduate high school and work on developing my character. As a Varsity wrestler, soccer player and football player, I have received participation awards, state wide awards, and captain awards.

    When I moved to Oregon from an urban center in California, I was amazed by all the wildlife. This is why I’d like to become a Wildlife Technician or a Wildlife Biologist. Doing this as my major, I’d be able to educate current and future Latino members in Southern Oregon about the wonderful wild life our home land provides. I’ll make a difference because I’ll be able to more help other Latinos fully appreciate and understand our beautiful community.

• Carolina Regalado
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    After living as an illegal alien in this country for nearly ten years, I have come to understand how living and dreaming can intersect. As a child, I never knew why coming to America was so important to my parents. At the age of five, all I could comprehend was the long trip that lay ahead of us. After that dangerous journey with my five siblings, I arrived illegally into the United States. I was fascinated by what took place before my eyes: the change in culture, the change in language, the change in food, and most importantly, the change in the people.

    On my first day of school, I quickly realized that I would not be able to communicate with any of my English-speaking classmates. My only means of communication included hand signals and a lot of nodding. My limited comprehension of the English vocabulary excluded me from real interaction with classmates, keeping me not only on the periphery of my classroom, but on the sidelines of my new culture. Even though it was difficult, my teachers genuinely believed that learning English was a priority. I learned quickly picked up English to thrive independently of my parents. I could not rely on my parents for help with homework or other issues, as they were constantly working to support our large family. Aware that the odds were against me, I learned to cultivate my own personal drive in order to achieve my goals, a personal drive that has successfully propel through college.

    My most fulfilling pursuits outside of school: the Latina Youth Coalition, a group that focuses on medical research to support the reduction in the high pregnancy rates of Latinas in our community and to minimize the health problems attached to early parenting. As a coalition, we worked with Planned Parenthood to better understand teen pregnancy data, and obtain feedback regarding the roots of widespread pregnancy in hopes to quickly and efficiently help end high rates of teen pregnancy in the Hispanic culture.

    As a volunteer for La Clinica, I have found an interactive and diverse community in the medical field, it seemed like a whole new realm one that was committed to offering academic rigor and excellent opportunities that could further assist my passions for aiding individuals. I was always searching for a career with a strong sense of involvement in supporting people.

    I hope to share my own heritage and learn from others with diverse background. In addition, I have learned to blossom this goal by incorporating myself in a deeper level academically as well as in the community, such as The Latina Youth Coalition. As a bilingual student I know I can impact both the English- speakers as well as those who like my parents were afraid to consult a doctor for their lack of English.

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