2016 Recipients: Please click on one of the following names to read their inspirational story.

• Mirian Cobian
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    Growing up, my parents always made it very clear to my sisters and I that we had moved to this country solely to receive an education. Every time a report card came in, my parents would remind us that education was key to a better life -- it would allow us to build a career that we could be passionate about. I have always worked to be a role model for other Hispanic students, breaking the pattern of Latinos working minimum wage field jobs, and making my family proud. When I started seventh grade, my dad had to leave the country. He had applied for citizenship years earlier, and the court decided he must serve a penalty of ten years outside of the country before being granted citizenship. Although my dad wanted us all to move to Mexico together, my mom decided she would give us the biggest gift I will ever receive. She stayed in the U.S, even through threats of divorce and financial struggles, to give my three sisters and me the opportunity to better ourselves and create our own future through our dedication and work ethic.

    I have fully embraced this opportunity by taking on the most rigorous courses my school offers, participating in three sports a year, and serving my community at every opportunity. Honoring the sacrifice my parents have made for me has been my primary motivator. This fall, I will be attending Oregon Institute of Technology to complete my prerequisites for nursing school. Once I have done so, I plan on attending Oregon Health and Science University to complete my bachelors in nursing. My career as nurse will enable me to love my job, contribute to my community in a meaningful way, and provide me with financial stability that will allow me to take the time to get involved with community clubs and teams. I thank God for the amazing Southern Oregon Community, and I ask that he guides me so I can give back and continue this amazing chain of selfless service and support

• Diego Rodriguez
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    I was blessed to attend a great school, but it was in a mostly affluent area where I was the only Latino among my classmates. Something I had not even comprehended until one of my friends informed me it was “bad to be brown.” I pondered this and kept it a secret from my dad, because I feared it would hurt his feelings. That was the first of many similar racially motivated incidents, which have shaped me into someone who admires and appreciates other cultures. I truly enjoy education and learning, and I love to play soccer. My plans include studying medicine and law. I hope to become a practicing physician, and to one day pursue politics where I can truly inspire change in my community. In the meantime, I am someone who will not remain quiet in the face of discrimination, someone who works hard to change the minds of those who judge me because of my ethnicity or accept me in spite of it. Growing up Latino has taught me to value family above all else, to take pride in a honest day’s work, and to treat everyone as a friend. It has also challenged me in unexpected ways that have sculpted me into who I am today. I have learned a great deal about resilience and acceptance; but most importantly I have learned it is definitely not “bad to be brown.”

• Jocksana Corona
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    I was born in Puebla Mexico; my family migrated to the United States when I was 4 years old. Growing up I was the only member of my family who spoke English so I understand how vulnerable people feel when they are not able to communicate their needs and concerns. My parents struggled with addictions, due to the circumstances in my home, I dropped out of school so that I could get a job that would provide for my sister and me. In 2001, I completed my GED and I met my husband Carlos; we married in 2003 and are the proud parents of Nathan and Abigail. For 10 years I had the privilege of being a stay at home mom and spent many of those years volunteering as a family advocate at Northwest Seasonal Workers Association. This work paired with my personal experiences inspired me to pursue a college education. In 2015, I began my journey toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and an Associate’s degree in Family Support Services. My children are my motivation for reaching my educational goals and I want to teach them that it is never too late to set and achieve new goals.

• Piedad Gonzalez-Diaz
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    Some adversities can be hidden with a smile, but not the color of your skin or the slight accent in your words. As a child I was alienated for my race, I was darker than the other children, I knew Spanish better than I did English, and I was beat up on a daily basis. My mother’s highest education is a year or two of high school and has medical issues, my father only got to sixth grade and has an alcohol addiction. I am a female wishing to pursue a career in a field dominated by white males. I am seen as the weaker sex, an uneducated immigrant, a dropout, a little girl with a dream much too big, a Mexicana.

    Despite the adversities in my life threatening to leave me without a college education, I am a determined individual who has been taught how to work hard and overcome the obstacles set before me. I am graduating Grants Pass High School with medical honors, scholarships, and an acceptance letter to the Oregon Institute of technology. I will empower Latinos and inspire younger generations to break the chain.

• Rene Torres Mata
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    Ever since my father's incarceration I think that it would have been easy for my siblings and I to follow the same example, but that would of have taken us nowhere. Violence, drugs, and gangs is not the way to solve our financial and emotional problems. In addition, my mom is rarely home because she is always working, but we realized that she is working really hard so that we could get a better education and a better future. I think my life has been a blessing because I have wonderful brothers and sister that always make my day. I have two older brothers that have been a great example to follow and I consider it my job to be a great example for my younger siblings just like my older brothers have been for me. They taught me that if you have hit rock bottom there is nowhere else but to go up. All it takes is having faith and knowing that if the attitude is right then the facts don't matter. I feel committed to graduate college in International business or business management so that I can make my mom proud and impact my community in a positive way. She has always done everything to give us a better future and the best way for me to help her is by going to college and being the best I can be. When I finish college I think that the investment in my education will pay off because eventually I will be able to help my mom, my siblings, and my community because they are the reason that I always try my best.

• Estrella Medrano
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    It always seems as if everyone is similar in some way, but something that I am most proud of is my self interest in helping the community, as well as my determination in school. Due to my cultural background I have valued education from the beginning, and my passion for helping others grew from my very own home. My parents’ motivation to give their children the best life they could give has made me appreciate my parents hard work. Since my parents migrated to the United States, they have worked in fields and packing industries for many years. My parents’ goals, as well as mine, have always been to live a better life than what my parents had. Because of this, I have always been determined, not only to make my parents proud but to reach my own goals as well. Throughout my years I have been surrounded by many families in need including my own. Because of my experiences, I have been able to empathize for those who lack the opportunities to become someone greater. For this reason, I strive to succeed, because once I am successful I know I can make a bigger difference in my community. Even though there are many people and organization that help those in need, I know I will be able to make a great contribution to my community as well.

• Yaneth Regalado
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    Seeing my parents struggle day and night to be able to provide food and clothing for us motivated me to become a better person in life. Both my parents struggled to work their way up and faced many challenges throughout their lives. Having to work twelve hour night shifts and sleeping throughout the day made it difficult for my family financially. I plan to provide for my family in the future to help them financially, just like they have been helping me. Communication was one of their biggest obstacles. Not knowing English made it even harder for them to interact with others.

    One of the problems many Latinos face in our community is lack of money and poor communication skills. This all leads to not receiving the healthcare they need. With my degree in Dental Hygiene I plan to provide hygiene care to children whose family can’t afford it as well as helping families who can’t communicate due to language barriers. My goal is to help children in need by preventing bone loss, diseases and infections. By providing hygiene care to children at younger ages, I will be giving them the advantage of keeping their teeth longer. Also it will give them better opportunities than the ones I had.

    To achieve this, I plan on finishing my prerequisites at Rogue Community College and then transferring to Lane Community College and applying for the Dental Hygiene program. Once I have received my degree, I then want to volunteer at elementary schools with heavy Latino populations to provide hygiene care to children to improve their oral health, as well as teach children the importance of flossing and brushing. The diseases associated to dental care are what I am aiming to prevent as well as helping families with financial obstacles, especially my Latino Community.

• Danielle Bonilla
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    My name is Danielle Bonilla, and I was born in San Jose California to a multi-ethnic household. Although I grew up disconnected from my father's Hispanic heritage, it has not stopped me from pursuing every opportunity to learn and improve my Spanish. Over the past four years, I have attended a plethora of Latino education conferences and programs, most notable would be Academia Latina. Such experiences have shaped me into the person I am now while inspiring my future endeavors.

    I aspire to bring equity and education to young girls in Latin and South America by working as an Education Specialist for the UN’s sub-education departments. I am able to recognize the true power of school through seeing and learning about the abundant effects of education from teachers, peers, and my own family. The rippling effects created by an educated individual within their community is more impactful than any material aid I could provide. In hopes of obtaining the UN position I will be attending the University of Oregon this fall. I plan to dual major in international studies and Spanish, along with a double minor in Chinese and political science.

• Luis Valadez-Ramos
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    My family and its Latino heritage means the world to me. My mother, Maria Ramos, came from Compostela, Nayarit, while my father, Jose Valadez, came from Degollado, Jalisco. My mom is a seasonal field worker and my father drives a semi-truck during farming season. Both of my parents never reached a high enough level of education to understand what I do in high school. My siblings from home include Erendida, the oldest, Omar, second oldest, and Piedad, the baby of the house. As of right now, I am one of two family members to have been accepted to a 4-year university while still in high school. The other member, Omar, never saw through school as he decided to go into the military and serve our country. Because college doesn’t seem to be very important to many Latino households, including my own, Latin kids tend to not try as hard in school. I want to be the one to follow through my college plan and set an example that my younger sister, as well as other Latino kids, can follow and hopefully strive for. I have always been motivated to do the very best in school because I felt it was the only option I had to change my future for the better. In college, I plan to study towards a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering technology. My goal is to become a professional within the computer technology realm and help support my family. As of now, I am committed to making my college education a reality. I have the discipline, perseverance, and grades to do well at the collegiate level.

• Isabella Karabinas
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    Isabella Karabinas was born in San Diego, California to Yazmin and Christopher Karabinas. Although she moved and no longer lives close to her family in Mexico, she has been able to stay in touch and visit. Isabella now lives in Central Point, Oregon and goes to the Crater Renaissance Academy, where she will be the valedictorian of her graduating class. She is an active member of the music, dance, and drama departments at school, and an active member in the local Hispanic community. Isabella volunteers in a Spanish Two Way Immersion (TWI) class at Jewett Elementary School, helping kids learn Spanish and English in an effort to support the integration of Hispanic American children into our culture.

    Isabella has received numerous awards due to her academic accomplishments, including being chosen as a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar for her high level of achievement on the PSAT.

    Next school year she will attend the Oregon State University Honors College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry/Biophysics and a minor in Spanish; there, she hopes to learn much and study abroad often. Ultimately, Isabella aspires to become a medical doctor to help others and spread kindness through healing.

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