Goizueta Scholarship Honors Hispanic and Latino Students

by Sheryl Marlar

The Goizueta Foundation Scholarship Fund at the University of West Georgia provides scholarship assistance to Hispanic and Latino students. The Goizueta Foundation, established in 1992 by the late Mr. Roberto C. Goizueta, provides financial assistance to educational and charitable institutions. The mission of the Goizueta Foundation is to empower individuals by partnering with innovative non-profit organizations to produce lasting change in the areas of education and family services.

This scholarship program has enabled the university to attract and retain a greater number of Hispanic and Latino students. Since the 2005-2006 academic year, the Hispanic undergraduate enrollment has grown from 140 students to 399 students in 2012-2013.

Thanks to the foundation’s commitment to the recruitment, retention and success of Hispanic students, UWG presents two renewable scholarships to qualified applicants. In order to be considered for the scholarship, the student must be of Hispanic or Latino lineage, a resident of Georgia and have a minimum high school GPA of 2.45. The applicant must also submit a 500-word essay and have a minimum SAT score of 410 in math and 430 in verbal or a composite ACT score of 17.

In the 2012-13 academic year, Adriana K. Yates, a returning Goizueta Scholar, was awarded a scholarship for the fall semester. Incoming freshman, Carina Arellano-Garcia was awarded a scholarship for the academic year.

Adriana is majoring in biology and aspires to attend veterinary school and work with animal rescues. She had a successful first year at UWG and was active in volunteer and community service through the Multicultural Achievement Program.

Carina plans to major in early childhood education with a minor in literature. Last year, she volunteered with the Latino Cultural Society as an onsite translator for Hispanic students interested in attending UWG and with senior citizens at the Cottage Landing Assisted Living Community. Carina also worked as a student assistant for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Due to her successful and dedicated first year at UWG, her Goizueta Scholarship was renewed for the 2013-14 academic year. Three new freshmen Goizueta Scholarship recipients for 2013-2014 were Cintya Lopez, Kevin Webb and Dora Arreguin.

During the fall semester, Cintya volunteered during several campus events including two hosted by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Mix It Up event and the OXFAM Hunger Banquet. At UWG’s annual Safe Treat, she, along with other MAP volunteers, hosted games for participating community children.

Kevin has engaged in several community service events. He participated in the Chattahoochee River Clean-Up as well as social events at the Cottage Landing Assisted Living Community, such as visiting with the residents and playing bingo. He took part in distributing literature during the Hispanic Heritage Health & Resource Fair and served as a host at Luso-Hispanic Day.

Dora also participated in the Chattahoochee River Clean-Up and the OXFAM Hunger Banquet. Additionally, she assisted with the Green Stay West Recycle event as well as the Howl to the Hunger canned food drive.

Through the generosity of the Goizueta Foundation, the University of West Georgia has been allowed to further its goal of creating a diverse campus community where students can grow and learn from each other.