The Hispanic Alliance is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Student DREAMers Alliance scholarships. These scholarships, awarded to 12 exceptional students attending seven different colleges and universities across South Carolina, recognize their academic achievements, leadership qualities, and commitment to their communities.
The Student DREAMers Alliance (SDA) fellowship model is unique in South Carolina and across the country. Inspired by the Aspen Institute and Liberty Fellowship, SDA was created to empower and amplify the voices of young immigrants in their junior and senior years in high school by fostering values-based leaders through introspective dialogue and self-discovery. Most of the SDA students come from low-wealth backgrounds and are typically the first college-bound generation in their families.
TJ Rumler, Director of Leadership Programs at the Hispanic Alliance, expressed his excitement about the scholarship recipients, stating, “We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who make it possible to grant scholarships to these students. Each recipient embodies the spirit of the Student DREAMers Alliance program, displaying courage, leadership, and perseverance in the face of many obstacles. These scholarships will provide a firm foundation for their future endeavors in higher education and beyond.”
The 2024 Student DREAMers Alliance scholarship recipients are:
- Jennifer Lara Gonzales, The Citadel, Aviation & Criminal Justice
- Brian Hernandez, Clemson University, Engineering
- Ashley Garcia, Clemson University, Engineering
- Axel Espinoza, USC Upstate, Finance & Economics
- Jorge Martinez-Villalobos, Clemson University, Architecture
- Steven Escorza, Spartanburg Methodist College, Business Administration
- Maria Balderas, Furman University, Public Health
- Ariana Zapata, The Citadel, Criminal Justice
- Carla Ortega, Charleston Southern University, Criminal Justice
- Ana Agustin Reyes, Greenville Technical College, Health Science
- Deyanira Abreu Gonzalez, Greenville Technical College, Health Science
- Giovanny Santillan-Mejorada, Clemson University, Engineering
Two students, Carla Ortega and Deyanira Abreu Gonzalez, are the inaugural recipients of the Julia & Guillermo Avila Scholarship for 2024. Through their company, 365 Digital Technologies Ltd. Co, Elaine & Guillermo Avila bestowed the scholarship in honor of Guillermo’s parents and expressed their support for the SDA program, “As a first-generation college graduate who rose from poverty, I understand firsthand the transformative power of education. We are so proud that we were able to start a scholarship fund in honor of my parents. We wholeheartedly believe in Carla and Deyanira, and we stand proudly behind them, cheering them on as they continue to pursue their dreams with determination and tenacity.”The Hispanic Alliance is committed to opening doors of opportunity for Hispanic youth, their families, and empowering a stronger future for all South Carolinians.
