“Earning the HAF scholarship validates all the hard work I invested in high school. As a first-generation college student, my hope is to be a symbol to other kids like me and the larger Hispanic community.”

"I know that college will be hard for me, and even my parents to pay for. I’ve been so thankful for every bit of financial assistance I have received so far."

"I am the first girl in my family to attend college. Since I was a little,, my dream has always been to become successful."

"I always knew I was going to go to college, but I never thought about the cost. Now it’s one of the only things my family and I talk about, and harder to find ways to pay for it."

"My ultimate educational plan is to prepare myself in college, then work for NASA. Receiving this scholarship would help tremendously with the cost of attending a four-year university."

"My grandmother taught me that there is always something else you can learn in this life, so “live as a learner.” My academic goal is to be a learner, no matter what I’m doing."

"My future goals are to finish college with an engineering degree, then inspire young girls, specifically those in my Latino community."

"When I think about what motivates me, it’s family, stability and giving back to the people that help me get where I want to be."

“This year has been a challenging year, and the scholarship has become a blessing that alleviates a little of the economic weight of college. I’ll graduate this year and want to dive into the advertising industry to learn as much as possible. The Hispanic American Foundation scholarship is giving me the opportunity to complete my degree and do this.”