Stephanie's Gift Make a Difference (Final)

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Nuestra Voz is a non-profit youth-driven organization that works to promote education amongLatinos in the North West Cook Suburbs. Our goal is to increase awareness about theimportance of higher education, and to let the community know that attending college isachievable for everyone, regardless of immigration status. We fully support the rights of undocumented students and believe that they, too, deserve to continue their education. Sinceour founding in February 2008, Nuestra Voz has been actively involved in our communities, organizing education and financial aid workshops for students and parents, as well as in supportof immigrant rights, including the passage of the DREAM Act.

The Stephanie’s Gift “Make a Difference” Scholarship is named after S

tephanie Herrera, ourfounding President, whose commitment to the community was unwavering- she was involvedin the community and participated in community organizing since she was 16, and took actionagainst the unjust laws that prevented undocumented students from pursuing highereducation. Stephanie passed away in August 2009, and in honor of her passion for social justiceand her contributions to Nuestra Voz, we have named this scholarship in her memory.Nuestra Voz will award $500 scholarships to three local HS senior/college students who arepursuing a college education. Eligibility Requirements:



Be of Latino/ Hispanic descent

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High School Senior or Undergraduate Student

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GPA of 2.5 or higher. Please provide a copy of

most current

transcript

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Student must live in one of the following cities/areas of Northwest Cook CountySuburbs:

Melrose Park, Maywood, Bellwood, Hillside, Northlake, Franklin Park, SchillerPark, Stone Park, Leyden Township

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Students must demonstrate commitment to helping the Latino community andinvolvement in extracurricular or volunteer activities through a written essay

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Letter of Recommendation, not mandatory but advised (This can be from a teacher,mentor, supervisor, community leader, etc. who knows you well enough to speak of your leadership and personal qualities.)

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H.S. Seniors must be or plan to be enrolled full-time/part-time as an undergraduatestudent for the upcoming academic school year of Fall 2010

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Present financial need, though this will not be the only determining factor

All application materials must be

postmarked no later than January 15, 2010

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Please fill out the following information. All information provided, including essays, will be keptconfidential. An advisory scholarship committee will help determine winners of scholarships.

P

ERSONAL

I

NFORMATION

Name

:______________

School Assigned

#: ______________

Address

: ________________ ___________________________

Apt

.

#

___________________

City

__________ _____________

Zip

: _______ _ ____ _

Home

#_________________

Cell #

: __ ________

Email

: _______________________________________________________

Yearly Household income

____________

Number of family members currently in household

____

Are there other members in household attending college besides you? If so, how many______

A

CADEMIC

I

NFORMATION

H

IGH

S

CHOOL

S

ENIORS

High School Name:

________________________________

Current GPA:

_______College Planning To Attend:

___________________Expected major:

___________

U

NDERGRADUATE

S

TUDENTS

College/University:

_______________

____________________

__

____Address:

____________________________

___________

__

__GPA:

Major: Graduation Date:

__________Applicant Signature:

_____ _________________________

Date:

____________________

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E

SSAYS

The essay portion of this scholarship is important for the application process and they will giveus the opportunity to find out more about you, the applicant. An advisory scholarship committeewill read essays and determine finalists based on all materials provided.

Each essay (2) shouldbe typed, double spaced, and between 1 ½ to 3 pages in length.

Please do not write your nameon the essay.

1. How has your community involvement helped you overcome some of the challenges orbarriers

you’

ve faced in life or education. How will you use your education and learningexperiences to further help your career goals?2. Part of Nuestra Voz mission is to work for the passage of the DREAM Act, a proposed federalbill which if passed, would specifically

“

allow

undocumented students the opportunity topursue higher education, fully

contribute to the nation, and obtain legal status”.

Tellus in your essay how you think the passage of the DREAM Act would benefit undocumentedstudents if it is passed, and what impact it would have t

o our communities and student’s

lives.For more information on the DREAM Act, you can visit-http://educatorsforthedreamact.org & www.dreamactivist.org