Five prospective CWU students receive diversity scholarships

Skagit Valley College hosted its annual Champions of Diversity awards ceremony earlier this month, teaming up with Central Washington University and three other state institutions to award $247,000 in scholarships to multicultural leaders.

According to a news story on GoSkagit.com, many of the 67 students honored at the ceremony in Mount Vernon are first-generation college students. The honorees were from Skagit, Island and San Juan counties, and the scholarships ranged from $3,000 to $10,000.

The five students who received scholarships from CWU were: Allana Manrique Sinlao, Jameer Hoya, Juliana Fonseca, Esmeralda Partida Galindo, and Ashley Cothren.

“These students are doing amazing work to make their schools and communities more equitable and inclusive for all; they are agents of change that will make the world a better place,” said Rick Flores, the director of student equity and inclusion at Skagit Valley College.

“As a man of color and a first-generation college graduate, I am so proud to see so many institutions of higher education and donors come together to provide access to affordable and quality post-secondary education for local students.”

In addition to the scholarship recipients, a number of 10th- and 11th-grade students were given Champions of Diversity Youth Leadership Adventures awards.