- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

LULAC Honors Torres Sanchez as Student of the Year

John Hill — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:12:44 +0000

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 750 has honored Kassandra Torres Sanchez, a junior political science major at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, with the organization’s 2022 Student of the Year Award. Torres Sanchez of Little Rock was honored during a Nov. 5 dinner celebrating the 17 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who received LULAC scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year. “I wasn’t expecting this award at all, but I am very grateful for it,” Torres Sanchez said. “I instantly went home after the banquet and told my parents that this award is for all of us. In my opinion, the reason I got the award is for all the support I received from my parents since I’m a first-generation student.” Torres Sanchez said her parents, Jose Torres and Teresa Sanchez, couldn’t continue their education because they had to find work to support their families. However, they have always encouraged the importance of education to their children. “My parents always tell me and my siblings that education comes first,” Torres Sanchez said. “It’s because of them that I’ve pushed myself to be here.”

Kassandra Torres Sanchez receives the 2022 LULAC Student of the Year Award.

Torres Sanchez has been a member of LULAC ever since she was a freshman at Little Rock Central High School. She serves as the youth council officer for LULAC Council 771, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s chapter, and has been working to start LULAC student organizations at high schools in Central Arkansas. Torres Sanchez was also among a group of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who attended the LULAC National Convention this summer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They were the first students from the university to attend the conference since 2016 and raised more than $11,000 for the trip, where they learned valuable skills in leadership, education, career preparation, and networking. In addition to LULAC, Torres Sanchez is also a member of Young Democrats and a volunteer with the Multicultural Center and the Hispanic/Latinx Initiative. After she graduates in spring 2024, Torres Sanchez plans to attend law school and later work at a nonprofit that provides immigrants with legal assistance.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Grad Honored as LULAC Student of the Year

John Hill — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:23:24 +0000

Christine Jones, a graduating student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been honored as the LULAC Student of the Year. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 750 honored Jones with the award for the second year in a row during a Nov. 5 dinner celebrating the 17 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who received LULAC scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year. “We have a really good group of students that are involved and really want to get things done,” said Jones, who serves as president of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s LULAC chapter. “We recently elected our new board that will begin next year. I’m just really excited for the future of the chapter. I felt honored that they think me worthy of being Student of the Year again.” Jones was also among a group of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who attended the LULAC National Convention this summer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They were the first students from the university to attend the conference since 2016 and raised more than $11,000 for the trip, where they learned valuable skills in leadership, education, career preparation, and networking. Jones, who lives in Cabot, will graduate in December with a Master of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing degree and plans to work as a communications specialist. She said that living in a homeless shelter is what convinced her to go back to college to change her life for the better. “In November 2010, I moved into a homeless shelter with 4- and 6-year-old little boys,” Jones said. “I got myself out of the homeless shelter by March and literally climbed out of there. That was my moment of reckoning when I decided to come back to school. I realized I needed to make a change for myself and my boys.” Jones said she joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for the flexibility of classes and the focus on nontraditional students. “From the moment I arrived back on campus, I completely jumped into my studies, wholeheartedly,” Jones said. “I enjoyed every course I took and the more and more I excelled, I realized that the Professional and Technical Writing program was a perfect fit for my creativity, which is evident in my work and my 4.0 GPA. Also, I began to join different organizations on campus, wanting to become more involved. As an undergrad, here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I was a single mother with two young boys trying to balance that along with a full-time job and a full course load. Now that my children are much older and more independent, I have some extra time on my hands.” Throughout her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Jones filled leadership roles in the Graduate Student Association, Student Government Association, the Racial Barriers Committee, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, but she cites her time in LULAC as the most memorable.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students Christine Jones, left, Luis Velazquez, and Kassandra Torres attended the National LULAC convention in July.

“I wouldn’t trade the experience I’ve gained for anything in the world,” she said. “And I will always be grateful to LULAC and every single entity on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus who donated to the cause for helping four LULAC students to raise $12,000 to go to Puerto Rico for the LULAC National Convention, where I was able to accept, in person, the 2022 LULAC National Education Service Centers, Inc. Aspiring Scholar Award. I plan on taking on an advisory role through the parent organization, LULAC 750, after graduation.” In addition to her extracurricular activities, Jones gained valuable professional experience through graduate assistantships. She managed social media and planned engagement activities for Ottenheimer Library, then served as a communications assistant for the Dean’s office in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. She spent her final semester as a social media assistant with the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. As Jones reflects on her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she is thankful for the education, skills, and confidence she gained to be successful in her future endeavors. “This is the best decision I ever made,” she said. “I’ve been improving our lives in little tiny steps ever since I started college. When I started school, I thought I would try it out and see how it went. I never expected to excel the way I did. I put my mind to succeeding, and there is nothing I can’t achieve if I put my mind to it.”

Seventeen ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Receive LULAC Scholarships

John Hill — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:00:36 +0000

Seventeen University of Arkansas at Little Rock students have been awarded scholarships from the (LULAC) for the 2022-23 school year. The 17 students are collectively receiving more than $29,000, with some matching funds from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The students will be honored at an annual gala, where LULAC will once again recognize ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a premier Latino Destination Campus for the university’s continued support to the Latino community. Two of the students will also receive ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student-of-the-Year awards with plaques to honor their selection. “For the majority of these students, they are the first in their families to go to college and often come from resource-challenged environments,” said Dr. Terry Richard, a professor emeritus of sociology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a charter member of the Arkansas Council of LULAC. “These are bright dedicated students who make the best recruiters for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. We thank all of our administrators and faculty for their commitment to our Latino students and community.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s scholarship recipients include Jai Ahir, Brayan Perez Arias, Maria Avalos, Emily Gonzalez Baltaz, Gael Bernal, Griselda Delgado, Maria Elkhattabi, Jazmin Garcia, Joel Hermosillo, Crissy Jones, Juan Lopez, Luis Martinez, Clarissa Torres, Oreana Roman, Maria Roman, Yvonne Rodriguez, and Katherine Robles. “After college, I plan to work as an accountant with hopes as well to help the Hispanic community with some of their financial needs,” said Jazmin Garcia, a Spanish and accounting major from Little Rock. “It brings me lots of joy to receive this scholarship, and my family is very joyful as well. We are happy to know that I am receiving help with paying for college. This scholarship helps relieve financial stress and gives me more motivation to work hard for my future education and career goals.” Katherine Robles, a second-year graduate student earning a master’s degree in social work, said she is grateful for the scholarship that will help her pursue her goal of working with veterans. “I am so grateful for the LULAC scholarship. Pursuing an education can be costly, especially while managing all other expenses,” Robles said. “This scholarship will ease these financial stresses while allowing more freedom within my employment. It will greatly help me further my education by providing the means to do so. Once I graduate, I plan to pursue a career within the VA, as I am a veteran myself and have previously worked with this population.” Another scholarship recipient, Clarissa Torres, a freshman nursing major from San Antonio, Texas, is thankful for the scholarship that will allow her to focus on her studies. “I love that LULAC gives the younger generation of Hispanics money to pursue their dreams,” Torres said. “This scholarship helps my education by releasing some stress about how my education would be paid for. Times have not always been easy but my mom has pushed through it all. I know that being a single parent is hard, even though she never told me about her struggles, I could see them. I knew that I did not want her to pay for college, so I did the best I could in school to get good grades. Everything I did was for her. All I want from her is to be proud of me.” LULAC is the largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States and seeks to empower the Latino community at the local, state, and national level through its seven councils chartered in Arkansas. The organization focuses heavily on education, civil rights, health, and employment opportunities. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the first higher education institution in Arkansas to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with LULAC to create a partnership to recruit and retain Latino students on campus. Since 2006, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has provided a dollar-for-dollar match for students who receive scholarships from LULAC of Arkansas.

Hispanic Heritage Month Student Spotlight: Oreana Roman

John Hill — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:18:36 +0000

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling students who received a League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) scholarship. Meet Oreana Roman, a sophomore nursing student. Why have you decided to go into nursing? I decided to be in the healthcare field at a young age because I wanted to improve the health of others and especially take care of those who had no one to lean on for support. Nursing was a career that could let me help them. What made you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I didn’t want my parents to pay for my higher education. It also had the best registered nurse (RN) to bachelor’s degree program. What organizations and clubs are you involved in on campus? I am involved in LULAC, Student Affairs Diversity Initiatives (SADI), and Student Retention Initiatives as a peer mentor for first-generation and transfer students. What do you hope to do after graduation? I plan to find a job at a hospital working as a pediatric nurse and possibly continue my studies to become a nurse practitioner. I would also like to share my practice with a nonprofit organization. Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? I think it is important to celebrate because we play a part in the “melting pot.” It is definitely a reminder of how much Hispanic ancestors had to sacrifice for there to be so many successful Hispanic-Americans now. How did you first hear about LULAC, and which scholarship were you awarded? I heard about LULAC from my sister. My initial impression was that it would be a good contribution to continue my studies. I was awarded a scholarship of $1,000. I think I was selected because LULAC wants to help reduce the dropout rate of Hispanic students due to a lack of financial support. I am very thankful for this award because I won’t have to worry about the cost of my higher education and continue my studies to become a nurse. How did your family react to the news that you were selected? My parents were really proud of me and told me to continue working hard and make it pay off.

Hispanic Heritage Month Student Spotlight: Maria Roman

John Hill — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:45:44 +0000

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling students who received a League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) scholarship. Meet Maria Roman, a junior accounting and finance major. Why have you decided to go into accounting and finance? I decided to go into this field because of job security. I want to rest assured that after college I am guaranteed to find a job. What made you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because of its dedication to supporting students financially. I am able to pursue my bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance because of the financial support I have received by the university and its generous donors. What organizations and clubs are you involved in on campus? I am a student worker for the Multicultural Center and Student Experience Center, a volunteer for the University Writing Center, a peer mentor for Student Retention Initiatives, an orientation leader, and a member of Beta Alpha Psi and LULAC. What do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to obtain my CPA license and either work for the state government as an accountant or become a commercial banker. After I have worked a substantial amount of time in one of those fields, I want to become a business professor. I hope to accomplish this because throughout my college career, I have noticed a lack of representation among my business professors. I want to show students that look like me that with hard work and dedication, anyone can become a person of great influence. Why do you think it is important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? In a country where the Hispanic community makes up a big chunk of the population, Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it empowers the community by recognizing our various accomplishments. Through the recognition of these accomplishments, we are able to influence others and strengthen our community. How did you first hear about LULAC, and which scholarship were you awarded? I first heard of LULAC through a friend last fall. I am grateful for organizations like LULAC who strive to support Hispanic students through providing ways to fund our dreams of higher education. I was awarded a LULAC national scholarship and an additional scholarship from the Richard family. Dr. Terry Richard and his brother fund this scholarship to cover a student’s textbook costs. I think I was selected for both scholarships because of my involvement on campus, my dedication to persevere through adversities, and my commitment to empower my community in the future. How did your family react to the news that you were selected? They were thrilled by the news. They were glad because it takes a burden off them and me to know that my education is being funded by generous donors. What’s next for you? This past summer I was an intern for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), where I worked in their Office of Accounting. While at the DFA, I worked on helping them implement a new software that made them reduce their paper consumption and increased their productivity. Because I was such an amazing worker, I was offered a part-time position to work on various projects with my supervisor that will help me gain experience in the field.

Hispanic Heritage Month Student Spotlight: Brayan Arias

John Hill — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 13:01:39 +0000

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling students who received a League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) scholarship. Meet Brayan Arias, a first-generation student majoring in construction management. Why have you decided to go into construction? I aspire to create a family business focused on residential housing. I’d like to eventually upscale it to provide jobs for minorities who are also wanting to go into construction. What made you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is close to home, and they provide some of the best internship opportunities in the state. What organizations and clubs are you involved in on campus? I am part of LULAC and am hoping to join the robotics team soon as well. Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? It’s important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, because it pays homage to where many Spanish speakers come from. As the saying goes, “It’s important not to forget where you came from.” How did you first hear about LULAC, and which scholarship were you awarded? I heard about it from a family member who was also a part of LULAC. I am inspired by their goals of providing funding for many students wanting to get a higher education. I was awarded the International Scholarship Fund. I believe my dedication to school and determination to succeed played a part. I am wanting to provide for not only myself, but for my family and community as well. How did your family react to the news that you were selected? They were very happy and proud that I have managed to receive a scholarship, especially since I am a first-generation student.

Five ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Will Attend National LULAC Conference in Puerto Rico

John Hill — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 17:45:11 +0000

Five ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students have been fundraising for the opportunity to attend the 2022 League of United Latin American Citizens Council (LULAC) July 25-30 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic and Latino civil rights organization in the United States. Unable to attend the national conference since 2016, the five students are planning to bring back leadership skills to help the Latino community in Arkansas. “We want to bring information back from the conference so we can give back to the Latino community in Little Rock,” said Christine Jones, president of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock . “We all plan to attend different workshops so we can learn as much as possible. We want the opportunity to meet with other students like us and network with LULAC organizations from around the country.” The students who will attend the conference include Jones, a graduate student in technical and professional writing, Frankie Magallanes, LULAC secretary and a senior computer science major, Stephanie Sandoval, a criminal justice major, Kassandra Torres, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, and Luis Vazquez, a sophomore civil engineering and construction management major. The fundraising efforts have brought about a large amount of community support for the students. So far, they have received a donation of conference registration fees from Walmart Inc., $4,000 from the Student Experience Center, $2,000 from the Student Government Association, $400 from the Graduate Student Association, and more from online donations. The students need to raise approximately $11,550 for the trip, and they have recently raised the last of what they need in July through a tamale sale that raised more than $1,000 and $500 donation from a patron. Each year, the LULAC National Convention draws over 20,000 participants from across the country including top leaders from the government, business, and the LatinX community to determine the positions and strategies of a national LatinX organization. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will represent their colleges and the university while they participate in professional development workshops, learn leadership skills, share issues that affect the Hispanic community nationwide, and learn how to bring these leadership skills back to communities in Arkansas.

Jones Selected for $1,000 Scholarship from Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas

John Hill — Thu, 05 May 2022 15:49:27 +0000

The (HWOA) has selected Christine Jones, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate student, to receive a $1,000 scholarship. “I’m really honored that I was chosen from so many other qualified Hispanic students across the state,” said Jones, a graduate student in the Professional and Technical Writing program from Cabot. “I’m honored to be a representative of my heritage in the state of Arkansas.” Jones is one of 30 Latino college students who have received scholarships from the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas. HWOA’s goal is to increase the college enrollment and graduation rate of Hispanic students. “We are pleased to celebrate this milestone promoting and supporting higher education of Latinos in Arkansas,” said Margarita Solórzano, HWOA executive director. “Seeing the number of applicants increase every year speaks volumes of the interest among the Latinos families to seek a better life through education.” The students were selected from dozens of applicants for their scholastic achievements, leadership, and community service. The students will be honored during a scholarship presentation from 6-7 p.m. May 7 during the Cinco de Mayo Festival in Springdale, Arkansas. Funds for the scholarship are raised from proceeds from the Cinco de Mayo festival, donations, and the generous support of sponsors and community volunteers. Prior to the ceremony, Jones and Dr. Edma Delgado, assistant professor of Spanish, will set up a recruitment table from 12-5 p.m. during the festival to tell others about ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I’m looking forward to the Cinco de Mayo celebration and ceremony, and I’m really honored to be a part of it,” Jones said. “I don’t have a big Hispanic community where I’m from so I am definitely interested in being able to connect with Hispanics across the state and form a tighter community.” Jones will graduate from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in December 2022. She currently serves as a graduate assistant in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education Dean’s Office, a CHASSE senator for the Student Government Association, chair of the Racial Barriers Committee, president of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock chapter of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and vice president of the Graduate Student Association at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

LULAC Awards Martinez Special Book Scholarship

John Hill — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:03:21 +0000

The has awarded a special $750 book scholarship to University of Arkansas at Little Rock freshman Luis Martinez. “I didn’t expect this scholarship,” Martinez said. “I thought I would have to work for the rest of the semester to finish paying for my books, but now I don’t have to stress as much over finances. This scholarship will help me a lot.” Martinez, a native of Bryant, plans to double major in business and Spanish. With the special knowledge earned from a minor in geology, Martinez wants to one day open his own real estate firm that will focus on sustainable housing built with renewable energy resources. This is the third scholarship that LULAC Council 750 has provided outside its annual scholarship program for students in need of financial assistance. The scholarship was funded by LULAC, the Richard Family Fund Scholarship, and private donations. “This book scholarship is an example of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock working with nonprofit and community organizations like LULAC and private citizens to help fill an essential student need,” said Dr. Terry Trevino-Richard, a professor emeritus of sociology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “LULAC is very grateful for the assistance Chancellor Christina Drale has provided to Latino students on campus.” LULAC seeks to empower the Latino community at the local, state, and national level through its seven councils chartered in Arkansas. The organization involves and serves Latinos of all national origins and focuses heavily on education, civil rights, and employment. “Providing scholarships for college students is ground zero for community development,” said Dr. Andre Guerrero, LULAC Council 750 president and deputy state director. “This is an investment in our community with the knowledge that Luis and other students like him will help their communities in the future. When we follow through years later, we are always amazed by what these students do with their lives and education.” LULAC is accepting scholarships for its national scholarship program until March 31. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000. Students to apply for the scholarship.

Maria Elkhattabi Receives LULAC Scholarship

John Hill — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:11:35 +0000

Marie Elkhattabi is one of the 17 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who has been awarded a scholarship from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and is being honored during Hispanic Heritage Month. What is your major and classification? My majors are biology and anthropology. I am currently an undergrad, doing my third semester at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. What is your hometown? I am from Orange County, California. Tell us a little about yourself? I am of Mexican descent. I am very proud to be a first-generation college student. What motivated you to apply for this scholarship? As a Latina, I want to elevate myself and elevate my Latino community using my education. What makes this scholarship so special to you? This scholarship is very special to me because I was one of 40 recipients chosen for this award, and it came at a time when I really needed the extra aid. What do you plan to do after graduation? After graduation, I plan to further my education by applying for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UCA. Why is Hispanic Heritage Month important? What do you do to celebrate? Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it reminds us of our identity and history. My family and I go out to eat and celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16 as it coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month. We also like to have Loteria nights with family and friends and paint paper plates to imitate Mexican pottery. It’s really fun. Is there anything else you’d like to add? I want to thank LULAC 771 council again for the LULAC scholarship award. My college experience has been amazing, and LULAC has helped me get one step closer to my future success.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock