Armstrong President Linda Bleicken (left) and Melody Rodriguez (right) with the 2011-2012 Goizueta Scholars.

Armstrong Awards $150,000 in Scholarships to Latinos

(September 14, 2011) The Armstrong Atlantic State University Hispanic Outreach and Leadership at Armstrong (HOLA) program has awarded $150,000 in scholarships to 18 Latino students to help cover tuition and related costs for the 2011-2012 academic year. The grants—ranging from $2,500 to $16,000—are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above.

The Goizueta Scholars Fund provides annual, need-based scholarship assistance to Latino students at Armstrong. The Goizueta Foundation in Atlanta, which supports the program, has awarded Armstrong three grants totaling more than $1.9 million to advance Latino education on campus.

“Thanks to the support and vision of The Goizueta Foundation, Armstrong is able to assist deserving Latino students in our region and across the state by providing higher education opportunities to young men and women, who are often the first in their family to attend college,” said Melody Rodriguez, HOLA founder and director.

Armstrong also provides a comprehensive Latino outreach, recruitment, progression and graduation initiative on campus. Many of the students who qualify receive multiple scholarships over the years, helping to increase retention and graduation rates. Additionally, HOLA provides leadership development and cultural activities to enrich the experiences of Latino students at Armstrong.

“As part of this effort we have also focused on building community partnerships to reach more high school students earlier in the pipeline to help them be prepared for college and understand what is required and expected of them when they arrive on campus,” said Rodriguez.

The 2011-2012 Armstrong Goizueta Scholars are:

Eduardo Daniel Amador, Hilton Head, S.C.
Sophomore
Major: undecided

Erika Angeles, Statesboro, Ga.
Sophomore
Major: undecided

Jesus Arroyo, Decatur, Ga.
Junior
Major: Pre-nursing

Giulianna Calvo, Atlanta, Ga.
Senior
Major: Pre-med biology/chemistry

Adela Casas, Lyons, Ga.
Freshman
Major: Chemistry

Juan de La Cruz, Swainsboro, Ga.
Freshman
Major: undecided

Alejandra Duran, Fairburn, Ga.
Sophomore
Major: Pre-med chemistry

Diana Gonzalez, Savannah, Ga.
Sophomore
Major: Art

Laura Gonzalez, Savannah, Ga.
Senior
Major: Nursing

Yeni Gabriela Jacob, Thomasville, Ga.,
Sophomore
Major: Pre-med biology

Eduardo Mares, Atlanta, Ga.
Junior
Major: Business Economics

Nancy Moreno, Blakely, Ga.
Freshman
Major: Pre-pharmacy

Ricardo Muñoz, Quitman, Ga.
Freshman
Major: undecided

Cindy Piedra, Duluth, Ga.
Junior
Major: Early Childhood Education

Alejandra Reyes, Prosperity, S.C.
Freshman
Major: undecided

Mariana Reyes, Savannah, Ga.
Freshman
Major: Business Economics

Esmeralda Rivas-Torres, Douglas, Ga.
Freshman
Major: Psychology

Miguel Rodriguez, Tifton, Ga.
Freshman
Major: undecided