Students earn scholarships
Scholarships are an important part of how many students pay for college. Eligibility and criteria for scholarships varies widely — they may be awarded on the basis of academic achievement, leadership potential, artistic talents, athletic ability, career plans, field of study, or special hobbies or interests. Many Yakima Valley College students have earned scholarships to help them pursue their dreams of a college education. Below are some recent highlights.
Rotary Vocational Scholarship
This spring, the Rotary Club of Yakima awarded vocational scholarships to 20 local students pursuing college degrees during the 2022-2023 academic year. Vocational scholarships were received by the following YVC students: Jaime Barajas (Substance Use Disorder Studies), Jacquelin Ceja Flores (Dental Hygiene), Victoria Gutierrez (Veterinary Technology), Casondra Macias (Radiologic Sciences), Adriana Navarro (Business Management) and Edgar Pacheco Rodriguez (Agribusiness).
Rotary Academic Scholarship
Each year the Yakima Rotary awards academic scholarships to deserving students in the Yakima Valley. Three YVC students, all of whom are enrolled in the Running Start program, were awarded scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. Academic scholarships were presented to Brooke Bauer, Nathan Ditto and Brookelyn Powell.
Rotary Mollie Davis Scholarship
The Rotary Club of Yakima, through the Mollie Davis Scholarship program, awards students up to $7,500 a year and up to $30,000 overall toward a bachelor’s degree. In addition, they award up to $3,500 a year toward an associate degree. YVC recipients include Carlos Trejo, Andrea Rubi Garcia Cervantes, Fatima Quintero Brambila, Emily McClellan, Jacey Brugnone, Marjorie Wingerter, Yesenia Perez and Madison Parrish.
Early Achievers Grant
YVC’s Early Achievers Grant delivered scholarship awards during the 2021-2022 academic year to 133 students. Provided by the Washington Department of Early Learning, this scholarship opportunity is available to students employed at an Early Achievers facility. The scholarship can help support students seeking continued education in both the traditional and Spanish Cohort model. The Early Achievers Grant has helped by providing tuition, book funding and personal support. So far this year, these students have earned a combined total of 82 certificates and 13 associate degrees, with 37 more certificates and 5 additional associate degrees pending the completion of spring quarter.
Beyond Dreaming Scholarship
In May, YVC proudly awarded its Beyond Dreaming Scholarships to deserving students. These scholarship awards provide support to DREAMer (undocumented) students with educational expenses while attending YVC. This scholarship, now in its sixth year, provides much needed financial support to students who are not eligible for other awards due to their immigration status. Approximately 45 students are awarded this scholarship each year.
Beyond Dreaming Scholarship Coordinator Marivy Vasquez said the scholarships raise awareness that financial assistance is available to undocumented students and that their dreams of higher education can become a reality.
This scholarship is helping make a difference in the lives of students like Xochilt.
After earning her GED, Xochilt moved to the Yakima Valley from Mexico. In the winter of 2015, she enrolled at Yakima Valley College and began taking English Language Acquisition classes. In Fall 2016 she transitioned to the I-BEST business management program, earning a certificate, before going on to earn an associate of applied science degree in summer 2021 .
“Beyond Dreaming helped me with financial aid because I needed more support as a WASFA student. It helped me out of stress. I always worried about how I would buy my textbooks. The aid helped me focus on my classes,” stated Xochilt.
This January she began working on her bachelor’s degree at Washington State University. She hopes to earn a degree in political science.
The 2022-2023 academic year will be the final year the Beyond Dreaming Scholarship is awarded as undocumented students are now eligible to receive YVC Foundation scholarships.
