Meet our 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
Guadalupe Calixto Pichardo is a first-generation college student and proud Latina pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. With a passion for medicinal chemistry, Guadalupe is committed to advancing drug discovery and development to address healthcare disparities, particularly in underserved and Hispanic communities. She is currently conducting undergraduate research in the Meyers Lab, where she works on synthesizing organic compounds for biological testing. Her work combines her love for hands-on lab research with a strong desire to make a real-world impact in public health. Outside the lab, Guadalupe is actively involved in initiatives that support diversity in STEM. As a member of the Audre Lorde Scholars Program and SLU’s Chemistry Club, she promotes inclusion and advocates for the visibility of underrepresented groups in science. Her leadership extends to outreach projects that highlight the contributions of minority scientists and foster community-building among Women of Color in academia. Deeply influenced by her Catholic faith and family upbringing, Guadalupe is driven by values of service, humility, and justice. She aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry and continue serving as a role model and mentor for future generations of Latina scientists. Her long-term goal is to combine scientific innovation with compassionate action to create meaningful change in both the lab and the broader world. She is the Beltran - Marti Scholarship Recipient
Gabriela Rojo
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Gabriela Rojo is the recipient of the Grupo Atlantico Scholarship. She is a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis. She is doubling majoring in Spanish and in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology with a concentration in Language, Culture, and Cognition. She is also pursuing a minor in the speech and hearing sciences. Gaby is the youngest daughter of two very hard working parents, Maria and Alberto Rojo, who immigrated from Mexico to allow for better educational opportunities. She was born in California but raised in St. Louis where she attended Ritenour School District. Gaby is the President of Niños Cambios Puertas, a community service group who is committed to supporting Latino students in South St. Louis so that any challenges brought on by their family’s socioeconomic status, immigration status, or home language do not keep them from striving to reach their full potential. She works as an undergraduate research assistant in the Reading & Language lab and the PsychLing lab where she explores the cognitive and linguistic skills that are involved in learning to read and how to improve human communication. Gaby enjoys working and volunteering at the Central Institute for the Deaf which is a school for the deaf that teaches students using listening and spoken language. Her love for language acquisition have motivated her to pursue a master’s degree in speech language pathology to become a certified bilingual speech therapist.
Krysta Azurdia
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My name is Krysta Azurdia and I am going to be a sophomore at Saint Louis University. I am currently double majoring in neuroscience and psychology as well as minoring in philosophy on the pre medical track in hopes of going to medical school to become a specialized neurosurgeon. On campus, I play water polo, take part in many academic clubs, participate with the crew team, and volunteer. I am also going to be a teaching assistant this upcoming year. I thoroughly enjoy chemistry and mathematics, as well as anything with the brain and genetics. Outside of school, I partake in various physical activities such as biking, running, swimming, and strength training. Lastly, I am a manager for the pool I work at and work in home health when not at the pool!
Emily Mitchell
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Emily Mitchell is a unique 1st generation Panamanian mixed American in her family. As well as being known for her servitude and exceptional work efforts to make a difference in her community. Emily doesn't just do her job; she does it for the glory of God. Emily uses mistakes as chances to build, criticism on how she can improve, and never thinks giving up is a good answer. I have growing desires of taking college classes in Spanish to be more immersed in my heritage and to connect more Hispanics within my Catholic parish and with my Panamanian culture as a whole. As a first generation Panamanian mixed American, I crave something more than carimañolas de carne, I crave unity. By obtaining my health sciences major, I wish to be this, a woman who unites.
TESTIMONIALS
FROM SOME OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
ANA DIVIS REED
Ana Reed is attending University of Missouri St. Louis as a graduate student of the Master's program in Social Work.
'I realized that in order to continue helping others through my profession here in the U.S, a graduate level education was necessary - so going back to school was a must. I'm grateful to the Hispanic ECS Fund for helping me mitigate the high cost of education; their scholarship will allow me to completely cover the cost of books for my first year of grad school'.
Ana Divis
ALEJANDRA DE SANTIAGO
Alejandra De Santiago is a graduate student at University of Missouri majoring in Information Science and Learning Technologies. She plans of becoming an elementary school librarian.
"I am using my scholarship to help pay for my fall semester at MIZZOU, where I am attending school full time. This scholarship means that I am a step closer to my upcoming spring graduation in 2017, which is very exciting! It's so nice to be recognized and supported in my endeavors to become an elementary school librarian, and this scholarship is evidence of that. I am incredibly thankful!"
Alejandra De Santiago
LETICIA SOFIA GONZALEZ
Leticia Sofia Gonzalez is attending Truman State University and majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.
'The HECSF Scholarship has been significant help in helping me subsidized for the loss of academic scholarship lost due to transferring to Truman State University after my studies in Mexico. It's a part in enabling me to finish my last year at the university and pay tuition to finally graduate with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry minor'.
Leticia Sofia Gonzalez
Areli Arangon
Areli Aragon attends Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, where she is a Pre-Med student majoring in Biology and she intends to become a Pediatrician.
"I am beyond grateful for the STEM Scholarship I was granted. This scholarship means so much to me since it will help me pay my tuition at Dominican University. Most importantly, however, it will allow me to pursue a higher education so I can major in Biology and give back to the community. It has always been my dream to attend an university, and this scholarship has made that dream come true. Thank You."
Areli Aragon
Joseline Martin
Joseline Martin is attending Southwest Illinois College and she plans to become an educator and teach English as a Second Language.
"First of all, thank you for giving yet another opportunity to receive a scholarship. As Vince Lombardi said:
'The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.' "
Josie Martin
Diana B. Vazquez
Diana B. Vazquez is attending Emory University where she will be majoring in Human Health and Music.
"I will always be thankful for the incredibly generous gift from the Hispanic ECS fund because they made it possible for me to afford voice lessons for my major. I am a Music and Health major at Emory University as I plan to apply to grad school for Speech Pathology. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I love my voice teacher and mentor! Already have I grown in my musicality as well as maturity and I will keep you updated as I run the course of my journey and pursue my dreams. Thank you for everything. Love, Diana"