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Brenda Elvira Reyes Lua, a member of a Latino dance group at Georgetown University, poses with her cousin and fan, Jaquelyn Diaz, at a recent show. Brenda, how did you hear about the Lenfest College Scholarship Program? In 11th grade, my English teacher Mrs. Smith encouraged the whole class to apply. The opportunity for financial support got me thinking about college. Congratulations on the honor. Where are you now? I am a sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in sociology. I will graduate in 2010. Tell us about your passion, the Migrant Education Program. During the summer, I work with the Migrant Education Program in Gettysburg, PA. The program, which includes one-on-one tutoring, reaches out to migrant students and parents to build their skills and give them every opportunity to succeed. Do you have plans for the future yet? Right now, my plan is to continue supporting the Migrant Education Program; I've already started. Last summer, I participated in a Lenfest Foundation retreat with other students who received scholarships, and was able to encourage another scholarship recipient to learn about the program. She is going to get involved! What are your interests outside of the classroom? Outside of school, I am in a Latino dance group, and I acted in a theatre production last year. I also tutor students in Washington D.C., and am part of a group at Georgetown that aims to make individuals on campus aware of what is happening in the Latino community. For example, our school invited Chris Simcox, one of the cofounders of the Minuteman Project, to come speak on campus. We held a campus-wide protest, boycotting his presence here at Georgetown, and educated both the administration and students about this man's mission. We also hold cultural events throughout the year, sharing our culture with the rest of Georgetown's community. What advice do you have for students considering the Lenfest program? Just go for it. You don't lose anything by applying. It is really worth the effort. Give us your final thoughts on The Lenfest Foundation. In addition to the scholarship, the people at The Lenfest Foundation are great because they are available for mentoring and networking. I truly appreciate the financial benefits and resources I am getting from the foundation. |
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