Vagas With Degrees
Scholarship Recipients
Meet the Vagas With Degrees Scholarship Foundation scholarship recipients. Every year we receive countless applications; an impressive and extremely competitive pool of Undergrad, Graduate, and Doctoral students representing over 65 schools across 39 states. Our scholarship committee choose recipients based on the applicant's need, merit, additional aid received, personal insight/self-reflection, and the letter of support attached.
2022 Her Vaga Bound Roots & NEV Best Start Scholarship
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Her Vaga Bound Roots X Women's Empowerment Expo 2022
Mary Avilez, B.A.
Mount Saint Mary’s University
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with an ¡Enlaces! (Bilingual) Certificate.
"While my journey as a first generation Mexican-American has been challenging, the support of organizations like Her Vaga Bound Roots remind me that my work is valuable and necessary for the resilience of our communities. I am honored to have been selected as a recipient for this award. Thank you HVBR for helping Vagas like myself feel seen, creating a space for us to connect, and for celebrating our journeys."
2021
Marithza Quiroz, (She/They)
B.A. American Studies
Currently attending: MS Learning, Design & Technology
Stanford University
"I am incredibly grateful for your support. The search for financial support as an undocumented grad student has been difficult but I am excited at what I can accomplish at Stanford. Thank you for your vote of confidence in me and my work."
2020
Gabrielle Smith, MS Ed. (She/Her/Hers)
Old Dominion University
Higher Education Phd Program
"I would not be where I am without the support from others. My journey has been unconventional, yet so fulfilling. Receiving this scholarship is yet another push to keep going as well as confirmation and acknowledgement that I am exactly where I need to be. I am so grateful for this award to help fund my education. Each facet of support helps me to keep charging toward total liberation and systemic change. Thank you to the committee for seeing me wholly and investing in my future”.
Brittney R. Davis, M.A.Ed. (She/her/hers)
University of Miami
Ph.D. in Community Well-Being
"I am honored to have received not only this award but a reaffirmation of the inherent power in living authentically and in speaking my truth. Doing so has cost me a lot, but I have found abundant rewards in myself, in those who have provided their steadfast support, and in my community that has inspired me through its strength, resilience, and collective restoration. This scholarship enables me to pay those rewards forward in providing needed financial support of my research and practice within minoritized communities.”
Nangeli Abigail Alcantar (She, her, hers)
University of Washington
Master of Social Work
"It’s hard to put into words what this scholarship means to me. I think it’s safe to say that it offers me a sense of validation, that my hard work has not gone unnoticed. It gives me an opportunity to continue to pursue my dreams, and takes a bit of the financial burden off my shoulders. Thank you so much Vaga With Degrees scholarship committee. Thank you for believing in me and helping this first-gen Latina be the first in her family to attend graduate school.”
Breanna Gomez (She/her/hers)
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
"This scholarship is very important to me because I will be putting it towards taking the MCAT. This entrance exam is one of the many financial barriers that leaves out low income students from the medical field, so for this organization to help me overcome it is a relief and a blessing. It’s an affirmation that I am enough to be on this path and need to continue, in order to give back to the communities that help me get there.”
Sarahy Torres (She/Her/Hers)
University of California, Los Angeles
Incoming Freshman
"This scholarship means the world to me and my parents! I am grateful and humbled to be given this scholarship. Thank you Her Vaga Bound Roots for believing in me and my dreams”