SPRINGDALE, AR—Twenty Hispanic students were selected to receive $500.00 scholarship each and were honored at the Scholarship Award Ceremony at the Jones Family Resource Center, in Springdale, AR.



The Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas (HWOA) announced its 2006 scholarship recipients. Since 2000, HWOA has awarded 98 scholarships to Hispanic students in the community. HWOA’s goal is to increase college enrollment for Hispanic students.



The 2006 Recipients are:

Ana Claudia Aguayo, Springdale High School;

Jose Luis Aguayo-Herrera, University of Arkansas; Guadalupe Aguilar, Springdale High School;

Maribel Albarran, Crowder College;

Jazmín Esmeralda Berlanga Medina, Green Forest High School;

Vanesa Beatriz Calderon, Springdale High School; Jessica Collazos, Bentonville High School;

Elizabeth Favela, Bentonville High School,

Erika Michelle Guerrero, Springdale High School;

Jennifer Herrera, Springdale High School;

Luis Alberto Malfavon, Springdale High School;

Rocio Azucena Peña, Springdale High School;

Maria Isidra Puga, University of Arkansas;

Juan Reyna-Lopez, Henderson State University;

Griselda Rodríguez, University of Arkansas;

Maribel Rodriguez, Springdale High School;

Ryna Patricia Rodríguez, Springdale High School;

Estefanía Rojas, Rogers High School;

Luis Martín Valerio, Green Forest High School; and

Alejandro L. Vinardi, Bentonville High School.



Funds for the scholarships are raised through donations, the Cinco de Mayo festival and our sponsors, Wal-Mart, Cox Communications, and Tyson Foods, Inc.



The support from our sponsors allows HWOA to fulfill its mission to advance educational opportunities for Hispanic women and their families, to celebrate and teach others about our culture, and to become active participants in the community. HWOA was founded in 1999 by a group of women and it is an affiliate of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR).