The philanthropic arm of Tulsa immigration law firm Rivas & Associates has launched four renewable scholarships for graduating high school seniors across Oklahoma.
The Rivas Family Foundation Scholarship Program is a response to continued financial barriers that Oklahoma students face, especially Latino and first-generation students, said Lorena Rivas.
“Education allowed me to become a lawyer and serve our community, and I was able to attend college through the generous support of scholarships,” Rivas, founder of the Rivas Family Foundation and CEO of Rivas & Associates, said in a statement. “I know how important that support is, and I want to make sure our future leaders are not hampered by an inability to pay for their education.”
The program will provide renewable scholarships for a total of $32,000 over four years to four students. Students can apply through March 30, with recipients announced May 1.
The Rivas Family Foundation was established last August to invest in immigrant communities by funding leaders, programs and initiatives that build opportunity, dignity and a deep sense of belonging, according to the foundation.
This comes as Oklahoma leaders have moved to stop allowing college students living in the country illegally to pay in-state tuition at public universities. State legislators are working to make that policy law.
The scholarships will focus on helping Latino students and students pursuing service-driven careers. The Adrian Rivas scholarship is aimed at students pursuing a service-driven career, such as special education, speech pathology or occupational therapy.
Applicants must be graduating high school seniors in Oklahoma who plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Three of the Latino Student Scholarships are open to students who identify as Latino or Hispanic, while the Adrian Rivas scholarship is designed for a student of any ethnicity who is pursuing a service-driven career path.
Applicants are required to submit an academic transcript, college acceptance letter, personal statement, a resume and letters of recommendation.
“By investing in students who demonstrate leadership, resilience and a desire to give back, the Foundation hopes not only to ease financial burdens but to empower future leaders who will contribute positively to their families and communities across Oklahoma,” Rivas said.
Students can visit Rivas Family Foundation Scholarship Program webpage to learn more about the scholarships and apply. Reach out to Rivas via email at info@rivasfoundation.org or by phone at 918-505-4870 with any questions.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
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