In order to make college as affordable as possible, Meraly Rubio ‘24 was on the hunt for scholarships. After coming across the Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders, Rubio decided it would be the perfect scholarship to apply to.
“I didn’t think I would get it,” Rubio said. “It’s only 16 people out of the entire U.S. [who get the scholarship], so I thought there was no way. I am really happy, and it’s a big accomplishment. It makes me feel like I can do more than I actually think I can. Knowing that I have support and leaders [to look up to] is really inspiring.”
Applying for the scholarship is a rigorous process. According to the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) website, the applicant must provide a minimum of two essays, one focusing on their personal life and the other on their leadership. There is also the option for a third essay if there is any other information the applicant wishes to share. Additionally, the applicant must provide a portrait of themselves, their resume, transcript, and two letters of recommendation.
The main goal of these items is to understand how the student demonstrates leadership. Rubio checked this box by forming Lyons First, a club dedicated to supporting first-generation students at LT, with college and career counselor Cody Dailey.
“I think first-generation students should receive more help,” Rubio said. “Especially at LT, there are not a lot of resources, and this club has provided a lot of help.”
A first-generation student is a student whose parents did not complete a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., Dailey said. The club meets monthly at both campuses and provides groups where they learn about different topics, go on field trips, and listen to guest speakers.
“[Meraly] has been such a phenomenal leader,” Dailey said. “When you are building something from the ground up, you really need those leaders and those impactful voices, and Meraly has done everything to help support this club in many different capacities. I think the leadership element [of the scholarship] is the epitome of who she is.”
Three months after applying, Rubio received a call letting her know she had won the scholarship. Receiving the scholarship also meant she would get to attend the USHLI conference. Rubio stayed in Chicago Feb. 15-18, where she met many Hispanic leaders, such as a first general surgeon, among other first Hispanic leaders in their respective fields.
“Looking at the surgeons and neurologists, I was really inspired because they started with nothing, and many of them are also first-generation students,” Rubio said. “I feel like we can all still succeed even if we don’t have that prior knowledge from someone who already went to college.”
Going forward, Rubio will attend Lewis University and hopes to become a medical speech pathologist.
“I really think that Hispanic people are looked over in medical health,” Rubio said. “I have a younger brother who speaks Spanish and English but doesn’t really understand English. There are not many bilingual people, so I really think it’s important to have people who speak both English and Spanish [in the industry].”