Salvi Beca | Salvi Scholarship
"Salvi" is a term used to refer to Salvadoran people who grew up or were raised in the United States, like the two Salvi founders of this scholarship: Soraya Valdez Place and Martha Mariana Carrillo. This scholarship is for young people enrolled in the CAREER AND COLLEGE PROMISE high school program. In this program, high school students can earn credits for college classes, work credentials, certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
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About the Salvi Scholarship:
The scholarship is $40 per semester per student
The student can apply once every semester
Scholarships are available every January & September
There are only 10 scholarships available for each semester
Who can apply for the scholarship?
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Promise Scholars students
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Career and Technical Education (CTE) students, including those pursuing careers in business, accounting, information systems, advertising and graphic design, photography, automotive mechanics, electrical work, welding, and criminal justice, etc.
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Traditional students
Requirements:
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An email from the school counselor to salvi@centrolatinohickory.com recommending the student
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A copy of the student’s class schedule
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The student who receives the scholarship will be required to complete 3 hours of community service at Centro Latino or any other local nonprofit organization in the community.
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After completing the 3 hours of community service, the student must send this form to salvi@centrolatinohickory.com
Meet Our Salvi Founders
Soraya & Martha
Martha Carrillo was born in El Salvador and moved to Hickory North Carolina in 1993. She is currently finishing her Master’s in Leadership from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Education and community are at the core of Martha’s values, she has worked in higher education for over six years. Recognizing the significant benefits that early college experience provides high school students, and motivated to remove the financial barriers that may prevent some students from accessing these opportunities, inspired Martha to create Salvi Becas. Martha believes in the transformative power of education and is passionate about ensuring students in the community can start their educational journeys early and without financial hindrance.
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Soraya Valdez Place was born and raised in El Salvador. In 2004, she immigrated to the United States and later earned a Master’s Degree in Arts from North Carolina State University. After serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama for three years alongside her husband, Soraya moved to Hickory in 2015. Since January of that year, she has been a Spanish Professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University and works as a Family Liaison for the Juntos program in Catawba County.
As someone who has experienced the challenges of learning English as a second language, Soraya is deeply passionate about education. She understands the transformative power of education and is dedicated to supporting at-risk students and their families, helping them stay on track with their educational, personal, and community goals. Soraya's commitment to education is rooted in her belief that it is a vital tool for empowerment and opportunity, particularly for those who face significant barriers.
Soraya created this scholarship as a tribute to her mother and grandmother, both of whom played significant roles in helping others access education. They instilled in her the importance of education and the need to fight against social injustices. This scholarship honors their legacy and reflects Soraya’s deep-seated values of empowerment and social equity.