One day after Sports Arena Drive outside the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Pico Rivera, California became Avenida Vicente Fernández, Rio Hondo College announced the late musician’s son, Alejandro Fernández, would be making a donation to the college.

The donation will be used for five scholarships, specifically for Rio Hondo College students in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

Fernández’s donation comes from a portion of the profits from six shows between Sept. 9 and 18.

The brief “Amor y Patria” tour started and ended in September 2022. Two days before his final concert, North Boyle Avenue in front of the Mariachi Plaza in East Los Angeles was similarly renamed Vicente Fernández Street. 

Fernández’s last show of the “Amor y Patria” tour was at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena across the 605 Freeway from Rio Hondo College. The performance took place three days after the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

How to Apply for a Rio Hondo Foundation Scholarship 

The scholarships will be available for the 2022-2023 Rio Hondo College school year. Dreamers can apply for the scholarships through the Rio Hondo Foundation website. 

The website has several scholarships that students can apply for. But Rio Hondo College did announce more scholarships may open for DACA students.

And although the Fall semester is underway, scholarship applications for the Fall are still open. While in November, applications for the Spring 2023 semester open.

In addition, applications for the federal DACA program recently opened on Saturday, Oct. 1. The application window is open to undocumented students until Thursday, March 2. 

To apply for DACA, visit the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.