The Hispanic Scholarship Fund recently held a workshop as the application deadline of March 30 approaches.

Cynthia Morales spoke to a small group of students, giving details of the do’s and don’ts about how to apply for these scholarships.

Morales also gave details of the funds inspiring history and the successes of alumni, more specifically, how former recipients can be found throughout campus. She said over $470 million has already been paid.

                                                                                                                             Courtesy of Google

To qualify, applicants must be ethnically categorized as at least one-quarter Hispanic or Latino. Morales encouraged her audience to familiarize themselves with HSF.net as it lists all the guidelines necessary and is a valuable resource for anyone advancing in education.

The HSF has been a helping hand to the community since 1975, making itself open and available, not only to those who qualify as Hispanic, but more importantly, outstanding leaders in the community.

After 40 years, the fund has much to boast about, and that was the advice Morales gave as she urged students that when answering essay questions, “Brag of your leadership skills and accomplishments!” She even threw in a, “Si, se puede,” which translates “yes we can,” but what doesn’t translate so well is the historic significance and grandeur of that motto.

She offered this encouragement in hopes that students would not shy away in intimidation, since there was an unfortunate realization that Morales pointed out, claiming that, “Rio Hondo is notorious for a hundred people applying and only twenty people actually finishing the application.”

The reoccurring problems of applicants turning in incomplete applications, or not responding to e-mails on time often disqualifies them from the scholarship that they are applying for.

Although Morales encouraged students to be self-confident, she did warn that applicants should have someone proofread  their essays and consider the audience to be “the grammar police.”

Aside from being sure of proper grammar usage, she warned that content in the essays should contain relevant answers to the questions asked. Above all, Morales stressed the importance of being both honest and thoughtful when answering the essay questions.

Seeking leadership, the essay asks questions that would give insight toward applicants’ values and personality, and that is why she advised them to be confident and to prove leadership qualities.

The encouragement Morales gave was more than monetary, as she urged students to make the most of this opportunity and utilize all the services that this fund has to offer.

With over 150 types of scholarships, Morales described the fund as a helping hand that offers guidance in many forms, including financial, mentoring or career advising.

The HSF can help advance its recipients in their education and career path as they offer internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities, to name a few of their many services.

This fund is also open to high school students and even holds them a higher grade point average standard than college students. High school students need to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, where a college student has the flexibility of maintaining a 2.5.

Morales spoke with much passion and hope as she welcomed her students to make the best of this opportunity by encouraging them to diligently pursue their goals.