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Hispanic liaison program thanks board for MOU renewal; students report scholarship wins
Summary
Speakers from the Hispanic liaison and student participants thanked the board for renewing a memorandum of understanding and highlighted student scholarship outcomes, including a Gates Scholar and an Odyssey Scholar; students credited program support with college access.
At the start of the public-comment portion of the meeting, Selena Lopez, youth leadership program director at the Hispanic liaison (La Vincul Hispano), thanked the board for renewing the group’s memorandum of understanding with Chatham County Schools for the coming year and highlighted student outcomes supported by the partnership.
Lopez told the board the Hispanic liaison celebrated 30 years of service and the program’s eighth annual class of senior graduates. She said seniors in the program will continue to college at a high rate and highlighted several awards and scholarships: an Odyssey Scholar to Elon University, winners of the Felicia Brewer Scholarship and other local scholarships, and — as a first for the program — a Gates Scholar who will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lopez said, “We are so grateful to to have your support.”
Two students spoke in follow-up. Giovanni Sierra Rojas, a Seaforth High School senior, said he is a recipient of the Odyssey Scholarship to Elon University and described the program’s help with scholarship essays and interview practice; he said the scholarship “gives me a full ride to college” and described being the first in his family to attend college debt‑free. Kyle Stinson, a Seaforth senior and a district student-leadership honoree earlier in the meeting, also spoke briefly to thank the district for leadership opportunities and programs that supported his development.
Why it matters: The remarks highlight the district’s community partnerships and the role of outside organizations in supporting college access and student leadership development.
Lopez and the student speakers credited district support, local partners and the renewed MOU with contributing to student success in scholarship attainment.
