麻豆淫院

From Mexico to CU, Israel and beyond, scholarships help first-generation student attend college, fuel her desire to launch a career helping other students

Statistically speaking, you wouldn鈥檛 expect Alma Hinojosa to do a study-abroad program in Israel while studying English at the University of Colorado Boulder and working to become a lawyer dedicated to improving the U.S. public-education system.

She was born in Durango, Mexico, and reared in Aurora, Colo. She was brought here at age 4 by parents who 鈥渆very day invest sweat and tears鈥� to give their daughters a shot at the American Dream.

Hinojosa鈥檚 father has an eighth-grade education, and both parents emphasized that attending college was not up for debate. So she came to the CU Boulder and applied for scholarships, as her family could not afford the full cost.

Thanks to Midge Korczak and other supporters, the Hinojosa family dream is being realized.

This year, Hinojosa studied at Tel Aviv University as a Global Opportunity (GO) Scholar.

As a Mexican-American, Hinojosa said she wanted to experience another part of the world that is saddled with 鈥渟tereotypes and sensationalization by the media.鈥� She says studying in Tel Aviv was a 鈥渢ransformative experience that has shattered any preconceived ideas I had of this particular part of the world.鈥�

Studying in Tel Aviv, she says, 鈥渉as allowed me to understand the people, traditions and culture in a way that cannot be learned through a textbook.鈥� She spoke with Israelis and Palestinians alike in an attempt to better understand a range of perspectives on the conflict.

Hinojosa is an English major with a minor in leadership studies who plans to graduate in 2018. She wants to get a law degree with a focus on education policy. Ultimately, she hopes to use the legal system to help improve the American public-education system.

As a child, Hinojosa noticed that schools in her neighborhood were 鈥渇ailing local children鈥� and that students like her had to commute to other schools in wealthier neighborhoods to get a better education.

She believes public education should help students not only find careers but also encourage them to become lifelong learners and good citizens.

As Hinojosa continues her quest, she is palpably thankful to those who help her. 鈥淚 would like to express how very grateful and honored I feel to know and have the support of Midge Korczak and all the other donors who have made this possible for me.鈥�

Being a GO Scholar and studying in Israel was a 鈥減rivilege,鈥� she says, adding that she is 鈥済enuinely and deeply appreciative of the financial support鈥� of her higher education.

鈥淭his scholarship is the stepping stone for many students like me who want a study-abroad experience but do not have all the means to be able to make this dream a reality.鈥� Additionally, Hinojosa says, Korczak鈥檚 support 鈥渉as inspired me to help others to give back to the community.鈥�

Korczak praises Hinojosa as a fine student and scholar, inquisitive and smart.听

鈥淔or her sophomore summer abroad, she could have selected a 鈥榮afe鈥� country to visit but instead chose Israel,鈥� Korczak says.听鈥淪he thrived there, learning Hebrew, playing goalie for the Tel Aviv University soccer team, and visiting the West Bank with her pastor from Boulder.鈥�

Upon her return to Colorado, Hinojosa landed an internship working on diversity and inclusion at Ball Aerospace.听Following Hinojosa鈥檚 successes and observing her enthusiasm gives Korczak 鈥渆normous joy and pride.鈥�

Korczak explains why she provides scholarships for CU Boulder Latino students: Latinos will be the majority population in the United States within two decades, demographers predict, and an educated Latino population 鈥渨ill be critical to the health and well being of our country.鈥�

鈥淭he scholarship students I have met prove that my reasons are valid,鈥� Korczak adds.听鈥淭o a student, they are serious about their education, have realistic goals, work part time all year to supplement their scholarships and still devote time to their families, siblings and community.鈥�

鈥淚 couldn't be happier or prouder with these students.鈥�

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