We must lift as we climb...

Article published August 10, 2020 - updated April 5, 2022

Some time ago, a small group of thoughtful, committed Tampa residents?created the Latino Scholarship program at the University of South Florida, focused on academic success and to create life-changing opportunities for students and their families. Over the past 30 years, the scholarship has awarded over $3 million dollars to talented students who are from the first generation in their families to attend college. This program combines financial, academic and moral support throughout a student's journey, and I'm so happy to say that the hard work that was started in 1991 is yielding great results, such as a 97% graduation success rate, and contributing to the recent recognition USF received as the?top public university in the nation for Latino student success.

This program is very near and dear to my heart, because I was a recipient of this award during my last year at USF, and now I’ve had the honor to award the same to two talented students?who are set to graduate this May - right in time to celebrate my USF 10th year graduation anniversary!?It fills me with pride to share this personal accomplishment with my network because amidst all the hardships we are experiencing and tragedies we have had in our lives recently, this program continues to live on, dreams continue to exist, and we are still able to come together as a community to help lift as we climb. I also want to take a second to thank my current and previous companies Microsoft and DTCC, which offer donation matching programs to increase our contributions' impact.

If you would like to make a gift towards the Soto Avella Dreamers Scholarship, please visit the?USF Foundation?and select fund #660096.?