Each year the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to qualified students in an effort to help them achieve their career and college goals. Since its establishment in 1929, LULAC has considered education its number one priority.
The LULAC National Scholarship Fund (LNSF) was established by LULAC in 1975 to help underserved youth achieve college enrollment through providing scholarship funding. Under LNSF, local LULAC Councils raise funds that are then matched by corporate partners, increasing the amount given in both the council and corporate names. This model results in a true grassroots-corporate partnership for the empowerment of the Latino community.
Since 1978 LULAC Council 10 in Davenport has awarded over $630,000 to over 1030 Quad City area students. Funds are raised by Council 10 locally through weekly BINGO nights, the annual Fiesta, an annual golf outing, corporate sponsors, individual donations among other fundraising efforts..
“The best tool a person can have is an education. This is something that cannot be taken away. By helping students achieve their educational goals, we hope they will return to their community and be an example and assist others who are coming up after them. This is how the Latino community has grown to be what it is today in the United States. We are a force to be reckoned with and proud of it.” – Lupe Hernandez, LULAC Davenport Scholarship Committee Chair
Former recipients of the LULAC scholarships are now leaders in fields of business, science, government, and education. A rigorous selection process assures the expectation that future recipients will demonstrate the same level of excellence.
Lupe Chavez, of Davenport, IA, graduated last May as a PharmD Candidate 2021 from The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She received a LULAC Davenport Scholarship every year she attended the University.
“The members behind my LULAC scholarships made it possible to be one step closer to becoming a pharmacist. Now, I will be contributing to my community as a Spanish speaking pharmacist. I hope to donate to LULAC soon and help someone else achieve their dream career, just like I did!” Chavez said proudly about the opportunity of giving back.
Like Lupe Chavez there are other hundreds of Iowa students that have been positively impacted by the LULAC Scholarships.
LULAC Iowa has 19 councils throughout the state and 9 of those councils provide scholarships through the LNSF to students in their communities. In 2021 these 9 councils awarded almost $100,000 to 100 students all over Iowa.
“It is the goal of the Iowa LULAC Education Committee to enroll as many Councils as possible into this program, for their respective communities, for the coming school year.” said Ed Moreno, Education Committee Chair for LULAC Iowa.
According to recent Iowa State data:
- 60,631 Latino students were enrolled in the state’s elementary and high schools during the 2019-2020 school year
- 13,654 Latinos were enrolled in the state’s universities and colleges which represents 7.0% of total enrollment in 2019
- 67.5% of Iowa Latinos had at least a high school education in 2019 compared to 92.6% in the total population of Iowa in 2019
- 13.8% of Iowa Latinos age 25 and over had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2019 compared to 29.3% in the total population of Iowa in 2019
- 4,738 Iowa Latinos 25 years and older had a graduate or advanced degree in 2019
“Our mission and purpose is to provide leadership facilitating, sponsoring, advocating, and promoting education initiatives that empower local councils and students.” Moreno added.
This year 9 councils will participate in this program.
“Members from LULAC Denison understand the added struggle for first generation students and low income minority students seeking higher education. Some simply can’t afford to go to college because they come from a low income family or they don’t qualify for some scholarships because they have DACA. LULAC Denison hopes to alleviate some of the financial burden so that students like theses can focus on what really matters: studying and getting good grades in college.” said Alma Puga the President of LULAC Denison.
The LULAC National Education Service Center (LNESC) has set the deadline to apply for these scholarships by March 31, 2022. If you know anyone; family, friends or students that you think might be interested please let them know about this scholarship program.
These are the LULAC Councils in Iowa that are providing scholarships this year
LULAC Council 10 Davenport
LULAC Council 10 will award scholarships to qualified students within 50 miles of the Quad Cities who are enrolled or are planning to enroll in accredited colleges or universities in the United States. Applications and guidelines are available at www.LULAC10.org. Applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2021. Awards range from $250 – $2,000.
Contact information:
Lupe Hernandez [email protected]
319-423-7702
LULAC Council 307 Des Moines
“As a first generation college student, I know all too well the struggles Latino college students face. Many times the actual school work isn’t the issue, but paying for school is a barrier that many students are unable to overcome. This economic barrier leads to a cycle that may even prevent students from graduating. This is why LULAC Council 307 is once again collaborating with DREAM Iowa to bring a much needed economic resource to Latino students through scholarships and leadership development.”
Monica Reyes, DREAM Iowa Founder.
Contact information:
Monica Reyes [email protected]
515-423-0380
LULAC Fort Madison Council 304:
“The Fort Madison LULAC Officers are excited for the upcoming 2021 scholarship program. We are able to provide these scholarships to area youth because of the tremendous support of the Fort Madison and surrounding community. We would also like to thank all our member volunteers that help and patron to ensure we can provide these scholarships each year” – Erica Darnell, LULAC 304 Secretary
Contact information:
Please email [email protected] for more details.
Mail Applications to: LULAC, PO Box 542, Fort Madison, IA 52627
LULAC Ottumwa Council 377:
LULAC Council 377 is proud to present these scholarships opportunities available to ALL students living in southeast Iowa (Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Jefferson, Henry, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, and Wapello).
Contact information:
Doug Knapp [email protected]
(847) 778-2526
LULAC West Liberty Council 310:
Contact information:
Ed Moreno [email protected]
LULAC Des Moines Council 306:
Contact information:
Paula Plasencia [email protected]
LULAC Denison
Contact information:
Alma Puga [email protected]
LULAC Columbus Junction
Contact information:
Araceli Vazquez [email protected]
LULAC Muscatine
Contact information:
Nicholas Salazar [email protected]
The Mission of the League of United Latin American Citizens is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States.
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