MANA de Imperial Valley Awards More Than $37,000 in Scholarships to Local Students

-Editorial 

MANA de Imperial Valley awarded more than $37,000 in scholarships to local students during its 2026 Scholarship Awards Ceremony, recognizing academic achievement, leadership, resilience and community service across Imperial Valley.

The awards bring the organization’s total scholarship contributions to more than $294,000 since 2008. MANA de Imperial Valley, an affiliate of MANA, A National Latina Organization, said the program is designed to support students pursuing higher education while promoting leadership development, mentorship, advocacy, and civic engagement.

“Many are first-generation college students and emerging leaders whose achievements reflect the resilience, determination and cultural pride that define our border community,” said Dr. Lupita Castro, president of MANA de Imperial Valley.

Scholarships were funded through community donations, corporate sponsors and proceeds from the organization’s annual Las Primeras Awards & Scholarship Gala, which serves as its primary fundraising event. Additional support for this year’s awards included partnerships such as the Justice Bermudez Scholarship for Academic Excellence and the Sherry & Matthew Cowie Scholarship, which expanded funding opportunities for local students.

Organizers said the program continues to grow through contributions from businesses, institutions, and individual donors committed to educational access in Imperial County. The organization also emphasized its broader mission of investing in future professionals, including educators, health care workers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

Recipients this year included students pursuing a range of academic paths, including animal science and biological sciences, with several planning to attend universities outside the region, including California and out-of-state institutions. Students said the scholarships will help cover tuition, housing, and other educational expenses as they begin their college journeys.

“This scholarship will help cover my tuition and housing expenses as I begin my journey,” said recipient Kayzen Hickingbottom, who plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study animal science to become a veterinarian. “Receiving this support gives me confidence that I can focus on my studies and continue pursuing my dream.”

Other recipients expressed similar sentiments about the financial and emotional support provided by the program. Adriana Nuñez, who plans to study biological sciences, described both excitement and uncertainty as she prepares for college, while Zoe Baxter, who will attend the University of California, Berkeley, said she was grateful for the encouragement provided by donors and sponsors.

The scholarship application and selection process is coordinated by Imperial Community College District Area 1 Trustee Hortencia Armendariz and former scholarship recipient Belen Verdugo. Both organizers work with students throughout the process, from application review to selection and recognition.

The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Dr. Guillermina G. Núñez-Mchiri, dean of San Diego State University Imperial Valley, who highlighted the importance of education and community investment in student success.

“Seeing the investment in our young women and men by MANA de Imperial Valley is truly something special to witness and support,” Núñez-Mchiri said. “Thank you to our community sponsors and to all the active MANA members for working to raise funds to propel our youth forward.”

MANA de Imperial Valley announced that its 2026 Las Primeras Awards & Scholarship Gala is scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse in El Centro. The event will raise additional funds for future scholarship awards and will highlight community leaders and supporters.

“Every scholarship represents more than financial support—it represents belief, opportunity and a community investing in the next generation,” Castro said.