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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 17, 2004 Chamber helps 10 Hispanic students Scholarships from the Chamber Latino Network in Medford help the first batch of deserving students to continue their educations By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Rosalina Peterson moved to Oregon from Mexico in 1987 when she was 17. At 19 she married her husband, Richard, and they soon had three children. Peterson worked at menial labor jobs at a restaurant, a convalescent home and doing assembly and quality-control work at an electronics factory, but she dreamed of a career. Growing up in the Mexican state of Nayarit, she wanted to be a doctor. She decided that here in the Rogue Valley, she could become a nurse. Although her family relied on her wages, she saved $2,000 for school. She refinanced her house to pay off her car and credit card debt. Then, despite the financial fears that she and her husband both had, she quit her job and enrolled in Rogue Community College. That was five years ago. Now, at age 34, Peterson is just six credits shy of finishing her associate’s degree. In December, she hopes to transfer into Oregon Heath & Science University’s nursing program at Southern Oregon University. Eventually, she plans to become a physician’s assistant. Advertisement "If I can dream of doing it, I can do it," she said. Peterson is one of 10 Southern Oregon Hispanic students who received scholarships through a new program sponsored by the Chamber Latino Network, part of The Chamber of Medford and Jackson County. Ike Apodaca, chairman of the Chamber Latino Network, started the scholarship program about a year and a half ago in an effort to encourage Hispanic students to continue their education — whether that meant finishing high school or seeking an advanced degree. "Our youth and education are important to me," he said. "They are our future." Apodaca assembled a scholarship committee of local educators and raised $40,000 for scholarships from local businesses and foundations. "It was the right thing at the right time," said Pam Lucas, coordinator of English-as-a-second-language programs at Southern Oregon Education Service District, who helped Apodaca organize the scholarship program. The scholarships targeted Hispanic high school seniors and university and community college students from Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties. The students had to attend Oregon schools, do community service, and submit applications that included transcripts, personal statements and letters of recommendation. Sixty-seven people applied, but only 44 met all of the eligibility requirements. A review committee selected five university students to receive $5,000 awards and five community college students to get $3,000 awards. "Every penny given to the program went to scholarships," Apodaca said. Other winners include: Alonso Velasquez, Ashland. Born in Lima, Peru, he moved to Southern Oregon to be near his dad and is now a senior studying computer science at SOU. Caroline Hernandez, Medford. A student at RCC, she wants to earn a master’s degree in applied psychology and work in mental health services in the Rogue Valley’s Latino community. Filiberto Bencomo, Medford. He moved to the U.S. five years ago and spoke no English. A McLoughlin Middle School honor student and a South Medford High School graduate, he is working toward a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education at SOU. Laura Renteria, Eagle Point. A recent Eagle Point High School grad, she plans to start her college career at RCC and hopes to become a physician’s assistant. Martha Regalado, White City. She will attend RCC this fall after just five years in the U.S. and hopes to one day work as a pediatric nurse. Nelly Salazar-Lazaro, Ashland. Born in Peru and raised in Venezuela and the U.S., she has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but wants to study construction management at RCC and work in that field. Jackie Renteria, Ashland. Born in Los Angeles, she has lived in Ashland since she was 9 and plans to attend University of Oregon this fall to study either business administration or journalism. Arturo Sanchez, Phoenix. A native Oregonian and Phoenix High School graduate, he plans to attend SOU and study graphic design. Ann Cobian, Malin. Born and raised in the Klamath Basin, she plans to attend Oregon Institute of Technology to study nursing. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . An annual tradition? After awarding $40,000 worth of scholarships to 10 Hispanic students in Southern Oregon, Ike Apodaca is just getting started. He wants to make the Chamber Latino Network scholarship program he started an annual tradition and has started work to establish a permanent endowment. "We knew that if we wanted to set up an endowment, it would be good to have one year of success under our belts," he said. With one successful fundraising campaign behind them and a large group of applicants needing aid, the network has set up an advisory panel of local business people, educators and representatives from nonprofit agencies to create an endowment. "Their work will start now," Apodaca said. For information about the Chamber Latino Network scholarship program, call Apodaca at 776-3260. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities