The Sigma Lambda Beta Education Foundation is proud to announce Brother Ariel Hernandez from the Eta Alpha Chapter at the University of Texas, Austin as a recipient of the 2018 Opportunity for Wisdom scholarship. Brother Ariel will be able to apply this $1000 scholarship towards his college expenses. Please read his ‘Thank You’ letter below, and view his thank you video.
Donors of the Sigma Lambda Beta Education Foundation,
It is an honor to be a recipient of the 2018 Opportunity for Wisdom Scholarship. I would like to thank every person involved in the process for the award.
My story may be different from past award winners as I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in the spring of 2015, and will now enter my first semester of graduate school at the University of Miami this upcoming fall.
I am a first generation Mexican-American who became the first person in my entire family to graduate from college. The pressure that many students of color face is unreal. Making your family proud while attempting to balance academics, a social life, and sometimes work or an internship can become stressful for first generation students. When finances come into the equation, the stress can often increase. To add on, many first generation students of color come from a low socio-economic status. The financial struggles that they face leads to additional pressure, and can go as far as a student’s removal of the university.
Sigma Lambda Beta’s Opportunity for Wisdom scholarship illustrates the fraternity’s desire to uphold our principle of Scholarship. By awarding this scholarship to brothers from across the nation, there is a level of stress removed from the brother’s mind, which can lead to academic success. For the six years that I have been in the fraternity, I constantly see examples of brothers helping each other out and the scholarship is no different. Sigma Lambda Beta is truly a family like no other.
As mentioned before, I will begin graduate school this fall. Compared to other ethnicities, th percentage of Latinx students with a Master’s degree is extremely low. However, with the fraternity backing me up, in a few years I will be able to help increase that number.
Once again, this award humbles me. Thank you for the support you have provided myself as well as other brothers across the nation.
Fraternally, #231 Ariel “ALTRUISTA” Hernandez Spring 2012- SHIP T.S.U.N.A.M.I. Eta Alpha “Texas Powerhouse” Chapter