Latinx Task Force Awards Honor Scholarships

  Palo Alto University’s (PAU) Latinx Task Force (LTF), awarded six Latinx Honor Scholarships in December. The mission of the LTF, which is composed of PAU faculty, students, and staff from across academic programs and departments, is to implement projects serving the Latinx/Hispanic community within PAU and the surrounding community. The scholarships are intended for high-potential Latinx students who are making a positive impact in their community.    PAU is excited to announce it has awarded the first six scholarship recipients. They include:     Zeltzin Islas Barron, BS in Business Psychology

“I am currently a senior in PAU’s BP [Business Psychology] program, and I will be the first person in my family to receive a Bachelor's degree. I am beyond excited and proud to be a Latina representing my community in our pursuit of higher education. I will continue working hard and following my dreams for a successful future. Thank you to the Latinx Honor Scholarship for providing this opportunity!”   Rosie Mejia, MS in Psychology

Rosalva is a second year student in the Master's of Science in Psychology program. She was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for her undergrad. While volunteering as a student assistant for the UCLA Resilience in Your Student Experience (RISE) Task Force, and later employed as the Program Administrative Assistant of the UCLA RISE Center, she became interested in psychological resilience and mental health. Rosalva will be continuing into PAU's Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program after she earns her Master's and aims to utilize online-based platforms as a method to promote resilience-based interventions and anxiety/depression prevention treatments for Latinx and other underrepresented communities.   Javier Crespo, MA in Counseling

“I was born in Colombia. In New York, I worked as a Spanish teacher in private schools. I also worked as a case worker and intake coordinator, helping parents, missing children, domestic violence, and giving resources for filing divorce, order of protection, domestic violence and child support for Latinos and people with low income in a nonprofit organization. Now, I am pursuing my degree in Mental Health Counseling at Palo Alto University. I am very grateful for this opportunity and grant.”   Francesco Yepez Coello, PhD in Clinical Psychology

Francesco is an aspiring therapist from Peru who came to the US when he was nine years old. He settled with his family in Northern Virginia, where he lived and worked to promote mental health and immigrants’ rights for many years. He currently lives in San Jose, California, and is a part-time tutor as well as a full-time student at PAU. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors and making delicious baked goods with his partner.   Sarah Moreno, PsyD program

Sarah Moreno is a first-year student in the PsyD program. She was born and raised in a predominantly Mexican American neighborhood in Los Angeles, received her Bachelor's degree from UCLA, and spent around 5 years working in nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving education and mental health outcomes for low-income communities in Los Angeles County. As a psychologist she hopes to improve mental health outcomes for marginalized communities through the use of evidence-based practices that center patients' cultural and political identities.   Current students can learn more about the Latinx Task Force and Honor Scholarship. Prospective undergraduate students may be interested in the Latinx Merit Scholarship as well.