MARIA M. SEMPERTEGUI
AN IMMIGRANT MOTHER'S LEGACY
La Unidad Latina's Maria Sempertegui Legacy Book Scholarships
In the Fall of 2022, Juan M. Sempertegui worked with his fraternity, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. at the University of Maryland, College Park to establish book scholarships to honor Mrs. Sempertegui. Scholarship applications are submitted through La Unidad Latina's website based on the following criteria:
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- First generation college student
- Involvement and commitment to Latino/a/x community
- Enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park, Montgomery College or Prince George’s Community College
- Current recipient of school-based financial aid
- Submission of a 500 word statement explaining financial need
Finalists are selected from the applicant pool for interviews after which the winners are announced. The first year we awarded the scholarships, it was only for UMD students but for the second year we expanded the pool to students at two local community colleges. Many of La Unidad Latina's Hermanos began their colleguiate journey at Montgomery or Prince Georges Community College so we wanted to support those students as well.
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2022 Maria's Scholars
Thanks to the financial contributions from Juan and his fraternity Hermano (Brother) Steven Ventura, three $500 book scholarships totaling $1,500 were awarded in 2022. The scholarships were presented on August 31, 2023 during La Unidad Latina's 27th Bienvenida, an event hosted to welcome all new Latino students to the UMD campus.
​Emily Torres
Psychology & Life Sciences
Jennifer Moreno Portillo
Letters & Sciences
Maximo Reyes
Letters & Sciences
2023 Maria's Scholars
In the Fall of 2023, La Unidad Latina and contributors expanded scholarship eligibility to Montgomery College, Prince George's Community College in addition to students at the University of Maryland. Thanks to the contributions from the Sempertegui family, Steven Ventura, Hermano Nathaniel Guzman and La Unidad Latina Service and Education Fund we were able to award $300 book scholarships to seven students. The scholarships were awarded during La Unidad Latina's 28th Annual Bienvenida and we were also fortunate enough to have Maryland State Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk provide key remarks to all attendees.
​Madeline Gisel Flores
School: Prince George’s Community College
Major: Early Education
Jennifer Robles-Mendez
School: University of Maryland
Major: Business Marketing / Accounting
​Erick Hernandez
School: University of Maryland, College Park
Major: Letters and Sciences
​Mayra Sanchez
School: Montgomery College
Major: Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Renny Majano Rivera
School: University of Maryland
Major: Cinema and Media Studies
​Jennifer Lopez
School: Montgomery College
Major: Nursing
​Jennifer Iraheta
School: University of Maryland
Major: Information Sciences
