Elgin Hispanic Network awards three scholarships

Scholarships to help three students pursue their dreams highlighted the Elgin Hispanic Network's annual celebration of service and growth.

The $1,000 scholarships, awarded Wednesday at the group's Thanksgiving luncheon, were given to the Elgin-area trio based on their potential for community service and academic excellence.

"It's great to be able to give back to students who work so hard … and who might not be able to afford it," said Cristina Castro, president of the Elgin Hispanic Network.

Elgin High School graduate Margarita Rosiles attends Elgin Community College, where she is pursuing a degree in international business and is weighing whether to go to law school.

Rosiles, whose dream is to start a business and turn it into a worldwide corporation, called the scholarship a boost to her education and a motivator to do her best.

"It's wonderful how organizations are willing to help out," Rosiles said. "It's an incentive for me to go forward. I know I'm on the right road."

Denisse Ayala is a Larkin High School graduate now pursuing a communications degree from Elgin Community College. With an interest in journalism and photography, Ayala plans to go on to attend Northwestern University or Columbia College.

And as a talented violinist, she also dreams of playing in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ayala plans to use the scholarship to help pay for textbooks and tuition.

"There's people supporting us," Ayala said. "It's nice to know."

The third scholarship was awarded to Pedro Vallejo, a Streamwood High School graduate who now attends Dominican University, where he is a pre-med student.

The Elgin Hispanic Network seeks to try to improve the quality of life and acts as a resource for the Elgin-area Hispanic community. Launched in 1987, the network became a nonprofit organization about two years later.

More information about the organization can be found on the Internet at www.elginhispanicnetwork.org.