Friday, April 29, 2011

Hardwork and Dedication Pay Off

The National Society of High School Scholars, establish in 2002 by Claes Nobel who also established the Nobel prizes recognizes amazing achievement from high school students. Gardenia Isabel a student from a local high school here in Tucson, AZ, was recently recognized by this organization.

NSHSS recognizes the students by looking into their academic achievements and goals. What makes Gardenia special, as well as many other talented students out there is the fact that Gardenia is a local DREAMer. She was brought to this country when she was six months old as many other DREAMers out there. She knows no home but that of Tucson, Arizona. As a sophomore in high school she has proven her self academically and well and physically in her class. She has participated in cheerleading, dancing, track and field, and not to mention being part of the Honors program in her high school while being part of the club Youth Empowering Success. This talented student has proven herself many times to her teachers and classmates that she deserves these achievements. Now after being recognize by such a great organization as NSHSS, Gardenia encounters a problem. A problem that many talented youth have, the problem of being a DREAMer, of being denied here in Arizona the right to have a proper education, the right to be able to contribute back to our society and not to mention be able to help our economy.

Just as Gardenia there are lots more great talented youth out there in our country who we don’t take into consideration. We seem to be more busy on trying to find a way to put them down instead of education the great minds we have to not only help us out economically but also to show that we care about education our youth. Many students work hard, sacrifice many things, and commit fully to there academics but are not given the proper welcome because of a choice they themselves did not make. I hope that one-day students such as Gardenia get the opportunity to become educated, to not struggle and hide in fear, and be able to show how talented they truly are.

In my mind the day will come when a DREAMer accomplishes their DREAM!!!

- Cristian T.

Monday, April 18, 2011

We're Not the Only Ones Fighting

As many of us already know, Maryland passed its own version of the DREAM Act on April 11th making it the 12th state to allow undocumented talented students to pay in-state-tuition at a four-year college. For many students this made a big difference; in-state tuition is about $9,000 compared to the $25,000 if you're out-of-state. Knowing that our numbers are growing in strength with more supporters each day only gives us hope that someday more and more states will be added to this list.

Two days after this great achievement 22
U.S. Senators sent a letter to the Obama Administration asking to stop all deportations of any individuals who qualify for the DREAM Act. In this letter they expressed their concerns about the impact that would happen if the deportations of DREAMers continue. They asked for an opportunity for these talented individuals to have the option to stay and contribute to our society. They are asking for the Obama Administration to keep a record of ALL DREAMERS cases to have a better view on how many great, talented minds we have here in our country. Read the entire letter.

Reading this letter has only given me the strength to keep on fighting for my fellow brothers and sisters. Knowing that we are the not the only ones fighting this battle, makes it a lot easier. In the end I know that we must keep fighting, DREAMing and never give up.

- Cristian T.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Maryland DREAM Act Passes

On Tuesday, Maryland passed its version of the DREAM Act which once signed by the governor, will allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition.

The new law, which Gov. Martin O’Malley has pledged to sign, will allow students to be recognized as residents of their home states regardless of their immigration status and pay in-state tuition at Maryland’s public four-year colleges if they clear three hurdles: graduate from a Maryland high school, complete 60 credits at a Maryland community college and prove they and their parents paid income taxes for the prior three years.

In Maryland, the law means the difference between $8,416 in tuition that state residents pay and $24,831 that out-of-state students must pay.


Read the whole story about this amazing victory here.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Students Organizing against 230% Tuition Hike Targeting Undocumented Students

Undocumented Students in Phoenix, AZ are organizing to fight back against a 230% tuition hike passed by the Maricopa Community College Governing Board which is targeted at undocumented students.

Out-of-state students taking six or fewer credit hours pay $96 per credit under the current policies, with a rate increase for more credits. The new rules will charge out-of-staters $317 per credit, or about $1,000 per class, even if they take a limited schedule.

"I'm not even sure I'm going to be able to go back to school in the fall. I was paying $300 per class. Now I'm going to pay $300 per credit. So then I would have to pay $1000 per class. If I could barely get $300 for one class, how am I going to get $1000 for one class?" said Maxima Guerrero, an undocumented student at Phoenix College.

Read the full article here.


Friday, April 8, 2011

COLORLINES says, "ScholarshipsA-Z Teaches Us How to Fight Back"

We are humbled to know that Rinku Sen (pictured left), President and Executive Director of the Applied Research Center (ARC) and Publisher of Colorlines.com is inspired by the work of ScholarshipsA-Z and other youth leaders working to improve communities across AZ. She wrote about it in her most recent post on Colorlines.com.

Last week, Rinku Sen spoke at the University of Arizona and YWCA of Tucson, and shared personal stories about her own struggles to get involved in racial justice work. Her wisdom and honesty inspired many of us to keep fighting for justice in Arizona. She was powerful and profound and the members of our ScholarshipsA-Z team who had the chance to meet her are forever touched and grateful for her strength.

After reading her piece in Colorlines.com, here's a reaction from a ScholarshipsA-Z's board member:
"When reading the article, the truth was that plenty of emotions came to me. I had just finished watching the video of the DREAMER student that got arrested in georgia. Knowing that we are doing something to help gives me hope that someday, maybe sooner than later, everyone will have the opportunity to attend a college and reach their dreams. With time we have seen that education is the key to success, to be able to be heard and a tool that can never be taken away from you. Knowing that there are people out there such as Rinku Sen, who are fighting for the same cause we are, only gives me more hope that together, united we will make a difference and help out all those students out there that need our help. Knowing that someone like her will be spreading the word around about ScholarshipsA-Z, means only that we have lots more to work towards. Just want to say thank you to every single one of the members of ScholarshipsA-Z. You each bring something special to the group and con el favor de dios, juntos aremos cambios."
- Cristian E. Tapia
Member of ScholarshipsA-Z
ScholarshipsA-Z continues to fight for justice so all students have access to higher education, regardless of their immigration status. We invite you to be part of the struggle.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Undocumented & Unafraid: The Courage of DREAMers

Meet some courageous DREAMers (and support their cause):
  • Dayanna Rebolledo
  • David Ramirez
  • Andrea Rosales
  • Viridiana Martinez
  • Jose Rico Benavides
  • Georgina Perez
  • Maria Marroquin
  • Dulce Guerrero

On April 5th, these eight DREAMers from different parts of the U.S., with courage and determination, showed us what it means to fight for what you believe in, no matter what the consequences may be.

As a way of protesting Georgia's new law that bans undocumented students from attending any public college or university, these leaders and their supporters organized a rally and later a sit-in to block traffic and bring attention to their demands that higher education should be accessible to all students, regardless of immigration status.

As a result of their actions, seven of the DREAMers were arrested and are currently being held in jail on $2,000 bond.

They were courageous enough to fight for all of our rights to access an education. Now it's time to fight with them.


Sign the petition to tell the presidents of Georgia State University and the four other public universities to refuse the ban on undocumented students.

Stay up to date with this information at The Dream Is Coming.