12 local students named Promise Scholars by Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

HOLLAND — Twelve local students have been selected as the next group of Promise Scholars from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area.

The students, coming from four area high schools, will join 34 returning scholars. The scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it covers the cost of tuition, books, room and board after other grants and scholarships have been applied.

Betzaida Hidalgo, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Betzaida Hidalgo, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Isaak Nguyen, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Isaak Nguyen, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Giselle Roman, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Giselle Roman, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.

This year’s awardees include five students from Holland Public Schools, five from West Ottawa, one from Zeeland and one from Holland Christian. The recipients, along with their high school and college choice are:

  • Lena Compian, Zeeland West, Grand Valley State University

  • Diego Felix-Trejo, Holland Early College, University of Michigan

  • Kenya Garza, West Ottawa, University of Michigan

  • Betzaida Hidalgo, West Ottawa, Hope College

  • Kimberly Maldanado, West Ottawa, Hope College

  • Fernando Medina, West Ottawa, Hope College

  • Isaak Nguyen, Holland, Michigan State University

  • LayRay Paw, Holland, Lake Michigan College

  • Amy Pedraza, Holland, Hope College

  • Flor Hannah Quinonnes Sanchez, Holland, Kendall College of Art and Design

  • Ellie Rizk, Holland Christian, Michigan Technological University

  • Giselle Roman, West Ottawa, Michigan State University

Lena Compian, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Lena Compian, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Flor Hannah Quinonnes Sanchez, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Flor Hannah Quinonnes Sanchez, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.

Several of the students will be first-generation college students when they start classes this fall.

“Words can’t explain how extremely grateful and blessed I am for being a Promise recipient,” Medina, who plans to become a social worker, stated. “I will officially become a first-generation college student in the fall.

“As a social worker I plan on becoming someone who will impact those around me and in my community, by providing support to many of those who are in need.”

Fernando Medina, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Fernando Medina, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.

“Being selected for the Promise Scholarship is absolutely incredible,” stated Paw. “I am the first person in my entire biological family/extended family to have the opportunity to receive a college degree. I am so grateful!”

LayRay Paw, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
LayRay Paw, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Amy Pedraza, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Amy Pedraza, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.

The Promise Scholarship is renewable for additional undergraduate years as long as students remain in good academic standing and make progress toward degrees. It was established in 2010 by a group of businesses and community leaders. Promise Scholar students have a 94 percent graduation rate, CFHZ said.

“I am beyond thankful for the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area and the opportunity that donors have given me with the Promise Scholarship,” Garza stated. “It allows me to choose the school that I’ve been dreaming of attending and helps my years of hard work and perseverance receive a worthy outcome.”

Kenya Garza, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Kenya Garza, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.

“I am eternally grateful to be chosen as a Promise recipient,” Maladanado stated. “My parents are thrilled for me to have this opportunity to thrive. Thank you to the donors for seeing potential in me; I’m ready for the next step in my life with immense support.”

Kimberly Maldonado, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Kimberly Maldonado, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Diego Felix-Trejo, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.
Diego Felix-Trejo, a 2022 CFHZ Promise Scholarship recipient.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch. 

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 12 students named Promise Scholars by community foundation