SALSA leaders gathered on el Cinco de Mayo at Wiggins Park to observe the historic day in the most meaningful way, by awarding $6,000 in scholarships to seven students from Early (2), Bangs (2), and Brownwood (3). The students received the Dr. Juan Andrade Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders.

Kimberly Diaz and Isabell Escodedo will be attending Angelo State University. Angela Romero and Adan Aleman have chosen Howard Payne University. Brandon “Hunter” Day will be going to Texas A&M. Deyanara de Leon is undecided. Santos Munoz IV will be attending Tarleton State.

At the event, it was noted that for the first time in history, there were three Hispanic Homecoming Queens from the Central Texas area. They were Kimberly Diaz (Bangs), Deyanara de Leon (Early), and Angela Romero (Brownwood).

Dr. Juan Andrade, SALSA founder and president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI), said “USHLI is proud to support SALSA in making these scholarships possible. These are only seven of the many outstanding Hispanic students attending schools in Brown County, preparing themselves for college, and the successful careers they plan to pursue. More scholarships will follow. Promoting academic achievement, social and economic advancement, and civic engagement is SALSA’s mission.”