¡HICA! Scholarship for Latinx Students

Geographic Scope: Alabama, United States

Program Status: Active (launched in 2015)

Focus Areas:

• Higher education access for Latinx youth
• Support for two-year or four-year institution attendance
• Technical/trade school support
• College access and career readiness for immigrant youth

Eligibility:

• Latinx students
• Students pursuing higher education (2-year, 4-year institutions, or technical/trade schools)
• Preference for immigrant youth facing financial, legal, and cultural barriers

Background:
Established to support Latinx youth achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education. The program recognizes that approximately 98,000 undocumented Hispanic youth graduate high school every year, but only 5-10% enroll in college due to immigration status and lack of financial resources. Over the past 4 years, the scholarship committee has awarded over $13,000 in scholarships to over 15 Latinx students.

Committee Composition:

• ¡HICA! staff
• College representatives
• High school Latinx youth
• Diverse group of Birmingham professionals

Funding:
Funds raised through:

• Fundraising events at local restaurants
• Online campaigns
• Individual asks and donations

Contact Information:

• For contributions or recurring donor inquiries: Silvia E. Laxson at sespinosa@hicaalabama.org
• For in-kind donations (restaurant hosting, food, entertainment): Arlene Flores at scholarships@hicaalabama.org
• ¡HICA! Tax ID: 63-1225764 (501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity)

Application Process

Application Deadline: March 31st at 5 p.m. (annual cycle based on 2021 announcement)

How to Apply:

1. Visit www.hicaalabama.org/en/scholarship for application details and submission instructions

Required Materials:
Not specified in available documentation

Support for Applicants:
For questions about the application process, contact scholarships@hicaalabama.org