Our Scholars
Spring 2016 marked the launch of our scholarship application and our inaugural class of scholars. Each year, we work with two new scholars to provide scholarships, nurture their passions, and empower them through graduation.
Keren F.
First Year at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC
2018 Scholar Keren moved to the United States from El Salvador in 2014. She says that coming and having to adjust to a new country, language, and school as a teenager has probably been the hardest challenge she has encountered in her life so far. Although there have been many difficulties, she is proud to say that she has grown from a scared young girl who did not know how to ask for her schedule her first day of high school to a strong young woman who now is able to help other students with similar backgrounds. Despite the criticisms and frustrations, and with the support of her family, friends, and teachers, she has managed to stay strong and see the positive aspects of her immigrant experience, in particular the importance of resilience and hard work. In the future, she hopes her story serves as an inspiration not only for immigrants, but anybody who needs motivation. She is also very excited to be part of a program with a beautiful mission, and that also makes one of the things that she, as a good Salvadorian, loves the most... Pupusas!
Maria P.
Junior at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC
2016 Scholar Maria is a sophomore at Guilford College, double majoring in Public Health and Sociology/Anthropology with a minor in Spanish. She serves as the secretary for the student organization, Hispanos Unidos De Guilford. Maria has also participated as a group leader for a yearly conference aimed to help undocumented students go to a college called Soy Un Lider. She has also established herself as a student leader on campus by serving as a co-coordinator of a student mentorship program called Aspiring Leader Achieving Success. Maria is very passionate about serving her Latinx community outside of Guilford and is, therefore, a community scholar. She eventually aspires to bring her knowledge outside of the classroom to bring awareness about mental health and sexual health to her Latinx community.
Alfredo M.
Sophomore at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh, NC
2017 Scholar Alfredo is a DACA student from the state of Michoacán, Mexico. He is currently majoring in Political Science at Wake Tech Community College, but plans to transfer to Pace University and pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor. Alfredo is an alumni of the NC Governor School, which he attended in 2016 as a Theatre student. He loves his family and his community, and hopes to give back to them for all of the support he has received throughout the past few years.
Laura S.
Sophomore at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC
2017 Scholar Laura is a first year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she hopes to major in political science and minor in Spanish. Originally from Mexico, Laura has lived in the North Carolina since she was three years old, long enough to call this country her home. Thanks to private scholarships, including Pupusas 4 Education, Laura has been able to pursue her dream to attend college. Were it not for these scholarships and generous donors, she and her family would not have been able to provide the funds necessary for her to enroll at Carolina. She is very thankful and very excited to be a part of the Tar Heel community. Go Heels!
Alina S.
First Year at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC
2018 Scholar Alina will be attending Guilford College thanks to the help of the scholarship Pupusas for Education granted her. She plans on double majoring in both Exercise Science and Public Health. Hopefully, in the near future she will also obtain her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. Alina says, "I am more than an undocumented student from Mexico. I am an indigenous descendent from the Otomi Tribe that once inhabited the grounds of Mexico." She hopes to one day go back to reunite with her family as well as give back to them for all the love, support, and aid they continue to give her.
College/University Scholarship!
Our scholarship is exclusively for undocumented high school seniors who have applied and been accepted to a 2- or 4-year university, or an accredited associates or certification program. Our scholarship is open to undocumented students of any background, ethnicity, race, etc.
We currently offer two (2) one-thousand dollar scholarships ($1,000) per year to undocumented high school seniors. This scholarship is currently only open to students residing in Orange, Durham and Wake county. Funds can be renewed every following year if eligibility requirements are met.
Applications for high school seniors graduating in 2019 are NOW CLOSED!
Other Triangle Area Scholarship Options for Undocumented Students
Nationwide Scholarship Options for Undocumented Students
Upcoming Events
Our GoFundMe
The So Good Pupusas' truck run by our founder, Cecilia Polanco, was recently broken into and all of the money inside was stolen. In order to continue serving North Carolina's most vulnerable population, we need your help! Please consider donating to our GoFundMe so that Pupusas for Education can recover its main source of income!
Our Team
You got into college, you deserve to go
Undocumented students earn their way into some of the best colleges across the country. Inability to pay due to lack of financial aid is an educational inequity we are tackling head on by providing last-dollar scholarships for undocumented students to attend college. Higher education and scholarships to access it have played a key role in our lives and the lives of those on the Pupusas for Education team. We hope to play a key role in yours.
Leslie Acosta Padilla
Scholarship Co-Director (2019-20)
Leslie is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she is a Morehead-Cain Scholar and a first-generation college student. She is double majoring in Neuroscience and Biology with a minor in Latina/o Studies while on the pre-med track. On campus, Leslie is treasurer and academic advisor for Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Inc., a scholar instructor and mentor for LatinxEd, the professional development chair for MiPueblo, and an undergraduate lab research assistant. After UNC she plans to pursue an MD/PhD in Public Health with hopes of raising awareness to the immense healthcare gap that exists in the Latinx and the undocumented community. She believes businesses are often overlooked as a force that can serve the community, but when noticed a powerful wave of change and success can occur. Her favorite pupusa is loroco con queso, extra cheesy please!
Ana Karen Guerrero
Scholarship Co-Director (2018-19)
Ana Guerrero is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill where she studied Media and Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations. She joined Pupusas for Education in January 2018 because as an ally, she recognizes the challenges undocumented students face when pursuing higher education. Being a first-generation Chicana college student, Ana is excited to use her cultural background and experiences to help future students achieve their academic goals. Her favorite pupusa is extra cheesy with a side of cheese.
Vivian Karamitros
Assistant Executive Director
Vivian is a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill. She is an Innovation Scholar majoring in Statistics & Analytics and minoring in entrepreneurship. She joined Pupusas 4 Education as a freshman in 2019 because it aligns with her desire to increase access and affordability of a higher education for underrepresented students. She believes that an educated population is a population that can transform the world. Her favorite pupusa is Chicharon con queso!
Hannah Marable
Grant Writer
Hannah is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Global Studies and Spanish. After taking part in a serving-learning trip to learn about migrant farmworking in North Carolina, she has become passionate about fighting for the rights of immigrants. She hopes to become licensed as a teacher, work with ELL students, and advocate for education reform in the state. In the fall, she will be studying abroad in Ecuador - hopefully hiking in the cloud forest, swimming with turtles, and spending time with her host family. Her favorite pupusa is revuelta.
Clara Matthews
Communications/Marketing
Clara is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studies Media and Journalism (Advertising and Public Relations), Communications (Media Production), and Spanish Language for the Professions (Business). She is currently the Beauty Editor of Coulture Magazine and also works as a Communications Assistant at the Carolina Union. She hopes to obtain a Fashion and Luxury MBA from New York University after she graduates from UNC. She believes business can be a force for good but that it has a long way to go, and that it is young people of color who have the ability to change the business environment as we know it. Her favorite pupusa is frijole con queso with a lot of extra curtido and salsa!
Jessica Mencia
Scholarship Co-Director (2018-19)
Jessica is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill where she studied Public Policy with minors in Women and Genders Studies and Latinx Studies. She joined Pupusas for Education in 2017 because of her passion for lifting up others in the Latinx community and her belief that education should be accessible to all. Jessica has enjoyed connecting with both scholars and her fellow team members through culture and empowering each other to be the best versions of themselves. As a Honduran-American, Jessica is also very proud to contribute to the Central American community and celebrate her roots through her activism. Her favorite pupusa is bean and cheese with lots of salsa!
Marcella Pansini
Executive Director
Marcella is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Public Policy and Business Administration. She joined the Pupusas for Education team in 2017 because she believes in putting the private sector to work for the public good in order to bring educational equality to all. Marcella has enjoyed getting to know the amazing Pupusas for Education team and all of the incredibly motivated and accomplished scholars. As a Peruvian-American, Marcella is excited to use her background and culture to help future generations of students achieve their dreams. Her favorite pupusa is Chicharon with a cold glass of Horchata!
Cecilia Polanco
Founder
Cecilia is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill where she was a Morehead-Cain Scholar and a Global Gap Year Fellow through the Campus Y. She started So Good Pupusas with her family while she was in undergrad in 2015 and the non-profit Pupusas for Education in 2016. She majored in Global Studies with a minor in Geography, received a Business Essentials certificate from Kenan Flagler, and is currently working on a certificate in Non-Profit Management from UNC. She believes business can be a force for good and that pupusas can change the world. Her favorite pupusa is Chicharon con queso, extra crispy
Tarif Rahman
Scholarship Co-Director (2019-20)
Tarif is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he is a Transfer Student Ambassador for the University and a Scholar Instructor for LatinxEd. He joined Pupusas 4 Education in 2018 to continue learning how he can develop opportunities for underrepresented students while gaining valuable experience in a practical setting. At UNC, Tarif is double-majoring in Communication Studies: New Media and Public Policy, with a minor in Entrepreneurship in the works. He believes business can be a force for good and that tremendous strides are possible when people are willing to experience life in another's shoes, even if momentarily. His favorite pupusa is frijoles con queso with a whole lot of curtido
Kinsey Watson
Grant Writer
Kinsey is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Global Studies and Political Science. She hopes to put her degree to good use in the nonprofit fields, helping disadvantaged populations and especially undocumented students get the opportunities they deserve. She is so excited to work for Pupusas and have the opportunity to get a jump start on her dream of making a difference in peoples' lives!
