Scholars Latino Initiative

10/27/2026

Congrats! to SLI alumna Gabi Gonzalez Recinos, whose path to a nursing career is featured in a recent Laurel Ridge Community College student profile.

Her alma mater John Handley High School has had 63 students take part in SLI since it began with the class of 2016. Of those, 25 have gone on to Laurel Ridge, which is a sponsor of this November's Celebracion de SLI's Million Dollar Año (tickets at vasli.org/celebracion).

In 2025, the year Gabi graduated from Handley, SLI college scholarships for students pursuing health related careers were supported by Valley Health, a Platinum sponsor of Celebración.

Read the profile: https://laurelridge.edu/student-spotlight/scholars-latino-initiative-made-college-accessible-for-laurel-ridge-community-college-nursing-student/

10/21/2026

Lua Project has been a highlight at SLI celebrations in recent years, and this November 14 they'll be back! Get your tickets now at vasli.org/celebracion for Celebración de SLI's Million Dollar Año before prices increase on 11/1.

Also at the event: SLI's impact, locally sourced Latin American cuisine, sangria, w**e, a variety of Pale Fire beers, coffee, Mexican hot chocolate, té de jamaica and horchata, a silent auction, and more, all at the The Loft at Liberty St. in Harrisonburg, VA.

10/14/2026

Get your tickets at vasli.org/celebracion before prices increase on November 1st to celebrate SLI and enjoy locally sourced Latin American cuisine, sangria, w**e, a variety of Pale Fire beers, coffee, Mexican hot chocolate, té de jamaica and horchata, the music of Lua Project, and more!

About SLI's Million Dollar Año: This year, thanks to support from our community, Scholars Latino Initiative has passed $1 million in total SLI college scholarships, technology grants, and dual enrollment and Advanced Placement tuition assistance awarded to students.

THANK YOU to our generous event sponsors:

Blue Ridge Community College
Brent Holsinger & Laura Toni-Holsinger
Bridgewater College
Christopher & Maria Clymer Kurtz
Dick & Pat Gardner
DuPont Community Credit Union
Eastern Mennonite University
Glass and Metals
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Herr & Company
Highest Roofing
InterChange Group, Inc.
John and Courtland Meyer
Lakeside Book Company
Lantz Construction Company
Larry Miller & Liz Yoder
Laurel Ridge Community College
LD&B Insurance and Financial Services
Park View Federal Credit Union
Phil & Loretta Helmuth
Sentara Health
Shenandoah University
SLI Founder's Fund
The Gaines Group Architects
Valley Health

10/07/2026

Still need tickets for Celebración de SLI's Million Dollar Año this November? Visit vasli.org/celebracion and plan to enjoy locally sourced Latin American cuisine, sangria, w**e, a variety of Pale Fire beers, coffee, Mexican hot chocolate, té de jamaica and horchata, the music of Lua Project, and more! Ticket prices increase 11/1.

Silent auction and food vendors and donors will include, among others: La Bendición Bakery, A Bowl of Good, Casa Gallardo, Edible Landscaping, El Sol Mexican Restaurant, Luray Caverns, Mary Jo's Flowers, Merge Coffee Company, La Morena, Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn, Shenandoah Valley Airport, and Silk Moth Stage!

09/28/2026

Ticket prices increase this Thursday (10/1), so grab your tickets now at vasli.org/celebracion for the November 14 Celebración de SLI's Million Dollar Año! Celebrate the accomplishments of SLI scholars and SLI's Million Dollar Año – and new opportunities for increased SLI awards – and enjoy locally sourced Latin American cuisine, sangria, w**e, local beers, coffee, Mexican hot chocolate, té de jamaica and horchata, the music of Lua Project, and more.

Returning for the fifth time, Lua Project is a cultural pollinator, bridging together musical styles from different continents and different centuries into what they call "Mexilachian y Appalachiano" music: "A new style of traditional music inspired by the sounds and sones of Mexico, Appalachia, and the Atlantic Basin." They write about contemporary themes, about families, and communities, of work and loss, but draw on the musical traditions of their own cultural past. The music is inspired by Mexican and Appalachian song forms, Eastern European tonalities, baroque melodic ideas, & narrative storytelling approaches.

About SLI's Million Dollar Año: This year, thanks to support from our community, Scholars Latino Initiative has passed $1 million in total SLI college scholarships, technology grants, and dual enrollment and Advanced Placement tuition assistance awarded to students since its incorporation in 2012. Awards were first made in 2015.

THANK YOU! to our generous event sponsors:

Blue Ridge Community College - Virginia
Brent Holsinger & Laura Toni-Holsinger
Bridgewater College
Christopher & Maria Clymer Kurtz
Dick & Pat Gardner
DuPont Community Credit Union
Eastern Mennonite University
Glass and Metals
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Herr & Company
Highest Roofing
InterChange Group, Inc.
John and Courtland Meyer
Lakeside Book Company
Lantz Construction Company
Larry Miller & Liz Yoder
Laurel Ridge Community College
LD&B Insurance and Financial Services
Park View Federal Credit Union
Phil & Loretta Helmuth
Shenandoah University
SLI Founder's Fund
The Gaines Group Architects
Valley Health

09/22/2026

Congratulations to Lua Project's Estela Diaz Knott, Scholars Latino Initiative director of development Christopher Clymer Kurtz, and 11 others for being named Persona de Poder 2026 honorees by Radio Poder 1380! They will be recognized at a reception at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond on October 10. radiopoder.media/persona-de-poder

Estela is no stranger to SLI, as Lua Project's fifth SLI appearance will be this November at Celebración de SLI's Million Dollar Año, which will highlight the accomplishments of SLI scholars and help lay the foundation for increased support for students in coming years. vasli.org/celebracion

Christopher has led fundraising efforts to support SLI's college access programming and scholarships since 2019. This year SLI passed the $1 million mark in total SLI financial aid awarded to students since its incorporation.

Among prior Persona de Poder nominees are SLI board member Amelia Castañeda, former board member Cecilia Barbosa, program director Ester Orellana, former advisory council member Lyons Sanchezconcha, and many others who are friends and supporters of SLI.

09/14/2026

Congrats to all of the SLI scholars who are beginning or continuing their college studies! SLI awards announced this summer total $169,537, including a $6,000 scholarship and a technology grant of up to $1,250 for each of 17 SLI alumni for their first year of college, plus $47,000 in scholarships for 27 SLI alumni continuing their undergraduate studies. https://vasli.org/awards2026

SLI's 173 alumni have now attended 32 colleges and universities, and SLI awards now total $1,064,800, a milestone being highlighted at Celebración de SLI's Million Dollar Año this November. Get your tickets before prices increase! vasli.org/celebracion

08/14/2026

Get your Celebración de SLI's Million Dollar Año tickets now at vasli.org/celebracion to celebrate the accomplishments of SLI scholars and SLI's Million Dollar Año, help lay the foundation for increased support for students in coming years, and enjoy locally sourced Latin American cuisine, beverages including sangria, local beers, té de jamaica and horchata, the music of Lua Project, and more! Event is November 14. Ticket prices increase 10/1 and 11/1.

THANK YOU! to our generous event sponsors:

Blue Ridge Community College - Virginia
Brent Holsinger & Laura Toni-Holsinger
Bridgewater College
Christopher & Maria Clymer Kurtz
Dick & Pat Gardner
DuPont Community Credit Union
Eastern Mennonite University
Glass and Metals
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Herr & Company
Highest Roofing
InterChange Group, Inc.
John and Courtland Meyer
Lakeside Book Company
Lantz Construction Company
Larry Miller & Liz Yoder
Laurel Ridge Community College
LD&B Insurance and Financial Services
Park View Federal Credit Union
Phil & Loretta Helmuth
Shenandoah University
SLI Founder's Fund
The Gaines Group Architects
Valley Health

You’re invited

07/01/2026

SLI alumni are invited to apply for a SLI alumni college scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. Check your email for the application link, or request it by emailing [email protected]. The application is due July 15.

06/24/2026

Thank you, Herndon Foundation, for your major grant to support SLI's college access mission in Richmond during our “Million Dollar Año”! READ MORE: https://vasli.org/2026/06/22/herndonfoundationgrant2026/