Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Incorporated
Truly Alluring Theta Alpha Chapter at Michigan State University
Raul Elias Reyes Scholarship
About the Scholarship
Who was Raul Elias Reyes?
Raul Elias Reyes was born June 17, 1951 in Lansing, Michigan to Elias and Maria Reyes. Raul's great grandparents moved to Texas from Mexico after the Mexican Revolution. His parents worked as field laborers, traveling from Texas to Michigan. In Michigan, they settled on the North side of Lansing and continued to work in the onion and sugar beet industry. Eventually, the automobile industry opened the doors to minorities and many of his family went to work on the assembly lines. Raul was active as a "Brown Beret" in his youth and volunteered for the Latin American Softball League in Lansing. Raul married Ruth Ann Alward after high school and had three children: Erin, Anna, and Marissa. In 1993 he was diagnosed with leukemia and succumbed to the disease on May 27, 1995 at the young age of 42.
Purpose:
Theta Alpha Chapter Founder, Marissa "Chispa" Reyes, wanted to commemorate the death of her father Raul Reyes by offering this scholarship in his name. Sister Vanessa "Explosiva" Romero spearheaded the creation of this scholarship and now has set the foundation for any racial ethnic individual eligible to be granted up to $350 for their Alternative Spring Break.
Original Overview:
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is an immersive living and working experience where students perform services and explore the culture and history of the area in which they are helping. In memory of Raul Elias Reyes, this scholarship seeks to provide students with the ability to enter communities and actively assist in issues of racism, poverty, and hunger.
Due to COVID-19, we have decided to award this scholarship to a candidate who wishes to participate in a summer experience, including taking summer classes, summer study abroad, and summer unpaid internships. We understand many students have financial barriers they face in order to pay for and participate in summer experiences. We hope that this scholarship can alleviate some of those financial troubles. We plan on resuming the Raul Elias Reyes Alternative Spring Break Scholarship in the upcoming semesters.
Selection
Interested students must email completed applications to the Theta Alpha chapter email slgta.scholarship@gmail.com by April 8, 2022, 11:59 pm.
The student will be notified by the Theta Alpha Chapter of SLG. The award will be personally given on April 21, 2022, at 6 pm at the second annual Purple Panther Ball.
When sending an email with an application please title the subject of the email: Raul Elias Reyes Scholarship
*Please note that to be considered for the scholarship all application materials must be submitted by April 8, 2022, 11:59 pm. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.