RECOGNITION GIVEN

By SHELBY SCHROEDER

Two students receive scholarships from Latinas United Networking Association.

YOUNGSTOWN — Young Latin women are vital members of the Youngstown community and deserve recognition.

That was the message at LUNA’s Fifth Anniversary Gala on Friday evening, where two Latinas were awarded scholarships for their strides in community involvement and education.

LUNA, short for Latinas United Networking Association, is a growing organization of Hispanic women who come together to build support, advocate for their community and develop leadership opportunities by networking.

At Friday’s annual gala at the Byzantine Center at the Grove on the city’s South Side, men and women from varied backgrounds gathered to present Sarah Navarro, 20, and Ryan Colon, 19, both of Youngstown, with checks for $750 as this year’s scholarship winners.

“They’re receiving scholarships because they’re involved women who are going to college [and] going so far,” said Marilyn Montes, LUNA board chairwoman.

The two accepted their scholarships, and Colon read from her scholarship essay, “Education Today.”

The essay describes a contrasting world for Caucasian children and black and Hispanic children in the education system today. Colon said the perception of non-white students by teachers is sometimes tainted with false opinions and latent racism, and low expectations by instructors and administrators lead to poor outcomes by students.

The essay describes a world she and Navarro hope to change.

Colon graduated from Campbell Memorial High School and Navarro from Boardman High School. Now Colon is a neuroscience and black studies major at Oberlin College, and Navarro majors in business at John Carroll University. The two are supporters of LUNA.

For Colon the scholarship was the first she had received outside school. She said she enjoyed the event because for a room full of businesswomen, “It’s nice to see them here having a good time.”

She was likely referring to the nearly two dozen women in pantsuits and dresses who rushed to the dance floor for the “Electric Slide.”

Money raised at the dinner will finance LUNA’s programing, as well as next year’s scholarships. The organization is always accepting new members.