Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a human rights activist from Guatemala. She primarily focuses on Indigenous women's rights since the Guatemalan Civil War. Rigoberta Menchú also does a lot of work on promoting indigenous rights in the country of Guatemala. The Rigoberta Menchu scholarship will provide one Oakes student with $1,500 to the BayTree Bookstore in order to support them with school supplies.

This scholarship was started by Karina De Leon Montes, Oakes Senates Executive Chair, as her legacy item to Oakes College.

This scholarship will be awarded to ONE recipient per academic year. The scholarship recipient will be selected by a scholarship committee made up of Oakes Senate CPC, Senior Director, & Associate Director, and Oakes Senate Chair.

Application for this year is open until 11.18.2024

Requirements

• Oakes College Affiliate
• Good academic standing (2.0 & above)
• Must be enrolled in the Quarter following the application period 

Timeline

Scholarship Opens: Monday, October 14th, 2024
Scholarship Closes: Monday, November 18th, 2024, @ 11:59 PM (No exceptions or late applications will be reviewed)
Scholarship Recipient Notified of award: January 3rd, 2025 via email.

Past Recipients  

2021-22 Recipient: Lupe Martinez

Hi everyone, 

My name is Lupe Martinez. I am a first-generation college student who is in their 5th year at UCSC! I’m an Oakes affiliate - GOOO OOOAKES!! I am a double major in MCD Biology & Education, Democracy, and Justice. Once I graduate, I will become a Genetic Counselor [manifesting], a health care professional specialized in genetics and counseling to help individuals and families assess their risk for inherited conditions such as genetic disorders or birth defects. I aspire to promote more equity and inclusion in the profession, but more importantly, to expand genetic counseling services and bridging cultural differences in genetic care for low-income, LBGTQ+, disabled, and BIPOC communities. As for outside of school, I currently work at the UCSC COVID-19 Testing Center and as a Programs Assistant for the Genomics Institute. I am honored to have received the Rigoberta Menchu award. I want to thank Oakes College for helping support my path towards higher education. It means so much to me and mi familia!