Meet Our 2022 Winners
Last year Rizos Curls awarded four scholarships to college students! We were able to support our 1st place winner, Monica Martinez attending USC with a $5,000 scholarship award, and our runner-ups Oriana Villalobos attending FIU, Merling Velasquez attending UCLA, and Lucia Gutierrez attending MSU with a $1,000 scholarship award each. A year later, we have been able to reconnect with some of our 2022 Rizos Curls: Lift as You Climb Scholarship winners and hear about their accomplishments and their college journey thus far.
Merling Velasquez, USC
Year Won: 2022
What are you up to now?
A few meaningful things that I've accomplished since winning this scholarship are being voted President of the Latinx Social Work Caucus and earning the Primary Care Project at USC. I have planned multiple community-based and student engagement events through my student organization and as a Graduate Residential College Coordinator under the Residential Education Department at USC. I also had a written submission displayed at an art gallery under Communities Rising’s “What’s Good South LA” initiative that highlighted what health and wellness looked like in my Los Angeles community.
How was your experience winning the Rizos Curls: Lift as You Climb Scholarship, and how did it support your journey?
Winning the Rizos Curls Lift as You Climb scholarship was financially helpful because it covered half of my deposit for my first semester of graduate school but also, emotionally it meant a lot to me that someone else believed in me-Graduate school is a big commitment. Being a first-generation student made me scared about going through this process, and this was actually the first graduate scholarship I was awarded! It gave me the confidence that my passion for the work I was invested in was worth it and that I was more than capable of completing my Masters program.
Any advice or words of inspiration you can share with current college students?
Express gratitude for the things you have today, nurture your passions, and invest time in supporting others as you reach your own milestones. You can learn so much from doing so and I love that this scholarship shares a similar message.
Year Won: 2022
What are you up to now?
I recently completed my clinical residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). My experience at CHLA was AMAZING! I had the opportunity to serve and collaborate with families and children experiencing complex medical conditions and mental health needs. Current aspirations include continuing my career as a pediatric occupational therapist (OT) within either a hospital or school-based setting. Ultimately, my goal will always be to ensure that children of all abilities feel safe, supported, and valued.
Monica Martinez, USC-Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
How was your experience winning the Rizos Curls: Lift as You Climb Scholarship, and how did it support your journey?
My experience winning this scholarship was so special and vulnerable. I feel like my close family and friends had an idea of the diverse experiences that contributed to my academic journey, but they didn’t really know the extent of my work. Through my scholarship submission, I was able to share moments that are very personal and close to my heart. If it wasn’t for the scholarship, I would have had the need to take out a student loan to pay for my summer semester tuition. Thankfully, I was able to pay for it with the scholarship and continue focusing on my studies. Thank you Rizos Curls! <3
Any advice or words of inspiration you can share with current college students?
My advice is to be authentic, brave, and humble. If you pursue your goals and opportunities with genuine intention, that will ALWAYS shine through! Everyone’s journey is so different so have faith and trust your own process. And as you achieve success (because you will) continue helping those around you in whatever capacity you can.
This year’s scholarship award is designed to help (3) students cover some of their college expenses. Rizos Curls strongly believes in the philosophy “Lift as You Climb”. As a growing business, we are always looking for opportunities to pay it forward. Giving back to our community is part of the Rizos Curls mission, and we believe that this scholarship can help enrich and encourage anyone who comes across our brand. Scholarships and grants were—and continue to be—a huge resource for Rizos Curls team members in pursuing higher education. As such, we’re thankful that we have the ability to extend this opportunity to another student pursuing the educational goals en route to achieving their dreams! Make sure to visit our Rizos Curls Scholarship page for all the details on how you can enter to be this year’s winner! Don't miss out! You have to be in it to win it!
