Forty talented and high-performing high school seniors took home $230,000 in scholarships altogether Friday night at the annual Hispanic Academic Achievers Program banquet.
Hosted at the Three Rivers Convention Center, the event celebrated Hispanic and Latino youth achievement and excellence. It provides resources for students pursuing higher education with the intent they’ll give back to their community.
Future scholars earn the awards based on financial need, leadership, civic and extracurricular activities, academic achievement and higher education goals.
They also must attend school in Connell, Finley, Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, and maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher within the first semester of their senior year.
“For a program recognizing the academic success of students in our community for the 37th year, this organization continues to showcase the importance of highlighting the stories of those in our community and that these scholarships not only celebrate past achievements, but also pave the way for future success and inspire others to dream big,” said Kevin Moran, president of HAAP.
HAAP also recognized 8,520 students — from 4th through 12th grade — with award certificates for maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Top-earning HAAP scholars
Ana Fumero Lora of Richland High School earned a $27,500 annual scholarship, with a total potential value of up to $110,000, sponsored by Heritage University.
She plans to study psychology at Heritage University. She will be the first in her family to attend college.
The 3.5 GPA student is a multilingual student ambassador at her school, a member of the Emerging Leaders Impact Network and a choir singer.
She came to the U.S. in 2023 with her family from Cuba. Lora says she faced cultural and language barriers, but that didn’t stop her from pushing herself academically.
Noé Lima Ponce of Chiawana High School received a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by Sue Frost.
He plans to study education at the University of Washington with the goal of becoming a dual-language teacher and, eventually, the state’s first Latino superintendent of public instruction.
He’s graduating from high school with a 3.95 GPA, and from Columbia Basin College with his associate’s degree. Ponce currently serves as student representative on the Pasco School Board.
Mylie Brooke Anderson of Chiawana received a $2,500 annual scholarship, with a potential value of $10,000, sponsored by Central Washington University.
Anderson plans to study psychology at Central Washington University and hopes to become a police officer to better serve Pasco’s Hispanic community.
The 4.0 GPA student has been involved in ASB all four years, as well as varsity soccer. Anderson is a record-setting athlete who earned an all-state recognition this season.
Kiana Rodriguez of Pasco High School earned a $7,000 scholarship sponsored by Fiesta Foods.
Rodriguez will study biology at either Central Washington University with plans to become a physician. She’ll graduate high school with a 3.91 GPA and with some credits from Columbia Basin College.
She’s a deeply engaged, compassionate youth who contributes her time to Key Club, Natural Helpers, the National Honor Society, and Faith Tri-Cities Kid Care. She is also a first-generation college student.
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2026 HAAP winners
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Yessica Espinoza Chavez, Pasco High School, $5,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study psychology at the University of Washington
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Edgar Machuca, Chiawana High School, $5,000 scholarship from Tri-Cities Engineering. He plans to study mechanical engineering at Washington State University Pullman.
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Jose Eduardo Jimenez Valdivia, Pasco High School, $4,000 scholarship from Columbia Basin College. He plans to study computer science at Columbia Basin College, then transfer to a four-year university.
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Leslie Sanchez, Pasco High School, $4,000 scholarship from Columbia Basin College. She plans to study health sciences at Columbia Basin College.
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Yocelin Aragon, Columbia High School, $3,500 scholarship from Columbia Basin College. She plans to study forensic science at Columbia Basin College, then transfer to a four-year university.
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Allisson Dayanne Rafael Bautista, Pasco High School, $3,500 scholarship from Columbia Basin College. She plans to study dental hygiene at Columbia Basin College.
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Stephanie Herrera Cortes, Pasco High School, $3,500 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study nursing at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Luis Olivares, Chiawana High School, $3,500 scholarship from Fiesta Foods. He plans to study education at Columbia Basin College.
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Gerson Parra Villegas, Kennewick High School, $3,000 scholarship from State Farm – Edison Valerio. He plans to study filmmaking at Columbia Basin College, then transfer to a four-year university.
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Michell Gonzalez Garcia, Kennewick High School, $3,000 scholarship from Fiesta Foods. She plans to study dental hygiene at Columbia Basin College.
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Genesis Liberato Rodriguez, Kennewick High School, $3,000 scholarship from Sue Frost. She plans to study dental hygiene at Columbia Basin College.
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Kenya Sevilla Lopez, Chiawana High School, $3,000 scholarship from Sue Frost. She plans to study medical laboratory science at the University of Washington.
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Leonardo Mendoza, Chiawana High School, $3,000 scholarship from HAAP. He plans to study pre-law at Washington State University Pullman.
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Kimberly Abril Marcos Perez, Pasco High School, $2,500 scholarship from Fiesta Foods. She plans to study dental hygiene at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Valeria Moreno Trujillo, Chiawana High School, $2,500 scholarship from Columbia Basin College. She plans to study early childhood education at Columbia Basin College.
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Emily Alcantara Roldan, Richland High School, $2,500 scholarship from Richland Education Association. She plans to study psychology at the University of Washington.
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Mariana Gonzalez Leon, Southridge High School, $2,500 scholarship from Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure. She plans to study chemistry at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Aileen Rivas Castro, Pasco High School, $2,500 scholarship from HFG Trust. She plans to study biology at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Diego Omar Anguiano, Kamiakin High School, $2,500 scholarship from Gesa Credit Union. He plans to study elementary education at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Elisa Reka, Hanford High School, $2,500 scholarship from Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure. She plans to study chemistry at Whitworth University, then transfer to the University of Washington.
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Adilynne Towery, Richland High School, $2,500 scholarship from Hanford Mission Integration Solutions. She plans to study neuroscience at the University of Washington.
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Alianna Vianey Castro, Pasco High School, $2,500 scholarship from Hanford Mission Integration Solutions. She plans to study animal science at Washington State University.
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Saray Siete, Pasco High School, $2,000 scholarship from Fiesta Foods. She plans to study biology at the University of Washington.
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Diego Gutierrez, Tri-Cities Prep, $2,000 scholarship from Fiesta Foods. He plans to study mathematical sciences at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
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Jasmin Rios Garcia, Kennewick High School, $2,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study biology at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Vanessa Espindola Jurado, Kennewick High School, $2,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study industrial engineering at Columbia Basin College.
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Esfeidi Gutierrez Mendoza, Connell High School, $2,000 scholarship from Sue Frost. She plans to study electrical and computer engineering at the University of Washington.
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Zabdi Hernandez Hernandez, Pasco High School, $2,000 scholarship from Sue Frost. She plans to study education at Washington State University Pullman.
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Rodrigo Espinoza, Pasco High School, $2,000 scholarship from HAAP. He plans to study project management at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Laylin Gemaly Lopez Cruz, Southridge High School, $2,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study finance at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Stephanie Mendez, Kennewick High School, $2,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study accounting at Columbia Basin College.
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Ramiro Marquina, Tri-Cities Prep, $2,000 scholarship from HAAP. He plans to study political science at College of the Holy Cross.
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Dorene Zambrano Perez, Pasco High School, $1,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study interpreting at Columbia Basin College.
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Tatianah Perez, Hanford High School, $1,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study psychology at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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Melanie Gutierrez Felix, Pasco High School, $1,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study international business at Washington State University Pullman.
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Alexis Akins, Chiawana High School, $1,000 scholarship from HAAP. She plans to study human physiology or forensic science at Arizona State University.
This list was created and sorted with the aid of artificial intelligence, and was fact-checked by our newsroom. Learn about our AI policy here.
