Maria de la Cruz Romo Memorial Scholarship

One $500 *Scholarship available if you meet the following criteria:
*Major: Any
Minimum G.P.A.: 2.5
Completed EVC Units (minimum): 24
Current units enrolled at EVC: 12
Required units to be enrolled in upcoming semester: 12 at a 4 year college or University
Additional requirements: Preference given to single parents and AB540 students
Essay topic: How do you relate to Maria’s passion for education, and how do you see yourself giving back to the community? (Read information below)

Maria Nicolasa De La Cruz Romo was born on October 14, 1953, in Alice, Texas, to Guadalupe and Ramona De La Cruz. Maria has always valued education, a straight-A student in Le Grand High School, she attended Santa Clara University (B.A. Psychology) and earned her Master’s degree in Counselor Education at San Jose State University.

Maria worked for the past 20 years at San Jose State University as an educator, outreach specialist, academic adviser, counselor and mentor. Maria struggled indefatigably on behalf of students and the Educational Opportunity Program. She was a lifelong activist in the Latino Civil Rights Movement, the United Farm Workers and the Chicano/Latino Youth Leadership Conference, and the Latina Leadership Network.
With all her accomplishments, her greatest pride was her family, always a mother first and foremost, her dearest love was her son, Benito, and her grandson, Riley Chase.
A written statement by Maria describing herself:
“I am a Chicana with my roots in Texas. My family migrated to Florida and then to California following the crops, tomato, flowers, oranges broccoli and cotton. Working in the “el fil” made me a very strong person. When I was 9 years old my mother gave me a campaign lite for Democrats and she told me to call the voters to get out the votes for JFK. This experience has taught me the meaning of politics from a grass roots Chicana perspective. This has been my voice at home with my family, at work with my colleagues and with the world as a Chicana, mother, daughter, sister, friend and counselor."