GLORIA ROSAS TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

Gloria A. Rosas was born in Guadalajara, México where she married the love of her life, Germán Rosas. In the early seventies they immigrated with their children to the United States searching for better opportunities for her family. She arrived with limited knowledge of English and she faced the immense challenges of adaptation to a new country, new climate, and a new language.

Gloria always placed great value in education and the role of parents in the education of their children. She became a volunteer in her children’s schools and became an activist on behalf of bilingual education. She understood the need to get parents informed and engaged in their children’s education so she organized the Club de Padres y Educadores. She became a parent educator and passionate advocate for bilingual education.

Among her many accomplishments are the foundation of the Bilingual Parents Institute and of the Coalition against Gangs’ Related Violence. In the nineties, Gloria advocated for the creation of a dual-language immersion school in Southwest Detroit, the Academy of the Americas.

Her love for the Southwest Detroit community lead her to Latino Family Services where she worked for many years and became an interim president. She is a former Deputy Director of Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC) where she was active in the local schools as community liaison for parents and educators. At DHDC she conducted parents’ education seminars and classes and taught English so parents could be more engaged in the schools.

Gloria’s love for Mexican culture and music led her to host the radio show El grito de mi raza on WDET and the television show Latinos de Motown, on Barden Cable. She used these cultural shows to showcase la cultura and also transmit information regarding education and resources available to the community.

The success of Xochis Gift Shop, in Southwest Detroit is another testimony of Gloria’s entrepreneurial spirit and her love of education. Her shop is a community hub of la cultura y el arte de México. In addition to amazing gifts, the shop is a living library of history, iconography and values that weave the stories and traditions of the past into our present.

Gloria is also a passionate advocate for equity and opportunity for women. To this end, she co-founded MANA de Metro Detroit to support and recognize Hispanic/Latina women in Metro Detroit.

Education is the engine that propels Gloria’s life of service to the community. For this reason she is being honored as the namesake of the new MANA Gloria Rosas Teacher Education Scholarship.

AWARD:

• Scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded for costs relating to educational expenses only (i.e. tuition, books, supplies, etc.);
• Scholarship checks will be made payable to the recipient and university or college;
• Scholarship awards must be used during the 2024-2025 academic year;
• Awards will depend on the availability of funds and demonstrated student financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Must be Hispanic/Latina;
• Resident of Detroit or Metro Detroit;
• Accepted or currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program working towards a teacher certification in Pre-K-12 education;
• Must be fluent in English and Spanish;
• Preference will be given to those that are seeking an additional endorsement in Bilingual education or English as a second language.

REQUIREMENTS:

Each Application MUST be filled out completely and returned electronically by April 15, 2024. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applicant must be in the fields described under Eligibility to apply for this scholarship.

The following documents must be attached to your application:

• Current academic transcripts and/or GED scores;
• Letter of acceptance from school or proof of registration;
• Letters of recommendation from two (2) educators or community representatives;
• One to two page bio talking about your past experiences and future plans as it relates to your educational goals and community involvement;
• Must complete the Free Application of Federal Financial Student Aid for 2024-2025;
• Provide a copy of the last federal tax return or proof of total household income for 2023.

SPECIAL NOTE:
Scholarship awardees will automatically become MANA members for the scholarship year. Recipients can use MANA as a reference on their resumes of professional organization participation. Recipients must also be willing to provide five (5) hours of volunteer work. Participation in the MANA’s TIA Program or Hermanitas Program will count as meeting the five hours of volunteerism requirement.
DEADLINE:
All information must be received by the MANA Scholarship Committee on or before April 15, 2024. Applications postmarked or submitted after this date will not be considered or reviewed by the committee. If additional information is needed, please contact Ines de Jesus via e-mail at: idejesus5044@aol.com
NOTIFICATION OF AWARD:
All awardees will be notified via email. Awardees must attend the MANA Celebration luncheon to receive their scholarships. Date and location will be announced at a later date.

NOTE: Members or relatives of members of the Scholarship Review Committee are not eligible for the the Gloria Rosas Education Scholarship.