Latinos Unidos of Iowa awarded scholarships to two Central College students during Unlocking Your Future, the 2024 academic scholarship awards ceremony and dinner. 

Central senior lecturer of Spanish and class dean for the Class of 2027 Óscar Reynaga volunteers with Latinos Unidos of Iowa and presented the scholarship awards to students in attendance. Reynaga currently serves as a Latinos Unidos of Iowa board member and has served as one of the scholarship judges for the past 15 years.

Jenna-Marie Hernandez graduated from Central in May 2024 with biochemistry and biology majors and a minor in Spanish. She grew up in Slater, Iowa. Hernandez is a first-year dental student at the University of Iowa Dental College in Iowa City. Noemi Vega, Class of 2025, is a sociology and communication studies major from Osceola, Iowa. Vega is a first-generation student at Central.

Central is one of the few colleges and universities that established matching scholarship funds. This program doubles a student’s scholarship awarded by Latinos Unidos of Iowa for the academic year.

Latinos Unidos of Iowa is a nonprofit organization with the goal of generating leadership and unity within Latin and Hispanic organizations in Iowa. Its focus is to promote educational opportunities for students so they can obtain the knowledge needed to succeed.