Below, you’ll find the recipients of our 2024-2025 scholarships! Each of these students are doing incredible work on Grounds and in their communities. Thank you to each and every donor that has made these scholarships possible.
Undergraduate Student Scholarship Winners
Patrick Realyvasquez (Col ’25)
Patrick is a fourth-year Psychology and Music double major at the University of Virginia. Patrick has a passion for sharing his culture through music and art, and aspires to serve his community as a whole through a future career in neuroscience research and education. Patrick is deeply grateful to the Bolívar Network for their support, which has enabled him to pursue his love for performing mariachi music while continuing his studies with much less stress! The Bolívar Network encouragement inspires him to uphold the values of service and community that the Bolívar Network represents.
Ziana Bennett (Com ’26)
Ziana was born in Florida and raised in North Philidelphia. She is a third-year student at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, concentrating in Management and IT. As a low-income Afro-Latina student, Ziana is passionate about expanding access to education, technology, and opportunity in underrepresented communities.
At UVA, she serves as President of the Afro-Latinx Student Organization and Vice President of the SoulAAN Student Union, where she advocates for cultural celebration and community empowerment. She also tutors middle and high school students in Charlottesville, aiming to provide the kind of educational support she didn’t always have access to growing up.
Professionally, Ziana has worked with Booz Allen Hamilton and PwC, applying consulting strategies to support nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. She also worked at an immigration law firm, supporting families through complex legal systems—an experience that deepened her commitment to social impact.
Currently studying abroad at ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Ziana is exploring global business strategy while preparing for a future that blends consulting, technology, and entrepreneurship to uplift communities like the one that raised her.
Graduate Student Scholarship Winner
Elisa Enriquez Hesles (Med ’25)
Elisa is a member of the Class of 2025 at the UVA School of Medicine, where she is pursuing a dual MD/PhD degree. Born in Mexico, she moved to the United States at the age of nine. Passionate about eliminating language barriers in healthcare, Elisa volunteers with the Charlottesville Free Clinic and the UVA Latino Health Initiative (LHI). She also serves as the Language and Culture Development Chair for the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) at UVA.
First Year Scholarship Winner
Estefania Carvajal (Col ’28)
Estefania comes to UVA from Venezuela by way of Lynchburg. She is a strong student who is always seeking ways to help others. In Venezuela, she led volunteer groups to distribute food and other goods to those in need. At Lynchburg General Hospital she has worked as a Patient Representative for the Emergency Department and held the competitive position of Beacon of Hope Intern. She has also worked as a tutor, translator, and photographer.