Congratulations to the 2023 Book Scholarship recipients!
2023 Graduate: Sabrina Mato
“To me, receiving the Bolivar Network scholarship means support of my journey as a Latina in the legal field. It also means support from a wonderful network of people guiding others like myself.”
Sabrina Mato was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States at 10 years old. She studied international affairs and political science at Florida State University and then worked at the Department of Justice with immigrant employee rights. Currently, she is completing her third year at the law school where she has focused on immigration, employment and international law. She also serves as the President of the Latin American Law Organization. Sabrina is committed to bridging the gap between UVA and the local Latinx community through intentional collaboration and volunteering initiatives.
2023 Undergraduate: Goretty Bustamante Pinares
My name is Goretty Bustamante Pinares, I live in Falls Church, VA, and I was born in Lima, Peru. I’m a second-year in the College of Arts and Sciences, intending to double major in Global Public Health and Statistics on a pre-medicine track. I am actively involved in SISI Madison House, PLUMAS, University Guide Services, and I work as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the University Hospital. As a first-generation college student, navigating the complexities of college, I am filled with happiness and reassurance knowing that my accomplishments are not only acknowledged but also greatly cherished.
2023 Undergraduate: Sebastian Moeller Rivera
“Winning this scholarship is an incredible honor and a validation of my commitment to academic excellence and service. It’s not just financial support; it’s a recognition of my journey and the values I hold dear. This scholarship empowers me to pursue my dreams in medicine and neuroscience, ensuring that I can continue making a positive impact in healthcare. Beyond the tangible benefits, it’s a testament to the importance of cultural competence and equitable healthcare access. This win inspires me to redouble my efforts in addressing healthcare disparities, embodying the values of advocacy, cultural awareness, and a dedication to underserved communities.”
Sebastian is a dedicated and driven undergraduate scholar pursuing their pre-medical studies at the University of Virginia. Their academic journey is anchored in a passion for neuroscience, conducting research in epilepsy. Beyond academics, Sebastian actively engages with the Latinx/Latin American community, actively addressing healthcare disparities through educational programs and awareness campaigns. His commitment to cultural competence and equitable healthcare access is deeply rooted in personal and academic experiences. Sebastian is not only an aspiring medical professional but also a compassionate advocate for healthcare equity and cultural awareness.
Previous Winners:
2022 Graduate: Fernando Casarotti
“Being granted the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship is such an honor and makes me truly flattered! This support (and recognition) will power up my journey of paying back all the opportunities that I’ve been given this far, by making the most to open doors for many other people so they can achieve their goals.” -Fernando Casarotti
Fernando Casarotti is a member of the Class of 2024 at the Darden School of Business, where he is pursuing his MBA. Fernando was born in the countryside of Brazil. In addition to serving as a volunteer professor in his home country, he also worked with incarcerated minors in Brazil. He also managed an initiative to produce and distribute 1,000+ masks to families in the Brazilian countryside during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is involved with the Latin American Student Association at Darden (LASA) and the Consulting Club. He is also highly involved with the Darden Admissions Teams, where he seeks to support his peers and enhance their Darden experience.
2022 Undergraduate: María José Corvalán Cabañas, Anthony Guevara, Paola Linares
“I am truly honored and grateful to be one of the 2022 Bolívar Network Book Scholarship recipients. Being selected for this award encourages my efforts to promote accessibility of information and inclusivity in our Latinx community and will also help me continue my studies in economics and public policy—two academic fields I’m incredibly passionate about. Thank you for supporting me and my academic pursuits!” -María José Corvalán Cabañas
MJ Corvalán Cabañas is a member of the Class of 2023. She is majoring in Economics in the College, minoring in Foreign Affairs, AND she is ALSO pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy at the Batten School! MJ was born and raised in Paraguay, and came to the States when she was 13 years old. She serves as the Spanish Translation Editor for The Cavalier Daily, where she expanded the Spanish translation section so translators can also write original content articles in Spanish on topics exclusively relevant to the Latinx community that could later be translated to English for wider access. She joined the Cavalier Daily team because she is passionate about the importance of combatting disinformation in Latinx communities. She is also a Education Policy Associate at the Virginia Policy Partnership Collaborative, an Economics Tutor, a member of the Batten Latinx Network Executive team, and a leader in Kappa Alpha Theta.
“Being awarded the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship means so much to me because it means I’ve progressed into an active member of the Latino community here at the University. I went from being locked in all the time in my dorm because I didn’t have any Latino friends I could relate to, to now working with amazing people in my community who seek the advancement of said community.” Anthony Guevara
Anthony Guevara is a Salvadoran-Honduran member of the Class of 2023 majoring in Latin American Studies and minoring in Latinx Studies. His many organizational involvements include Central Americans for Empowerment at UVA (CAFE), the Latinx Peer Mentoring Program (PMP), and the Afro-Latinx Student Organization (ALSO). They also spearheaded change at the Native American Student Organization (NASU) by advocating for the inclusion of Southern Native students and their perspectives. Anthony is passionate about media representation. He hopes to work with Latinos in both the United States and Latin America – especially those often ignored by the general public such as Indigenous Latin Americans, rural-living Latin Americans, Black Latin Americans, etc.
“I am so grateful to be one of the recipients of the Bolivar Network Book Scholarship. It is affirming to know that the passion and love that I have for organizations like Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and UndocUVA does not go unnoticed. I hope to always continue empowering my communities and plan to utilize this scholarship towards my research endeavors for my fourth-year thesis.” -Paola Linares
Paola Linares is a Puerto Rican and Peruvian student of the Class of 2023. She is an Echols Scholar majoring in Political & Social Thought in the College and minoring in Public Policy and Leadership in Batten. She is currently working on a thesis about the sterilization of Puerto Rican women and how it is being remembered. In addition to being a Lawn Room Resident, she works as a Rotunda Student Ambassador and serves as the Co-President of the immigrant rights organization undocuUVA and the President of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated – which she helped revive alongside four other strong women at UVA. Her goal is to eventually go to law school to pursue her interests in immigration, family, or entertainment law.
2021 Undergraduate: Brianna Guevara, Jaime Trejo-Angeles, Juan Zazueta
“I am beyond grateful to receive the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship. I feel honored to have my efforts recognized and appreciated by the Latinx alumni community and this scholarship will only serve as inspiration to continue flourishing in the organizations that I take part in as well as academically! The support from the scholarship means a lot to my family and I.” -Brianna Guevara
“I am honored to receive the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship. For me, receiving this scholarship further reinforces my goal of continuing the growth of my community within our new normal. Also, it is a reflection of those who have accompanied me during my time at UVA, including the Hispanic/Latinx Peer-Mentoring Program, the Latinx Leadership Institute, and my friends and family, and the gratitude I have towards them.” -Jaime Trejo-Angeles
“I am extremely grateful and appreciative to be one of the recipients for this year’s Bolívar Network Book Scholarship. As a first-generation college student who is still in the midst of figuring things out, it brings me both joy and confidence to have my academic achievements, organizing efforts, and contributions to this campus over the past four years not only be recognized but embraced, supported, and affirmed by my community. I am super excited to expand my personal library and thank the Bolívar Network for granting me financial access to purchase resources that will be dedicated to my thesis.” -Juan Zazueta
2020 Undergraduate: Natalie Mar Cordero, Alisa Negrón, Tamara Moscovich
“I am truly honored to receive this scholarship from the Bolívar Network. Receiving this award in the midst of all the challenges we’ve all been going through truly means the world to me. Thank you so much for supporting me and my academic endeavors.” -Natalie Mar Cordero
“It is such an honor to receive the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship. I am passionate about fostering a diverse and welcoming community for marginalized students on grounds by providing mentorship and support in my roles as a Familia Head for the Hispanic/Latinx Peer-Mentoring Program and a Resident Advisor. This scholarship is encouragement from a community that has helped me make UVA a home and I hope to continue to do the same for other incoming students during this especially difficult time.” -Alisa Negrón
“I was truly honored to receive the Bolívar Network Scholarship. For me, receiving this scholarship showed me that the hard work I have put into advocating for a community that I cherish over the last four years is recognized and appreciated. The scholarship also provided me with an amazing opportunity to help my father financially after he has already given me so much.” -Tamara Moscovich
2019 Undergraduate: Johanna Moncada Sosa, Lorena Tabrane, and Brittney Vargas
“I am passionate about developing effective advocacy and support systems for marginalized communities. During my time at UVA I am most proud of my work as Diversity Liaison at the UVA Career Center, Resident Adviser, and my role within DreamersOnGrounds.” -Lorena Tabrane
“I am most passionate about working towards a world without oppression and am most proud of fostering communities through various outlets, including Central Americans for Empowerment, DREAMers on Grounds and the Multicultural Student Center.” -Johanna Moncada Sosa
“I am most passionate about empowering womxn and people of color to embrace their worth and succeed in their goals. I am most proud of the mentorship, support, and positive impact I provided through my role as a Resident Advisor and other community involvement.” -Brittney Vargas
2016 Undergraduate: Hannah Melissa Borja and Sarah Nerette
“I was honored to receive the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship. It helped alleviate some of the financial burden placed on my parents by attending school internationally and allowed me to focus my efforts on pursuing my degree.” -Sarah Nerette
“I was genuinely surprised to receive the Bolívar Network Scholarship. I was still a first year at the time, and the recognition really helped with my confidence. I also appreciated how the funds provided much-needed relief when it came to buying school supplies that semester.” -Hannah “Mel” Borja
2015 Undergraduate: Amelia Garcia, Andre Sanabia
“Receiving the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship was a true honor. Not only was it gratifying to share with my community the pride I felt for the organizations I was involved with (both the Latinx Student Alliance and the Peer Mentoring Program), but also to encourage my latinx classmates to continue nurturing the home we’ve built at UVA.” -Amelia Garcia
2014 Undergraduate: Erika Fernandez, Emilia Alexandra Gore
2012 Undergraduate: Perla Vitela
“Receiving the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship was both an honor and an inspiration to continue the work I was doing within and outside of UVA. The scholarship provided direct financial assistance during especially difficult years after my family faced financial hardships that were out of our control. The scholarship was support from a community that felt close to home.” -Perla Vitela
2011 Undergraduate: Jose Argueta
2010 Graduate: Jose Luis Mattos, Emie Xavier Pérez Almodóvar
2010 Undergraduate: Claudia Quintero, Natalia Mercado
“Receiving the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship was such an honor and it was also a special moment for my whole family (the plaque is still hanging on a wall in my parent’s home!). It was also very inspiring to know that there were alumni from our community who wanted to celebrate our contributions and achievements at UVA.” -Claudia Quintero
2009 Graduate: Carolina Ramôa, Mariel Garcia
2009 Undergraduate: Rolando Mendez, Diego Zambrano
2008 Undergraduate: Juana Yunis, Peter Rios, Bernice Ramirez
“I was honored to receive the Scholarship. It inspired me to continue organizing outreach programs through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). The outreach programs specifically encourage Hispanic high school students to pursue careers in STEM.” -Peter Rios
2007 Undergraduate: Elio Jordan, Sherry Vittel Rosales
“It made me feel part of a unique group of Latino / Hispanic leaders at UVA, working from various fronts, different positions and organizations, to further the presence and recognition of the Latino / Hispanic community on grounds, proving that one can be a leader in many ways and push for progress from various angles.” -Elio Jordan King