For immediate release – December 10, 2021
Contacts: The Bolívar Network – TheBolivarNetwork@gmail.com
The Bolívar Network Hosts 2021 Virtual Award Brunch Honoring three undergraduate students with annual Book Scholarships, Fanny Smedile with Pablo J. Davis Award, and Inaugurates First-Year Scholarship
On Saturday, December 4 at 11:00 am, the Bolívar Network, UVA’s network for Hispanic/Latinx/Latino alumni, hosted its second Virtual Awards Brunch honoring the recipients of the annual Book Scholarship Award, the annual Pablo J. Davis Award, and the inaugural First-Year Scholarship.
The Bolívar Network is excited to announce that this year, three Latinx students received the Bolívar Network Book Scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Book Scholarship, which provides individual $1,000 scholarships to each recipient to help defray the costs of textbooks and other expenses, seeks to identify Latinx students who stand out in areas of academic achievement, leadership, and service. Congratulations to Brianna Guevara, Class of 2024; Jaime Trejo-Angeles, Class of 2023; and Juan Zazueta, Class of 2022.
The Bolívar Network’s annual Pablo J. Davis Award seeks to identify a University of Virginia staff member, alumnus, faculty member, or Charlottesville resident whose work has contributed significantly to the advancement of the Latinx/Hispanic community. The 2021 Recipient of the Pablo J. Davis Award is Fanny Smedile! Fanny is from Columbe, Ecuador, and helping people has been her passion since her teen years. She studied Business Administration, and while working for a public hospital, she volunteered as a health promoter, making home visits to people who struggled to meet their basic needs. In 1988, she came to the United States and settled in New Jersey. As a parishioner of St. Mary Church in Pompton Lakes, she learned of the struggles of recently arrived families and wanted to respond with compassion to the trauma and difficulty they experienced.
Fanny collected and distributed food and furniture, and initiated ESL classes, health clinics, and celebrations of Hispanic culture. In 2000, Fanny and her family moved to Virginia, since then she has been active in justice efforts and outreach through the Catholic church. Fanny is a founding member of Creciendo Juntos and Sin Barreras, and serves as the senior member of the Sin Barreras staff as Board President. Her objective is to bring needed services to members of the Hispanic community in Charlottesville and the surrounding areas and to reach out to those who are most vulnerable.
The Bolívar Network is also pleased to announce the inaugural recipient of the First-Year Scholarship, Kiara Barrientos, Class of 2025. The Bolívar Network’s First-Year Scholarship provides funds for an exceptional Hispanic/Latinx high school student from the Commonwealth of Virginia to incentivize them to attend the University of Virginia. Founded on the core principles of leadership and service to the Hispanic and Latinx community, this Scholarship recognizes the extraordinary talent of students in our community and their ability to create a lasting impact on the University, the surrounding Charlottesville community, and their future post-graduate plans. Currently a one-time scholarship awarded to an incoming student entering their first year, the scholarship committee plans to grow both the number of scholarships and amount awarded each year.
For more information about the Bolívar Network and these awards please visit our website.