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HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
WITH THE JOSEPHINE AGUADO SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
AND ART EXHIBITION "BACK TO MY ROOTS"

March 3, 2011 (Bronx, NY) – Hostos Community College and the Alumni Relations Office celebrated Women's History Month with a tribute reception at which Lilia Esquivel and Oyamiwa Walker were given the first two Josephine Aguado Scholarship Awards. Esquivel and Walker are single mothers and outstanding students at Hostos who have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement. The reception also recognized the academic and artistic merit of Hostos Alumna (05’) Jasmin Rivera with the exhibition “Back to My Roots”.

Bill Aguado, longtime Executive Director of the Bronx Council on the Arts Executive Director and a member of the Hostos Foundation’s Board, presented the scholarship in honor of his mother Josephine. "This award is a tribute to my mother, who raised me as a single parent. When as a young adult I moved out on my own and realized I couldn’t afford my own life, I understood how much my own mother had sacrificed to give me everything I had. This scholarship is to honor single-mother students who are excelling in school, and to support you and recognize the invaluable role models you are."

About the Winners of the Josephine Aguado Scholarship

Oyamiwa Walker, a new member of the Hostos Student Leadership Academy, is serving in the Emerging Leaders Program. As a member of the Academy, Ms. Walker participated in a week-long series of workshops this past winter to develop, strengthen and hone her leadership skills. She has also volunteered at a variety of events, including the National Day of Service on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday. Oyamiwa also volunteers as a dance instructor with the Groove with Me Group.

Ms. Walker became a mother at the age of 16, which caused her to postpone her educational pursuits for almost 15 years. She made the decision to come back to college because she was inspired by the successes of her two daughters. Oyamiwa is pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and plans to transfer to a four-year college to pursue her studies and her dream of becoming a professional dancer. Oyamiwa also plans to earn her Master’s Degree in Dance Therapy.

Lilia Esquivel is currently serving in the Hostos Student Leadership Academy’s  Emerging Leaders Program. Mrs. Esquivel is a single mother, a full-time student and a full-time employee. Mrs. Esquivel’s short-term goal is to graduate from Hostos and then transfer to a four-year college. Her long-term goal is to go to law school and become one of the most distinguished Latina lawyers in New York City. She is very proud of being a single mother, because it has helped her to become independent and realize how important it is to get an education nowadays.

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