2025 The Santiago Carrasquillo Family Scholarship: For Public Policy, Political Science, or Civic Engagement

2025 The Santiago Carrasquillo Family Scholarship: For Public Policy, Political Science, or Civic Engagement

The Santiago Carrasquillo Family Scholarship is established to honor the memory of Teresa Ortiz Fernandez, the grandmother and great-grandmother of the Carrasquillo family. She was a mentor, and inspiration to her family and community. Teresa was a humble and unassuming woman, no era perfumada yet her strength was well recognized because her word was her bond. When she made a promise, it was understood that it would be fulfilled.

In 1973, a letter from Cesar Perales, then General Counsel of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, acknowledged Teresa’s significant achievement in successfully suing the Board of Elections. This lawsuit resulted in ballots, voter information, and translators being provided in Spanish at polling sites, reflecting the needs of a population that was 5% Puerto Rican and/or Hispanic at the time. Her family was surprised to learn about this accomplishment, as she never spoke of it. This landmark decision set a precedent that enables individuals today to vote in their native language.

As children, the Carrasquillo family fondly remembers the many meetings held in their apartment on Intervale Avenue in the South Bronx, where Teresa’s no-nonsense approach to serving her community was evident. She acted quietly and effectively, embodying a small yet significant piece of Puerto Ricanhistory in the ongoing struggle for the right to vote in Spanish within the Diaspora.

Eligibility
The Santiago Carrasquillo Family Scholarship is available to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students who are majoring in public policy, political science, or civic engagement.

The scholarship recipient will receive a $1,000 award (one-time offer).

Contact Information:

For questions, please contact:
Lisa M. Rodriguez
Phone: (347) 693-6893
Email: cn.scholarship@gmail.com

Website: https://www.comitenoviembre.org/
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

Descent: Must be of Puerto Rican descent.

Major: Must be majoring in one of the following fields:

Public Policy
Political Science
Civic Engagement
Enrollment: Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university by fall 2025.

GPA Requirement: Applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.

Age: No requirement

Interview: Applicants must undergo a virtual interview with the selection committee, which can be conducted in English or Spanish.

Previous Scholarships: Applicants cannot be former CN scholarship awardees of any CN Scholarships.

Note: If selected, only one CN scholarship will be granted if the applicant filled out multiple CN Scholarships.

GUIDELINES
Completed Application Package Requirements

A completed application package must include the following items:

Application
Essay
Biographical Sketch
One Letter of Recommendation
Must be from a community member who knows your work and leadership.
Must be written on organizational letterhead.
Must include the contact phone number of the person writing the recommendation letter.
High School Transcript (for high school students)
Academic Transcripts (for college students)
Headshot Photo
DEADLINE
Application Submission Guidelines:

The application package must be received by Friday, May 02, 2025.
Applications received after the due date will be disqualified.
Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email.
Disqualification Conditions for Comité Noviembre Scholarship Recipients:

Recipients will be disqualified if any of the following conditions are met:

The recipient provides false application information.
The recipient fails to graduate from high school by June of 2025.
The recipient is not enrolled in an accredited college or university by Fall of 2025.
The recipient is not of Puerto Rican descent.
The recipient is a former CN scholarship awardee of any CN scholarships.

Scholarship Payment Information

Payment Date: November 2025
Requirements for Payment:
Official College Registration/Enrollment: Proof of your enrollment in college.
Video: A 2–3-minute video expressing how this scholarship will impact your education.