The 2025 Wallace Edgecombe Scholarship for Affecting Change in the Hispanic Community

2025 Wallace Edgecombe Scholarship: For Affecting Change in the Hispanic Community
Alma y Corazón Award

In 2023, Comité Noviembre established the Alma y Corazón Award. This award recognizes individuals who are not Puerto Rican but have shown unconditional commitment and dedication to the preservation and promotion of Puerto Rican culture and history, making a significant impact on our community.

First Recipient: Wallace “Wally” Edgecombe

Wallace “Wally” Edgecombe is the inaugural recipient of the Alma y Corazón Award. His personal and professional journey has left a lasting legacy and a unique cultural imprint on the Puerto Rican community and beyond.

In 2006, Wally established Eugenio María de Hostos Community College (CUNY) as the home of Comité Noviembre’s National Puerto Rican Artisans and Authors Fair, making it a prominent Puerto Rican event at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture during Puerto Rican Heritage Month each November. Thanks to Wally, this fair has become a must-attend event for 18 years.

Career at

Eugenio María de Hostos Community College

Wally Edgecombe began his 39-year career at Hostos Community College in 1973, where he served as the Director of the Office of College Relations and, for 33 years, as the founding director of the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture. Throughout his early years, he played a vital role in the college’s survival struggles, serving as assistant director and director of the Office of College Relations and Development.

In the early 1980s, Wally led efforts to design and implement a cultural program that would establish the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture as a leading voice for Puerto Rican artistic expressions nationwide. Under his leadership, the Center became a major arts presenter and an incubator of cutting-edge art through a series of festivals, residencies, and commissions.

Background

Wally was born and raised in La Habana, Cuba, and migrated to the United States just before his 15th birthday. He holds a BA in History/Latin American Studies from Columbia University and an MS from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Wallace “Wally” Edgecombe Scholarship

The Wallace “Wally” Edgecombe Scholarship will be awarded to a young person aged 17 to 27 who has volunteered for two consecutive years advocating for and taking action to effect change in the Puerto Rican/Hispanic community. The scholarship winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Scholarship Amount

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 Requirements for CN Scholarships

Descent: Must be of Hispanic descent.
Major: Open to students majoring in any subject.
College Enrollment: Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university by fall 2025.
GPA Requirement: Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
Age:

No requirement
Interview Requirement: Applicants must undergo a virtual interview with the selection committee, which can be conducted in English or Spanish.
Previous Recipients: Applicants cannot be former CN scholarship awardees of any CN Scholarships.
NOTE: If selected, only one CN scholarship will be granted even if the applicant applied to multiple CN Scholarships.

GUIDELINES
Completed Application Package Requirements

To submit a completed application package, ensure you include the following documents:

Application
Essay
Biographical Sketch
Letter of Recommendation
Must be from a community member who is familiar with your work and leadership.
Should be written on organizational letterhead.
Must include the contact phone number of the recommender.
Volunteer Community Service Statement
High School Transcript (for high school students)
Academic Transcripts (for college students)
Headshot Photo
Important Note:
Please ensure the recommendation letter meets the specified criteria.

DEADLINE
The application package must be received by Friday, May 02, 2025.
Application packages received after the due date will be disqualified.
Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email.
Conditions for disqualification of Comité Noviembre Scholarship recipients:

The recipient provides false application information.
Recipient fails to graduate from High School by June 2025.
Recipient is not enrolled in an accredited college or university by Fall 2025.
The recipient is not of Hispanic 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.