Chicana/o Scholarship Fund

Dr. Trina M. Valdez is the State Education Liaison with the Department of Human Services (DHS). She is working as an advocate with the Utah Juvenile Court, State Board of Education and DHS to improve educational outcomes for youth in state care. She is committed to improving the educational experience for all Utah youth and their families. As a scholar and practitioner, she is developing a research, teaching and service philosophy aimed at addressing issues of access and equity in higher education. She is a two-time recipient of the Chicana/o Scholarship.

Xris is proud to be a previous recipient of the Chicana/o Scholarship and the director of the Dream Center at the University of Utah. He is fluent in Espaňol and Portuguĕs and enjoys listening to all kinds of music, playing the ukulele, training Capoeira, hiking, mountain biking, and loves cars and car shows.

Originally from Tselani, Arizona, Anthony Shirley is a member of the Navajo Tribe and the Many Goat Clan born for the Tower House People Clan. He enjoys many passions: the outdoors, watercolor, cuisines – Italian especially, movies, community involvement, and teaching. Since becoming a part of the University of Utah community in 2003, Anthony has made contributions both on an off campus. He regularly is involved with the Urban Indian Center of Utah and the Utah Pride Center and teaches Navajo language and culture courses in the Language & Literature Department. He strongly believes in the preservation of language and culture.

Francisco Samaniega was born in Orange, California and joyously spent their childhood in the Orange County area before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah. Their family is originally from Michoacán, Mexico. Francisco was granted the Chicanx Scholarship in 2011. He is absolutely grateful for the opportunity to have studied at the University of Utah with the help of amazing scholarships provided by organizations like the Chicanx Scholarship Fund. Francisco currently engages with the University of Utah as an Admissions Counselor and absolutely loves the opportunities he has encountered as part of the University of Utah staff. Francisco loves to paddle board, practices yoga, and loves to try new vegetarian food.

Giulia Soto is the Second Year Program Coordinator in the Center for Ethnic Student Affairs. As a University of Utah Alumna, she is thankful to have received the Chicano/a Scholarship throughout her education at the U. Giulia is a proud indigenous Peruvian immigrant, who enjoys cultivating her traditions from dancing Peruvian Folklore to eating Peruvian dishes. Passionate about providing equitable education in Latin America, her honors undergrad thesis and masters policy brief highlighted the educational inequities that occur there.

Laura Alvarez received the Chicana/o Scholarship her first year at the University of Utah in 2009. She also received a renewal scholarship and the Pete Suazo Corazón de la Raza award. Laura graduated from the University of Utah in 2014 with a B.S. in Marketing and a Minor in French. Laura is grateful for the generosity of the Chicana/o Scholarship Fund as well as for the mentorship and the opportunities that receiving the Chicana/o Scholarship provided for her. That is why she decided to become a board member soon after graduation. In her free time Laura enjoys traveling, learning new languages, trying new recipes, and exploring Utah’s rapidly changing foodie scene.

Phoebe Galvez is a graduate from the University of Utah and is currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving survivors of sexual violence. Her professional goals have focused on working with marginalized populations and creating working relationships within the Latinx community. She has served on the Chicano Scholarship Fund board since 2017.