WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 music 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.000 music 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:08.000 My name is Jos' Rojas Olivares and 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000 I'm a freshman studying elementary education. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:15.000 The moment that I received my diversity commitment scholarship 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:20.000 I felt validated. To me it meant the university valued 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 my background and my experiences and it wanted to help me succeed. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:29.000 Now I'm motivated to be a part of this campus and its community. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:31.000 My name is Lataya Forks. I am a freshman 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:34.000 and I'm majoring in education 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.000 Being a diversity student means more to me than financial aid. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.000 Being a foster kid and being first generation, too. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:44.000 It is a lot of work and being a diversity student 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.000 I found that other people have gone through the same as me 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:50.000 and I'm very thankful, blessed to have 'em. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:52.000 My name is Shyann Ah Nee I am a freshman here. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.000 and I'm majoring in communications. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:58.000 To me being a diversity scholar means that I was blessed and fortunate enough 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:60.000 to receive the very important resources I would need 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.000 to successful here at Western Oregon. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.000 For example, without the funding that the scholarship provided for me 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:08.000 I wouldn't have been able to come to Western Oregon from Hawaii. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:10.000 My name's AJ Robledo. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.000 I'm a freshman majoring in economics. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.000 To me diversity means to be the forefront of inclusiveness on our campus. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.000 To be the leaders who make everyone feel welcome 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:20.000 and have a place to belong. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.000 right here at Western Oregon University. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.000 My name is Leticia Barbosa. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:26.000 I'm a freshman and I'm majoring in criminal justice. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:30.000 Being a diversity scholar has given me an opportunity to be here at WOU 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.000 along with meeting new people and being involved. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:34.000 My name is Katie Byrd. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.000 I'm a freshman and my major is anthropology. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.000 For me being a diversity scholar means to be connected to your community. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.000 To know who you are and what that means to you. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:46.000 But also to know who your peers are and what their identity means to them 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.000 and then to grow as a community. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:49.000 My name's Riyann Gomez. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.000 It's my first year in college and I'm majoring in criminology. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.000 Being a diversity scholar is something you shouldn't hide, you gotta own it. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.000 You worked hard every day to be here where you are today. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:61.000 Even though we don't know your story we value your time and effort. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.000 Diversity scholars is who we are and we're just getting started. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.000 My name is Cynthia Cardenas. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:09.000 I'm a freshman and I'm majoring in education. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:11.000 Being a diversity scholar means to hold the power 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:13.000 to promote diversity in any community. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.000 Whether that be from helping with an event or creating one. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.000 We all should celebrate our differences because 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.000 they all make us special and unique. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.000 My name is Priscilla Espana. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:26.000 I'm a freshman and I'm majoring in public policy and administration. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.000 Being a first generation college student and a Latina with parents who don't speak English 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.000 there were a lot of things about higher education that I'd didn't know about. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.000 However, being a diversity scholar allows me to reach out to people 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.000 who understand what it's like to be a first generation student 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:43.000 and what it's like to navigate college for the first time. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:44.000 My name's Giana Quitugua. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.000 I'm a freshman and I'm majoring in pre-nursing. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:50.000 Being a diversity scholar means more than the color or our skin 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:52.000 where we come from and why we got this scholarship. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.000 It stands for all of us. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.000 It means having a support system that knows what it feels like 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.000 to be a first generation college student. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:62.000 And most importantly it means becoming who you want to be. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:05.000 Our difference, our struggles and obstacles we've overcome 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.000 is an achievement when being a diversity scholar. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:14.000 music. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Thank you for your support! 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 music