AVES at GSU

Orlando Gil is a senior at Bernard M. Baruch College studying Computer Science in New York City. He came to the United States as a tourist on a visa at the age of 7 years old. He had no background in English and began school before 5th grade in the middle of the school year. During his early years, Orlando recognized life was based on social class instead of the color of your skin when defining your group of friends. As a DACA recipient, Orlando overcame trials and turbulence as he was surrounded by wealth in the U.S. Up until his teenage years, Orlando never understood he was undocumented until it came time to receive a work permit at the age of 16 years old to apply for jobs. Throughout his working years, he started carrying plates at a restaurant for 13-hour shifts. In high school, Orlando grew up in East Harlem and enrolled in a school that had a 58% graduation rate. Gil recognizes his high school was in a "pocket of poverty." Gil centered his time in a Virtual Enterprise Business Program that focused on operating virtual money with business executives. This program was selective and emphasized strict GPA requirements. During his junior year of high school, Gil applied to the DACA program and received it later that year. Gil is a scholar for "The Dream U.S. Scholarship" and was a mentor for "America Needs You" Fellowship. He has worked as an intern at Deloitte's CFO program, Raines International, and Univision as a Strategy and Insights Intern. During his time as in intern, he reflects the importance of creating research content and the help of his mentors. He is now a Legislative Intern for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Orlando hopes to use his parent's hardworking inspiration to influence those around him. He would like to become a mentor for those who have been struggling to make it through their post-secondary education journey.

"In a time where you are hopeless whatever you do is beyond yourself. Impact people positively and the last thing you do is give up. Go with punches and do what you can in life" -Orlando Gil

&Unafraid

As a student athlete, Ivan Morales knows what a long day entails. His day begins at 6:30 am to start soccer practice. As the day goes by he goes to class, makes time to study, and works for Inter Atlanta as a coordinator and coach. Ivan attends Georgia Gwinnett College and plays soccer for their team.

When he is not practicing, Ivan is at his job at Inter Atlanta. He dedicates his time to helping young adults strive for higher education despite economic barriers. In doing this, he coaches soccer teams in addition to being a founder of the Latino Outreach Program. He helps kids between ages 15-16 and 8-10. He hopes to have a positive influence for younger kids to get involved in soccer. As a college athlete, he hopes to provide his personal experience as a DACA student to help others accomplish goals in higher education. Ivan is pursuing a degree in psychology to receive his masters ultimately. After grad school, he would like to become an entrepreneur and create his nonprofit.
Growing up in a barrio, Ivan has witnessed unpleasant things but has always had his mother to motivate him to keep his mind in sports and school. He credits his mother for being his inspiration but thanks his high school and club coach in his transition to college. As a member of the Georgia Undocumented Youth Alliance, he has previously been affiliated in lawsuits to fight for DACA student education rights against the Board of Regents to receive in-state tuition. He has also been featured on local news such as WABE Atlanta, Telemundo, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Univision.

Mr. Morales received The Avanzando El Sueño Scholarship because he presents himself as a leader with courage who stands with DACA students to fight for equal educational rights.



"I was in South Georgia playing a soccer tournament, when two strangers came up to me and called me an “illegal alien" and told me to "learn English.” Every time I hear that word I feel like an outsider. Another instance, I was 15 years old walking my dog through the Mexican slums of Atlanta where I grew up, when a cop pulled up beside me. He asked me if I had any identification, but I only had my school ID at that age. I complied and he proceeded to say, "I am assuming you are illegal, and I am going to deport you when you are older." As a 15 year old, you look up to the police to protect you and that instance of racism left me more shaken than the first. I feel that I do not belong in a state that I consider home. People who use that word need to realize that we are no different than them. We consider this state and this nation home. We have adapted to the American culture. Every fourth of July we celebrate the independence of a country we consider ours. I would like to tell those who label me an illegal alien to not judge me based on my status but instead to try to understand me. I would like for those people who label me as an outsider to live my life for a moment. To truly understand a person, you must walk a mile in their shoes. I want them to understand the struggle we live on a day to day basis. To live in a country to you try so hard to fit in, but you know you stand out due to your brown skin or due to your accent. I want them to understand what it means to grow up in a country where you are considered an outsider from both sides. You are not American enough because you’re not born here and you are not Mexican enough because you left home at the age of seven in search of a better future. I want them to understand that is hard for us, we try to it in both cultures, yet we
still stand out. At the end of the day, we should not separate human beings based on
immigration status, but instead it should bring us together. The diversity of this country is what makes it great and beautiful"

-Ivan Morales

As a child, Zaira Hernandez remembers long hours of labor by helping her family pick blueberries. She describes her family dynamic as "nomads” as they traveled to Michigan, Florida, and Alabama for her father's job. As years passed by, Zaira witnessed what hard work truly was as she saw her father transform into an entrepreneur in landscaping and become proficient in building, painting, and welding—amongst other things. She looks up to her dad and has always wanted to make him proud.

Valedictorian of her East Hall High School and growing up undocumented, Zaira Hernandez always knew she needed to go beyond and constantly told herself, "you can do better." She also stresses that she is "not shy from challenges and puts that in prayer." Her legal status did not stop her in pursuing her studies after high school. As a young student, she was placed in an ESOL program but overcame language barriers by developing a love to read. She recalls reading Harry Potter books in a matter of two nights!

During her time in high school, she was the president of her high school's Beta Club, a member of the Honors Society, as well as the Fellowship for Christian Athletics. She was also actively involved in a mentorship program in which she shadowed a judge. Zaira was already a dual enrollment student her senior year of high school. Desiring to continue her post-secondary education, Ms. Zaira Hernandez was also the soccer captain of her varsity team and a member of the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education. Zaira's long list of diverse activities did not stop her from becoming the best version of herself. Drawing inspiration from her father’s hard work, Zaira has continuously pushed herself in order to perservere. Ms. Hernandez was recently granted Avanzando El Sueño’s “Continuing the Dream” scholarship and will be attending school at Eastern Connecticut State University in the Fall. Zaira is majoring in Spanish and Criminology and hopes to go to law school to become a lawyer. Afterwards she hopes to become a Superior judge.

"Being undocumented is harder than any citizen could imagine. It has shaped my life by
affecting my education, denying me of numerous privileges, and inciting constant fear in my
life. It meant that I was unable to be at even the same basic level of my peers in grade school. It meant that I would not get medical or dental care for an affordable cost. It meant that I would constantly have to fear for my parents’ safety as they carried out necessities in life such as driving to and from work and to get groceries for our family, which is something many take for granted. Being undocumented has meant having to try even harder in school just to get an opportunity to go to college and also to have to worry about being deported just because I had no citizenship. Although being undocumented has become a hurdle I have had to cross and will continue to cross, I will continue to fight and become someone that does not allow obstacles to define me or stop me. This adversity has made me the strong person I am today; and I will continue to use this strength to better the world around me"

-Zaira Hernandez

Avanzando El Sueño would like to wish our panther family a great semester and happy first day of school!

Avanzando El Sueño(AVES) would like to congratulate our two scholars Zaira Hernandez and Ivan Morales on winning our Continuing the Dream scholarship! This past week our AVES board members awarded our scholars. Our scholarship is awarded to two students who have displayed integrity to pursue a higher education education despite setbacks in financial aid or legal status. On behalf of our board, we would like to thank our Goizueta Scholars, members, and donors.Your contribution and time given to our organization has been valuable to us.

Happy Satuday! 😁 Please don't miss out on your chance to donate to our cause!! The AVES Scholarship is still accepting donations.

https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/aves-scholarship-continuing-the-dream

AVES Scholarship- Continuing the Dream Support 'AVES Scholarship- Continuing the Dream' by donating or sharing today!

Continuing the Dream Scholarship DEADLINE = TODAY 11:59pm!

This is a friendly reminder that the Scholarship application for Continuing the Dream scholarship is due TODAY Tuesday, April 11, 2017. This scholarship opportunity is for any DREAMer/DACA student who is a High School senior or first year or second year community college/university student. The recipient will be awarded a one time scholarship of $1,000-$1,500 to help the student pay for any school related activities (ex: books, tuition, room & board, etc).
We encourage any qualified student to apply, so please share this information with your friends, family, and colleagues.
The link for the application is below:
https://goo.gl/forms/Err5NV2sQLiDkzYZ2
Deadline: April 11, 2017 at 11:59pm.

AVES News Article in Mundo Hispanico:
http://mundohispanico.com/noticias/avanzando-el-sueno
Our Online Fundraising Campaign Page:
https://www.generosity.com/…/aves-scholarship-continuing-th…

Continuing the Dream Scholarship Application Scholarship Winner will receive a one time scholarship of $500 to $1,000.

Today is the last day to make your voice be heard! Support our own AVES member Elizabeth Plasencia! She is running for a senator in the J.Mack Robinson College of Business! Her goals are to listen to the needs of the study body, continue to be the innovative GSU that commits to leadership, empowerment, and education in business in order to excel as students and leaders.

Voting ends at 11:59 today!

☀️ TODAY ☀️ Join LASA and AVES for an afternoon full of good times, good food, and important information. We will be discussing ELECTIONS for the 2017-2018 LASA e-board and creating Cultural Storyboards. Come find out how to gain leadership skills as a LASA e-board member & express your culture through arts & crafts. BOTH events will be held in CLSO 306 at 5:30 pm! 🎉

Ever thought about what steps you need to take to be successful in graduate school ? Well, AVES is here to share some tips on how you can apply! Light refreshments will be served! Come join us TODAY!Hope to see you guys there!
04.06.17 Student Center East 216
12pm-1pm

Ever thought about what steps you need to take to be successful in graduate school ? Well, AVES is here to share some tips on how you can apply! Light refreshments will be served! Come join us TODAY!Hope to see you guys there!
04.06.17 Student Center East 216
12pm-1pm