LATIN SCHOLARS

Several Latino students in and around Springfi eld have earned a special award that will soon help them in college. The Culturally Integrated Education for Latinos Organization Inc. (CIELO) announced this week that it will give out $6,500 in scholarships and grants to local Latino teens to recognize involvement in their communities. CIELO treasurer Ric Thompson says the Victor A. and Daisy A. Juarez Latino Scholarship is meant to equip the students to participate in American society and achieve the American dream. “The most signifi cant criteria to receive one of our scholarships or grants is to support people who have volunteered within their community or participated in other activities as a way of giving back to their community,” Thompson said. The awards will be presented at a reception at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. Jasmine Torres-Gonzalez of Springfi eld, who plans to attend UIS, will receive a $1,500 scholarship, along with Jimena Ares of Springfi eld and Lya Ramos of Petersburg, who each plan to attend Lincoln Land Community College. CIELO will also award two educational grants of $1,000 each to Zury Vasquez of Beardstown, who plans to attend Illinois College in Jacksonville, and Yaritza Camarena of Beardstown, who plans to attend Illinois State University in Normal. More information on CIELO is available at www.elcielo.us.