TAMPA, Fla. — Pursuing a college degree can be expensive, especially for first-generation Latino students who are navigating the process for the first time. Thanks to scholarship support, the Krewe of Sant’ Yago Foundation has helped hundreds of Latino students to pursue higher education.

What You Need To Know

  • Krewe of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation has been providing scholarships to Hispanic Latino students for 30 years

  • The foundations’ goal is to help economically underprivileged students continue their educational journey

  • Edith Dominguez received the scholarship and she’s now at USF pursuing a degree in finance

  • The foundation raises money for the scholarships through an annual fundraiser, which took place in September

Dr. Ray Ortiz, the President of the Krewe of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation, emphasizes the significant impact of the scholarship foundation on local students.

“College-educated individuals earn over $25,000 more annually than those without a degree. When you multiply that difference by the 1,314 students we’ve supported, it amounts to a substantial return in the form of skilled professionals contributing to our community,” Ortiz explained.

Founded 30 years ago, the Krewe of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation aims to open doors for Hispanic professionals by providing scholarships. The foundation is dedicated to supporting Latino students at three universities: University of South Florida, University of Tampa, and Hillsborough Community College. This year alone, they have awarded over one hundred scholarships to Latino students.

Edith Dominguez is a junior at USF, majoring in finance, but her path to higher education wasn’t guaranteed after she had to drop out of high school as a sophomore.

“My mom was facing bills and having to take care of my grandpa by herself full time. It put a lot of pressure financially. So, I decided I would leave high school, get two jobs to try to help my family make ends meet,” she said.

Dominguez eventually earned her GED and went on to enroll at HCC, where she was awarded a scholarship from the Krewe of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation.

“There’s a lot of students that are also in need that need these scholarships, so it’s a lot of competition.”

Dominguez is the first in her family to attend college, so it comes with a lot of unknowns.

According to a fact sheet from Excelencia in Education, “Latinos are more likely to be first-generation college students than any other race.” The report also highlights that many Latino students often rely on grants to finance their education or must work while enrolled.

That’s the case for Dominguez. “A lot of us, our parents, work two to three jobs. We work two to three jobs trying to provide a fund for our own education so having these scholarships and all these resources are vital for the Latino community.”

She said despite the obstacles she faces, her family has always supported her educational goals.

Now she’s hoping to get her college degree and use it to help others figure out how they can also afford a higher education.