Alexa Ortiz, Palo Alto College Ascender student, is the recipient of the $1,000 Mariana Ornelas Humanitarian Scholarship.  The scholarship supports Palo Alto College students who are studying in a discipline of the Humanities and who demonstrate a commitment to improving the community through humanitarian efforts including civic engagement, volunteerism and/or activism.

Ortiz plans to graduate with an Associate of Arts-Teaching 6-12 with an anticipated PAC graduation date of May 2021. She commented, “I’d like to first thank my professors who are always telling me about all of these opportunities. This scholarship would help me in paying for my classes, which would help me to keep furthering my career in Education 6-12. It is a big dream of mine to be a high school teacher, then a professor as I want to help people and impact their life positively as mine was by my teachers and professors.”