Mercedes Olivera Scholarship Fund

Mercedes Olivera, my mother, viewed education as the most important gift you can give your children or yourself. Why? Because there are so many benefits. She knew that getting a good education provides an opportunity for families to escape poverty. That it can provide shelter for children at risk. That it increases the possibility of realizing your dreams. And that it gives people the confidence and the tools they need to find their voice and express it.

My mom was the first one in our family to graduate from college and continued on to receive her Master's Degree. She didn't stop there. In 1996, she became a Fulbright Scholar, traveling to Mexico where she taught communications in Puebla and did fieldwork in the Mexican states of Veracruz and Chiapas. For my mom, life was an endless opportunity to learn.

For 45 years, my mother was a voice for the Latino community in Dallas. She understood the importance of sharing knowledge and providing information, so she took her job very seriously. She used her platform as a columnist to highlight the issues we faced, as well as the beauty of our spirit and culture. And she used her standing in the community to support and encourage others. 

We need more voices like hers. 

All this is why we want to continue her legacy. So her husband, Andrew, and I have chosen to honor her memory with this scholarship, and we are partnering with DFW Hispanic Communicators - a nonprofit 501.c.3 - to establish it. The scholarship will be available to high school seniors and college students interested in journalism, marketing, advertising, graphic arts, public relations, or other communications fields.

The number of scholarships available will depend on how much money we raise. So I hope that you will consider donating to this scholarship in her memory.

Thank you for helping us continue her work,

Monica