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PRHS awards $10,000 in scholarships to deserving high school students

Ten high school students from across the city have been named the latest scholarship recipients of the Puerto Rican Heritage Society.

Each year, the Puerto Rican Heritage Society provides scholarships to deserving graduating high school seniors to help them cover expenses for college. Each student is selected through an application and essay process. The students were awarded scholarships of $1,000 each on Saturday, April 23, 2022 during a ceremony at Julia Yates Semmes Library on the northeast side. 

Recipients of this year’s Hector Mendez scholarship include Eliana Marie Diaz, Neysa Isabella Gonzalez, Diego Luis Gutierrez, Xadrian Knight Huerta, Andres Emmanuel Muniz Morales, Daniel Gerardo Ortega, Gavin Zane Perez, Dereck Nomar Valdes and Peter Derek Vasquez. The recipient of the Luz G. Amadeo Scholarship include Sydney Celeste Greenwalt.

The Puerto Rican Heritage is able to provide yearly scholarships thanks to donations from members and the community. Anyone wishing to donate to continue these educational efforts can CLICK HERE.

Eliana Marie Diaz will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to major in computer science.
Neysa Isabella Gonzalez will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to major in electrical engineering.
Diego Gutierrez will attend Stanford University to major in public policy.
Xadrian Knight Huerta will attend Columbia University to major in business management.
Andres Emmanuel Muniz Morales will attend Texas A&M University – San Antonio to major in computer science.
Daniel Gerardo Ortega plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to major in mechanical engineering or the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) to major in aerospace.
Gavin Zane Perez will be attending Texas Tech University to major in computer engineering.
Derek Nomar Valdes will attend Texas A&M University – San Antonio to major in graphic design.
Peter Derek Vasquez plans to attend St. Mary’s University or the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to major in computer science.
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2019 Culture Events

Two free, fabulous and interesting Cultural events as part of the Puerto Rican Heritage Society’s 35th Anniversary Celebration.


Friday, November 1, 2019, 6:00 – 9:00 PM at the University of Incarnate Word, Kelso Arts Center, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, 78209

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and FREE ADMISSION. A Storyteller’s Dialogue / Conversando con Esmeralda – bilingual presentation – features acclaimed Puerto Rican writer Esmeralda Santiago followed with Q&A plus a book signing. Concert Hall, Kelso Arts Center, University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, SA, TX. 78209.

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM at the San Antonio Public Library, Central Location

Esmeralda Santiago will discuss her life and literary career in a public appearance presented by the San Antonio Public Library

Esmeralda Santiago, defined the literature of the Puerto Rican diaspora through her internationally acclaimed When I Was Puerto Rican (1993; subsequently adapted into a Peabody Award-winning film for PBS Masterpiece Theatre), Almost a Woman (1999), The Turkish Lover (2004); and the novels América’s Dream (1997) and Conquistadora (2011).



These programs was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.