Estudiante que Progresa Scholarship
Named after Hialeah, "La Ciudad que Progresa"
Scholarships and Mentorship in Hialeah, FL
Image credit: City of Hialeah - Municipal Government
Estudiante que Progresa offers scholarships and mentorship to support senior high-school students in Hialeah, FL, who are pursuing STEM careers and have financial need. We provide mentorship and support initiatives to empower students to pursue STEM careers.
2026 Scholarship Application
Estudiante que Progresa is committed to providing scholarships and mentorship to support senior high-school students in Hialeah, FL, who are pursuing STEM careers and have financial need. We aim to empower students to pursue STEM careers by incorporating both financial and mentorship support.
Due Friday April 30th, 2026
Our scholarship application has 4 components:
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1. Student essay: What does “Estudiante que Progresa” mean for you? How will this scholarship help you in the transition from high school to college?
2. Student resume/CV demonstrating commitment to STEM.
3. Proof of acceptance and commitment to college, starting Fall 2026.
4. Letter of recommendation from teacher or counselor who can speak to student's commitment to STEM.
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For full scholarship information, click "APPLY" below!
Previous Scholarship Recipients
Estudiante que Progresa is committed to providing scholarships and mentorship to support senior high-school students in Hialeah, FL, who are pursuing STEM careers and have financial need. We aim to empower students to pursue STEM careers by incorporating both financial and mentorship support.
Meet Dalila Portal, the inaugural Estudiante que Progresa Scholarship recipient and recent graduate from Mater Lakes Academy. Dalila will be attending the University of Florida, where she is planning on conducting research to develop novel, environmentally-friendly technologies by utilizing her programming skills. Congratulations, Dalila! We wish you much success in your endeavors.
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Meet Alexander Sando, the 2nd annual Estudiante que Progresa Scholarship recipient and recent graduate from Mater Lakes Academy. Alexander will be attending the Florida State University, where he plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in robotics. Congratulations, Alexander!
Meet the Founders
Estudiante que Progresa provides scholarships and mentorship to support senior high-school students in Hialeah, FL, who are pursuing STEM careers and have financial need. We see each student as a future leader in STEM, and we hope to help kickstart their trajectory in their field of choice.
Karina Ascunce Gonzalez
Karina is a Cuban-American Hialeah native currently pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at Yale University, after receiving a BA in Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health & Health Policy from Harvard University in 2022. Karina studies the nervous system with a focus on the molecular mechanisms of visual neuron regeneration. She is passionate about working at the intersection fields of science, education, and public health, and has worked with several communities in Hialeah, Matamoros, Boston, and now New Haven. As a K-12 student of Hialeah public schools, Karina is excited about the future of the Estudiante que Progresa Scholarship as a stepping stone in many talented Hialeah students' exceptional careers.
Derek J. Velez
Derek was born in Puerto Rico, where he lived until the age of 7, migrating with his family to Hialeah thereafter. He is currently a software engineer at Slack, a Salesforce company, after graduating with a BS in Computer Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Derek has a passion for giving back to his communities and empowering students to pursue careers in STEM and excel. Through the Estudiante que Progresa Scholarship, Derek hopes to allow students from Hialeah to dream wider and achieve more as they undertake higher education.
Therese Cordero Dumit
Therese was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, and then moved to Miami Lakes at the age of 13. To pursue her budding interest in brain sciences and scientific research, Therese attended the Johns Hopkins University, where she attained her B.S in Neuroscience and B.A. in Psychological Sciences. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Immunobiology at Yale University, with a focus on understanding our immune system to combat cancer. Beyond her research, Therese is passionate about providing mentorship to students, in addition to training the next generation of scientists. Through the Estudiante que Progresa Scholarship, Therese hopes to pay it forward and support talented students from her community.
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