Luisa Rios-Owens Scholarship

A graduate of The College at Brockport, Luisa Rios-Owens established a scholarship to recognize an outstanding, continuing student at the College who is majoring or minoring in Spanish.

Ms. Rios-Owens believes in education for all and notes it is a privilege to help Brockport students achieve their dreams. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Brockport after attending Monroe Community College, and in 1986 she received a certificate in teaching secondary-level Spanish from Brockport. She also earned a master’s degree in Spanish Literature from the University of Rochester, a master’s degree in Spanish Linguistics from the University at Buffalo, and a master’s in education from Nazareth College in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Since 1986, Ms. Rios-Owens has taught Spanish at local high schools while pursuing her graduate studies. After earning her master’s degrees, she has taught Spanish at Brockport, the University of Rochester, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

In 2008, she founded the Peruvian Project, Inc., to help impoverished children in the jungle area of Peru finish high school. The project supports after-school programs and workshops to prepare students for a healthy and productive adult life. She currently serves as president of the Peruvian Project and takes pride in the fact that its graduates are now engineers, police officers, lab technicians, secretaries, and lawyers.

The Peruvian Project, a 501©(3) organization has a presence in the cities of Iquitos and Moyobama. In addition to providing educational resources for children, the project recognizes parents and volunteers who contribute to the program’s success.

At Brockport, students who qualify for the Luisa Rios-Owens Scholarship are continuing in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures as a major or minor in Spanish. They must demonstrate academic excellence, financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and submit a response to the question, “How would you utilize this scholarship to further advance your study of Spanish and Spanish-speaking cultures?”