Three years ago, the local non-profit, Latinos Salud, took a bold step: it began awarding significant scholarships of $2,500 and up to South Florida college or university students. Each of the selected scholars is a member of the LGBTQ/A+ community, pursuing higher education with the intention of serving the South Florida community in a meaningful way upon graduation.
As a community clinic, Latinos Salud especially prioritizes students majoring in nursing, psychology, public health, or social work, though as this year’s class of awardees demonstrates, Latinos Salud recognizes that there are many ways to help our neighbors.
In its inaugural year, the agency awarded three scholarships. Last year, it increased to five awards. This year, Latinos Salud’s program awarded eight scholarships of $5,000 – $6,000 each. Recipients include a college sophomore, a junior, a first-year master’s student, a first-year law student, and several students wrapping up their PhDs. Each shared stories of their own struggles or challenges, and their keen awareness of the impact that is made when someone with similar life experiences offers guidance or service.
Carlos recounted his joy when he got his award letter: “When I received the email that listed me for the second year in this scholarship, I couldn’t believe it. It means everything to me. It shows that Latinos Salud trusted in me not just once, but twice. And it makes me feel that I’m not alone in this journey.” Carlos says that “My primary mission will always be to support my community, which I love dearly, because I see every day how each individual flourishes despite adversity.”
He notes the difference that the scholarship has made in his life: “I’m the first in my family to go to college, now easier because of Latinos Salud. Financially this scholarship helps me a lot, because last year, I had two jobs, and I (was able to) drop one to focus on my career. Now I’m taking extra credits, and my GPA has grown up to the maximum, and that would not be possible without Latinos Salud. The scholarship is covering, this year, 80% of my tuition!”
Another returning scholar, Jahn is entering the final year of his PhD program in Prevention Science and Community Health at the University of Miami. “For me, being able to obtain financial support again from Latinos Salud this year means the world to me, especially as a student that has had their NIH funding cut, due to recent political motivations. And so, what Latinos Salud is showing me as a student and as a researcher is that my work matters, and they are investing in that work.”
Jahn says that the benefits of being a Pride Scholar go beyond the financial because the program “also invites you to a family, and tt’s this special chosen family that really supports the health and well-being of Latino gay and bisexual men in the community.” Jahn’s research measures how vocational training employment can serve as a form of harm reduction. He is also investigating interventions to help community members overcome barriers to access mental health services and/or start on PrEP.
Also winning Latinos Salud’s Pride Scholarship for a second year, Juan Alberto will complete his Ph.D. program in Applied Social and Cultural Psychology at the University of Miami. Juan Alberto noted that the benefits of the scholarship “go beyond the financial, even though the financial aspect is very important.” He noted the difference that being a Pride Scholar makes in his own life, “Latinos Salud is a point of contact for our community. It brings people together based on shared values, shared experiences, common roots—even though we can all be very different, and have our own origin story—but it all comes together very nicely in this community organization, and it means the opportunity to connect with people, to meet new people, to network, and be able to work with the community in ways that benefit all of us.
Juan Alberto has published several papers primarily on PrEP adherence, mental health, and substance use among gay men, including research on how gay men who engage in chemsex as a coping mechanism—rather than solely for thrill-seeking—face greater challenges in reducing substance use. He is also beginning a new project to apply analytic tools to trace trends in PrEP persistence among Latinos Salud’s patients.
Among the first-time winners of the Pride Scholarship this year, Geovany graduated this summer with his associate’s degree from Broward College, and has just started Florida International University as a Biology major, with plans to become a dentist. “My vision of my career, when I graduate, I want to promote more about taking care of oral health. I think people really don’t really understand how impactful it can be in your life, and also the consequences.”
While in high school, Geovany had founded an LGBT support club to help build community and peer support. His hard work and positive attitude have earned Geovany many awards and recognitions.
As the first in his family, he worked hard through high school but was devastated when his guidance counselor told him that, while his achievements would make him eligible for a full-ride scholarship, there was “one thing you didn’t fulfill.” That was his immigration status. Many immigrants who want to contribute to their new home country face this challenge. They are barred from financial aid and from most scholarships until they complete the process to become not just a legal U.S. resident, but a permanent resident. Often by then, college is a dream that has passed them by.
As an immigrant from Vietnam, Húng was not familiar with Latinos Salud, until a campus posting about the scholarship led him to the agency’s website: “When I first read about (Latinos Salud’s) mission, I felt a deep connection to it.” In his role as President of the Student Nurse Association at Florida International University, Húng knows the importance of whole-person healthcare. Through his visits to Latinos Salud’s North Miami and Miami Southwest locations, Húng says he concluded that “Latinos Salud represents hope, safety and action, but also represents a future where every member, regardless of their background, their nationality or where they come from, they will receive not only excellent care, but also care delivered with dignity, respect, and love.”
Another first-time scholar, Andy, began law school at Florida International University this semester. “Being a member of the LGBT community, I have first-hand experience of discrimination in the workplace, heard things saying horrible remarks about gay people or other communities.” He wants to be “a pillar of support for people,” and noted how the scholarship “takes an enormous pressure off my back,” allowing him to focus on his studies.
Kevin is currently working towards his master’s degree in psychology at Florida Atlantic University, focused on mental health counseling. He envisions incorporating holistic practices such as yoga and meditation into mental health services to the LGBTQ community. When he first immigrated to the U.S., he accessed Latinos Salud’s free services. Now, reflecting on his scholarship, he says, “What surprised me the most about this experience was how open-armed I have been welcomed into Latinos Salud, not just with the financial help, but with mentorship, and with full support from leadership.”
Hector is pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Social and Cultural Psychology at Florida International University. Upon receiving his scholarship award, Hector said, “I felt like I finally did something for my Latino community, to be honest. I was like, OK, now this is my opportunity to really focus on my people, and try to create something out of this scholarship that can benefit sexual / gender minorities in South Florida.”
Latinos Salud is investing in the next generation of local community members who can make South Florida a more welcoming and healthy space. Applications for Latinos Salud’s Pride Scholarship open on January 15 for the 2026 – 2027 academic year.
Author: Megan Fitzgerald, PhD, Associate Professor
