Marlborough, MA, May 29, 2024:
The Board Directors of the Fundación Ceiba met this past Sunday, May 26, 2024 to select the recipients of its 2024 scholarships. These 5-year scholarships are designed to cover tuition and the majority of expenses students will incur while completing their degrees in the areas of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Entrepreneurship at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. In addition to the scholarships, recipients receive support from the foundation in the form of tutoring, mentoring, lectures on entrepreneurship and technology, service opportunities, and career guidance.
The Fundación Ceiba scholarship program is an integral part of Fundación Ceiba’s mission to support the island’s most disadvantaged students and foster innovation and economic growth in Puerto Rico. To achieve this mission the foundation also aims to 1) sponsor cutting-edge technology and innovation research at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus; and 2) create an investment fund to support companies founded by the students and professors who conduct this technology and innovation research.
The foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 scholarships. The recipients are:
Juan Maas Rivera, from the ESCUELA JOSEFINA LEON ZAYAS in JAYUYA, Puerto Rico. All his life, Juan has been interested in finding out how things “really work” from toys to automobiles. Today, his primary goal is the “creation of innovative products based on his knowledge of electronics and mathematics.” He graduated with 4.0 GPA.
Gabriela Figueroa, also a 4.0 GPA graduate of the ESCUELA JOSEFINA LEON ZAYAS in JAYUYA, Puerto Rico. Gabriela is interested in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security. Her biggest dream is that she will be successful in creating innovative products, and that said products will allow her to generate enough wealth to be able to take care of her mother. Her mother, she says, “has always been the rock in my life, and everything I am or ever will be I owe to my mother.”
Atrim Rodríguez Santiago, is a student at the ESCUELA ESPECIALIZADA UNIVERSITY GARDENS in SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. Atrim also has a 4.0 and is a member of the National Honor Society. Atrim’s is a problem solver. During her interview with a member of the Board of Directors, Atrim spoke with passion about one of her STEM class’s projects where she was challenged to create a structure out 10 pieces of paper, and 20 centimeter of tape that could withstand high winds and earthquakes. She was so excited doing the research, constructing prototypes, and then finally seeing how the structure succeeded in its goals. Atrim is a true engineer.
The foundation is honored to receive such students into its community of scholars and entrepreneurs who are planning a brighter future for Puerto Rico.
