Scholar Stories: Nathan Salazar

Nathan Salazar is a current HSC Scholar from Lubbock, TX. He is pursuing a Master of Arts in Political Science at Texas State University. His expected graduation rate is May 2015. He is a recepient of the "State Representative Irma Rangel Memorial Scholarship."

"HSC and the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin have and continue to play an integral part in my pursuit of higher education.Both, HSC and the HBAA, understand the importance of taking the time to listen to their members; thus allowing them to enlist future leaders from a diverse set of backgrounds. This time investment has been crucial to my success because it has allowed me to tell my story, as a Texan with Mexican roots, from a low-income community."


Regardless of being a first generation college student, Nathan overcame many obstacles in order to achieve successfully. 

"For the most part, I have faced many obstacles as a first generation college student. For me, a major issue I have overcame is the awareness of the numberless resources available to students. From emotional guidance to financial aid advice, students must make themselves aware of how the hidden and inner workings of higher education operate. Doing so, has allowed me to adapt and use education as a tool. A tool that I have learned to use at its upmost effectiveness to achieve my duty as a productive, pro-active member of my community."


Other than being a full-time student, Nathan stays actively involved at Texas State University by completing internships, serving as a writing tutor, and staying involved with Leadership programs. "Currently, I am involved in Texas State’s Leadership Capstone Program, which is geared towards exploring the complexities of leadership.Thus far, the program has allowed me to refine my leadership skills in preparing myself for future leadership roles and has given me the opportunity to continue service to others."


In the future, Nathan hopes to go to Law School and study international law and Human Rights to become a practicing lawyer. After Law school, Nathan hopes to go back to school and attain a PhD in Political Science.

To help fund Nathan's dream of going to Law School, please donate here.

Scholar Stories: Nathaniel Buescher

Nathaniel is a recipient of the Hispanic Chamber Foundation Scholarship funded by Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He attends Stanford University pursuing a Civil Engineering major and has been in the HSC Scholar program since 2013. Nathaniel is a native of Austin, TX.

"For many first-generation Hispanic students, applying to college is just half the battle. Finding ways to fund a college education and then beginning a journey that your family cannot relate to can prove to be an even more daunting task. However, when I thought I was alone to begin my college career, HSC was there to provide the network of support that I needed to become a successful student at Stanford University. Through professional development workshops, regular one-on-one advising sessions, internship/networking/research opportunities, and bi-annual leadership conferences for its scholars, HSC provides more than just financial aid. They provide the tools and resources that not only ensure that Hispanics are going to college, but that they graduate to become high achieving individuals in whatever they choose to do. HSC has given me the confidence to thrive throughout my first year at Stanford University!"

This past summer, Nathaniel had the opportunity to volunteer in Quito, Ecuador through Stanford's Volunteers in Latin America (VILA) program. He spent two months with other volunteers to organize and implement summer programs for street children in the city. Additionally, Nathaniel returned to Austin and volunteered at HSC's Junior Texas Leadership Pipeline Conference. At the conference, Nathaniel shared his experiences as a first-generation college student and how he holds many leadership roles on-campus as a freshman.

Nathaniel is currently pursing a B.S in Civil Engineering in order to prepare him for work in water resourcing for developing communities where water is scarce. He also plans to stay involved in helping other first-generation, low-income students overcome the obstacles that they face during their journey to higher education.

To help other scholars like Nathaniel, please donate here.

Student Stories: Daisy Aguirre

Daisy has been in the HSC Scholar program since 2012. She is a recipient of the Dr. Janis Guerrero Thompson Memorial Scholarship. She currently pursuing a degree in Bilingual Elementary Education at the The University of Texas at Austin. 


"HSC has motivated me to keep my grades up and give to the community. HSC enforces community service and has motivated me to volunteer and get experience. I have volunteered at schools, helping the students with their work. It has helped me prepare for my future as a teacher."

Daisy credits HSC for her hard-work and perseverance throughout school. "HSC requires a strong GPA in order to maintain our scholarships. I study in advance, as well as do my homework ahead of time, which has helped me be a better student." Daisy is preparing to graduate May of 2016. After graduation, Daisy hopes to become Bilingual Elementary teacher in Austin.