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The inaugural Latina Scholars 5K brought together community members around a shared mission: supporting Latina students pursuing graduate education. On September 19, the event raised more than $10,000 to support scholarships through Latina Grad Guide and The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) Education Foundation.

Valerie Gómez PhD, a Provost Postdoctoral Fellow at the Pullias Center for Higher Education and founder of Latina Grad Guide, co-hosted the event alongside Albany Vega, a close friend and colleague, with support from a volunteer planning committee. USC alumni and faculty also participated in the race and supported the event to support educational opportunities for Latina students. 

For Gómez, the 5K is an extension of her research and community work focused on Latina/o/e students and families, education and how communities draw on their knowledge and relationships to navigate higher education. “Latina Grad Guide creates resources, opportunities and community for students who are often navigating graduate education without a roadmap,” Gómez said. Through Latina Grad Guide, her social impact venture, the initiative connects Gómez’s research interests with practical support for students pursuing advanced degrees. 

Now in its fifth year, the scholarship is open to Latina graduate and professional students attending any university, with priority given to applicants who live and attend school in Los Angeles County. Previous recipients have pursued a range of graduate degrees at institutions across the region, including USC. Latina Grad Guide works with TELACU Education Foundation, its non-profit partner, who administers the scholarship awards. 

The scholarship honors her paternal grandparents, Jesús and María Gómez, who immigrated from war-torn El Salvador in the 1980s and came to the United States believing that education could create a better future for their children and grandchildren. 

“This scholarship is a way for me to carry that belief forward by supporting Latina students as they pursue their goals,” Gómez added.

This year carries a deeper meaning for Gómez following the passing of her grandmother, María, at age 91. A beloved family matriarch, María’s love and enduring influence helped shape the dreams and educational aspirations of generations. 

“Like many women of her generation, my grandmother was denied the opportunity to pursue her educational goals,” Gómez said. “As her granddaughter, not only have I earned the highest level of education, but I also have the privilege of helping other Latinas achieve their own educational aspirations. I can’t think of a better way of keeping her legacy alive.”