During the past 20 years, the Latin American Women's Association has raised money to support more than 150 Latino college students in Charlotte.

Paula Barreto is a junior at Queens University and originally from Colombia, South America. She's attending school with help from a scholarship awarded by the Latin American Women's Association. 

“The scholarships I've obtained represents who I am, and LAWA helps women and youth go to college. (It) makes me proud to be a recipient,” Barreto said.

Through carnivals, LAWA raises money to fund education for Latinos seeking higher education. Maria Boral is on the LAWA board.

“We also support women who had to step out of (the) educational track to raise a family and if they're interested in going back to school or just to learn English, we also offer them scholarships,” she said.

She said some LAWA scholars are out of state, at institutions like Harvard. Others are spread out all over Charlotte at Queens, UNC-C, JCSU and CPCC.

Recipients like Barreto also join LAWA in community service, like tutoring elementary children.

“These people can come back and help those in fourth and fifth grade and show them that education is the difference,” Boral said.

Barreto’s major is business administration with a concentration in finance. After graduation, she plans to start her own company and pursue work inspired by LAWA.

“Mostly I'd like to work with nonprofits just like LAWA and bring it back to the community,” she said.

She said the financial support is not only helping her earn a degree, but the women in the organization helped to shape her life.

“It builds up who I am, surrounded by professional women who've made an impact on the community, so being with them and networking, and it’s a great experience,” Barreto said. “I wouldn't exchange it for anything else.”

To learn more about the organization, click here.