NEWS
PRESIDENT'S CLUB AWARD
Indian River State College is proud to announce that the Puerto Rican Association for Hispanic Affairs, Inc. was presented the President's Club Award by the Foundation Department on April 13th, 2006. This 501 (C) 3, non-profit cultural and educational organization was recognized for the six scholarships they have recently established. They were set up as Memorial Scholarships in the memory of family members of the Executive Board of P.R.A.F.H.A. that have inspired their dedication to serve the Treasure Coast community. "We look forward to setting up many more scholarships and even several endowments at the College," says Robert Roldan, President of the organization.If you would like further information regarding these scholarships, please contact Melissa DePriest, Development Specialist at I.R.S.C. (772) 462-7249.
Pictured from left:Robert Roldan, President of PRAFHA; Jacquelene Burke, VP; Margot Barker, Development Specialist at IRSC; and David Little, Accountant Business Officer Foundation Department.



                                         ANA MARIA PEREZ- PUERTO RICAN ASSOCIATION                                             FOR HISPANIC AFFAIRS SCHOLARSHIP WINNER                                                 MOTIVATED TO SUCCEED BY FATHER’S LOVE

                                        The Puerto Rican Association for Hispanic Affairs, Inc,                                          an non-profit 501 ©3 cultural and educational                                                         organization is proud to announce the winner of the                                             P.R.A.F.H.A./Henry Houston Roldan Memorial                                                        Scholarship at Indian


April 12, 2006
ANA MARIA PEREZ-PUERTO RICAN ASSOCIATION FOR HISPANIC AFFAIRS
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER MOTIVATED TO SUCCEED BY FATHER’S LOVE
The Puerto Rican Association for Hispanic Affairs, Inc, an non-profit 501 ©3
cultural and educational organization is proud to announce the winner of the P.R.A.F.H.A./Henry Houston Roldan Memorial Scholarship at Indian River
Community College for the 2006-07 school year – Ana Maria Perez. This scholarship was awarded in the area of Fine Arts.Annie is a 20-year-old Colombian student from Indiantown finishing her first year at IRCC. Some of her many interesting classes she has excelled in are: Ballet, Music Theatre, College Chorus and Stage Movement. Her journey began in Bogota, Colombia where she was born. Because her parents worked hard to provide for their family, she grew up very close to her caring grandparents. As a
young girl, she got involved in local singing groups in Calarca. She would practice every day after school, and thus her love for music and drama was ignited. In the search for a better life for his family, her father relocated to Florida. Soon after, her family all joined him here where the adjustment was very difficult. She remembers her first Christmas here just having a poinsettia plant as a Christmas tree and no presents due to limited funds. But they were all together and that’s all that mattered. Soon after her parents separated and her dad moved to Seattle, Washington. She settled with mom and family in the Florida Keys where she again got involved with music and drama. She also
attended the local church and soon became a youth leader and Sunday school
teacher. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and her father was killed. Having her faith
helped her cope with the loss of her wonderful father and best friend. She feels
inspired by the love of her father in her pursuit to succeed in life. After she finishes her studies in Theatre, she hopes to attain her BA in Early Childhood Education and become a kindergarten teacher. She is currently a member of the Hispanic Honors Society. Though she has a full schedule of 10 classes this semester, she travels over 100 miles round trip every day so she can attend such an excellent college such as IRCC. This scholarship is named after Henry Roldan, beloved brother of Robert
Roldan, President of P.R.A.F.H.A. It is always encouraging to see our Hispanic
youth striving for a better life and we feel it is our mission to further encourage
the. My brother was very dear to me and I’m sure he would feel happy to help
out these students’, says Mr. Roldan. Besides this scholarship, P.R.A.F.H.A. has sponsored four others at I.R.S.C. For more information regarding these scholarships, please contact PRAFHA at (772) 621-6841. Congratulations go out to Annie and her family. Her father’s love and her dedication to succeed are an inspiration to us all!

                                                                 STEPHANIE MARIE RIVERA
                                                           PUERTO RICAN ASSOCITION FOR                                                                          HISPANIC AFFAIR SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

                                                           When you first meet Stephanie, you can’t help                                                             but notice her radiant smile. She has a bubbly                                                             and friendly personality. It is no wonder that                                                                 she would chose a career involved in helping                                                                people. It is her desire to become a dental                                                                   hygienist. But it goes further than that. Being                                                               bilingual, she feels will be an asset in                                                                         communicating well with the Spanish-speaking community. To encourage this dream,  PRAFHA is proud to announce that Stephanie Marie has been awarded the MARIA ROLDAN. Scholarship at the Indian River Community College for the 2006-07 school year. “With the cost of education growing every year, we feel it is a responsibility and a privilege that organizations like ours, can help fill in this economic gap,” says Robert Roldan, President of PRAFHA. Jaquelene Burke Vice President of the PRAFHA, believes that when one helps
the youth complete their education, you are also in fact helping our community.
“That is why we are happy to be able to award Stephanie this scholarship,” says Ms. Burke.This 19-year-old student of Puerto Rican descent graduated from Martin County
High School. She was born in the Bronx, New York but also lived in Puerto Rico. Stephanie enjoys music, writing, and working with kids. She is grateful to her parents for encouraging her to do well in school, and for this scholarship to give her the opportunity to pursue her goal of becoming a dental hygienist. We wish her and her family much success.IF you have any questions regarding the scholarship program at I.R.S.C., please call Foundation Department at (772) 462-7249.


                                                               ASHLEY KRISTINA ROLDAN
                                                     OVERCOMING HEALTH ISSUES IN                                                                      PURSUIT OF DREAMS PUERTO RICAN
                                                     ASSOCIATION FOR HISPANIC AFFAIRS,                                                             INC. SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

                                                     Just when you begin to feel disheartened with                                                       today’s youth, someone like
                                                     Ashley comes around and reminds you that                                                          there’s hope for our future. Since
                                                     the age of five, she has been diagnosed with                                                        Juvenile Diabetes. With this
                                                     unpredicted struggle and pressure, she had decided to overcome this obstacle, and instead become focused and energized to be successful in life. It is the mission of the Puerto Rican Association for Hispanic Affairs, Inc. to further encourage inspiring students like her. With that goal in mind, Ashley Kristina Roldan has been awarded the P.R.A.F.H.A./Hilda Santiago Memorial Scholarship at Indian River Community College for the 2006-07 school year.This 19 year old vivacious and ambitious Puerto Rican student is pursuing her Associates of Arts. She hopes to continue on to Florida International University in Miami in Advertising. Then she plans to run her own advertising company. Knowing Ashley you don’t doubt this will become a reality. But it is her determination in dealing with her diabetes that has motivated her and given her focus. She has also seen the dignity her father has shown in dealing with his diabetes condition. She began attending the Florida Diabetes Camp since the age of six. She is now a camp counselor there. This is her opportunity to give back the love and support she herself has received. She inspires these campers and shows them that ‘they are no different from other kids”. Her example in overcoming health issues and pursuing her dreams is an encouragement to all young people in our community.

If you need more information regarding these scholarships, please contact
IRSC at 772-462-7249 or PRAFHA at 772-621-6841.


November 6, 2005
PUERTO RICAN ASSOCIATION FOR HISPANIC AFFAIRS, INC.SETS UP FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS AT INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE

The Puerto Rican Association for Hispanic Affairs, Inc. is proud to announce the establishment of four new scholarships at I.R.S.C. The funds generated from the successful San Juan Festival and Business Expo held on June 2005, helped fulfill the organization’s mission and goals of furthering the education of disadvantaged Hispanic students in our community. For the 2005-06 school year, Damaris Soto became the first recipient of the Maria A. Roldan Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

“We are excited that this organization, P.R.A.F.H.A., has demonstrated their
commitment to education. We look forward to jointly making a difference in the lives of our students”, said Margot Barker, Development Specialist in the
Foundation Department of I.R.S.C. The four scholarships for the 2006-07 school year are: Maria A. Roldan Memorial (Renewal) for Health Sciences. Carl V. Burke Memorial for Education.

The Maria A. Roldan Memorial Scholarship is named after Robert Roldan’s mother. He is the President of P.R.A.F.H.A. Her struggle and dedication as a single mother who endured many medical problems, such as diabetes, and arthritis, proved to be an inspiration to her three young sons growing up in the Bronx, New York.

Tragedy changed Jacquelene Burke’s life forever nearly 14 years ago. As Vice President of P.R.A.F.H.A., she feels honored to name the next scholarship after her father Carl V. Burke, Sr. and her brother Carl V. Burke, Jr. Both were killed in an auto accident in New Jersey. “They both imparted to me love, joy, and
laughter. When anyone needed encouragement and a joke to make them feel better, friends and family would turn to them”, says Jacquelene. Her father
always extolled the virtue of education. It was because of this inspiration, she found the courage to finish her studies in Business Management after their death in 1991. The scholarship will be a student who pursues a career in
education. Inspiration can be found in the lives and dedication of loved ones. For P.R.A.F.H.A., these scholarships are a testimony to the impact they have felt and to the future of the community.

Puerto Rican Association For Hispanic Affairs, Inc
Cultural / Educational



"Click on Picture"  PRAFHA donates $1,500 to Indian River State College to continue the scholarship program.
Photo: Jacquelene Burke, Melissa DePriest, Foundation Department of IRSC and Robert Roldan.  (2008).