Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship

Funded by
Jeanne Aquilino
Learn more about the Donor
$500
1 winner$500
Open
Application Deadline
Oct 11, 2023
Winners Announced
Nov 11, 2023
Education Level
Graduate, Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
Undergraduate or graduate student
Background:
First-generation student
Citizenship Status:
US Citizen
Field of Interest:
Law and/or medicine or healthcare
Education Level:
Background:
Citizenship Status:
Field of Interest:
Undergraduate or graduate student
First-generation student
US Citizen
Law and/or medicine or healthcare

Catrina Celestine Aquilino was a committed lawyer whose life was cut short by triple negative breast cancer at the age of thirty-four.

During her career, Catrina helped people throughout multiple communities. Her passion was justice should be accessible, of which, Catrina made a reality for many. She always felt that no matter where a person was born or which family they were born into, it would never play into whether she would care. She was brilliant and generous to all.

In her teenage years, Catrina volunteered at the US Holocaust Museum. While in University, she was able to visit Ghana to see how women worked, spent one summer in Guatemala interviewing indigenous peoples, and took coursework in France. She was fluent in three languages.

This scholarship seeks to honor Catrina’s legacy by supporting students pursuing a degree in law or healthcare. With the goal to help them accomplish greater things, this scholarship will allow them to cast their circle beyond.

Any first-generation student in college or graduate school who is interested in law and/or healthcare may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us about yourself and how you hope to help the world through your career in medicine or law.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published July 7, 2023
$500
1 winner$500
Open
Application Deadline
Oct 11, 2023
Winners Announced
Nov 11, 2023
Education Level
Graduate, Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Essay Topic

Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you plan to make a positive impact on the world through your medical or law career.

400–600 words

Winning Application

Alison Sibaja Baltodano
Georgia State UniversityDecatur, GA
I am a first-generation college and law student from Costa Rica. After considering the debt and difficulty law school would bring, I still chose to pursue a career in law for the same reasons as Ms. Celestine. Her achievements put a smile on my face because we have many similarities. I too speak three languages. I visited a concentration camp in Dachau, Germany that showed me what I'm sure Ms. Celestine felt while volunteering at the US Holocaust museum. Although no longer the case, I have enjoyed an affluent life. I hope to establish the means to reward my mother's sacrifices and live comfortably, but money is more a concern than motivation for why I am in law school. I am motivated because the legal profession needs more kind, reasonable individuals who care about "the little guy." Attorneys provide much-needed specialized skills, and I hope to be the type of legal professional Ms. Celestine was. The law is complicated and I want to join the pool of legal professionals who strive to provide equal access to those in need. As a naturalized citizen, I have been there myself. I plan to positively impact the legal profession by sharing an open-minded perspective and practicing kindness and tolerance. Given the difference in pay between public interest and other avenues of law, I am concerned my financial needs may diminish my ability to pursue my dedication to social progress. I want to help individuals with their legal needs because I value and understand that legal problems are usually so determinative of where life will lead. I admire Ms. Celestine's passion, and although her journey ended so early, I am sure she is happy her legacy continues, both through this scholarship and the long-lasting impact she had on those she helped. As I hope to achieve what Ms. Celestine has, I hope you will consider me a worthy candidate for this scholarship in her honor. Thank you.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Oct 11, 2023. Winners will be announced on Nov 11, 2023.