Mito Kudaka

2018 Kudaka Scholar - Community Leader Award

Mayra Pasayes, originally from El Salvador, has worked in education for the past 20 years, promoting the furthering of youth education (Hispanic and others).   Her leadership and support has seen her develop many of her students into leaders of the community; and leaders in education.

Mayra is an amazing example to her daughters, going back to school and graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management of Criminal Justice from Concordia University in 2011 and currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling Program with an AODA certificate.   She is co-founder of Latino Link and a tireless leader and advocate for youth, education and justice. She was recognized earlier this year as the 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Educator Award.  Mayra is the first recipient of the “Community Leadership Award” from the Kudaka Family Hispanic Scholarship Fund; a new award which will be provided to Hispanics in higher education with demonstrated extraordinary service and leadership in our community.

2018 Kudaka Scholar

Yecenia Hernández is a senior at New London High School and will attend the University of Wisconsin La Crosse to pursue a degree in Psychology. Her academic achievement in high school is outstanding, being an all A student throughout her whole high school career. This is matched by her maturity and level of committment to family, when interpreting and translating for her parents and also when taking care of her younger brother with Cerebral Palsy. Yecenia does not shy away from hard work, instead embraces it and emerges successful through the experience. She is also very active in extra-curricular activities in school: Culture Club, POPS, Mock Trial, Math League and National Honors Society and active volunteering in the community: New London Public Library and Mosquito Hill Nature Center.

2018 Kudaka Scholar

"Scholarship, leadership, character and service" are goals Christian Aguilar strives to achieve. These are the four pillars of the National Honors Society of which he is a member while attending Menasha High School, where he is a senior. Christian will now be attending the University of Wisconsin - Fox Valley pursuing a degree in biochemistry. One of his teachers in high school describes him "as an inquisitive scientist, role model to his peers, and stand-out student", which he demonstrates not only by his academic record.   He shows his leadership with Habitat for Humanity clean-up efforts, donating blood for the Community Blood Center (every 8 weeks since he was 16 years old), mentoring freshmen to transition into high school and bringing back to life the "Spanish Club" at his high school.

2017 Kudaka Scholar

a senior at New London High School. He will be attending Fox Valley Technical College in the fall to enter the Fire Protection Program. He is now enrolled in the Grand Chute Fire Explorer Program. With the growing Hispanic population he looks forward to applying his bilingual skills to help in the community. His goal is to earn a degree in fire protection and also emergency medical technician certification. He is more than grateful for the scholarship that he is earning and he will take advantage of the opportunity that is given to him!

2016 Kudaka Scholar

a graduate from Menasha High school currently in her second year at University of Wisconsin Green Bay. She is a first generation college student from Mexican parents working towards a double majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies, Business Administration emphasizes in Marketing and International Business Minor and plans to graduate May 2018. She plans to open a business later in her life. Stefany has been a Student Ambassador at UW Green Bay while also being the president of Organization Latin America at UW Green Bay and vice president of Latino Outreach, a community mentoring organization.

2014 Kudaka Scholar

a native from Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico is currently enrolled at the Fox Valley Technical College strengthening her English skills before being enrolled into her program of choice: Childhood Education. Education is a constant theme in her life since arriving to the Fox Cities 9 years ago; studying ELL, and then continuing her education by getting her HSED.  Mariana is a mother, a wife, a volunteer, a community role model who continues to take steps to make her life and that of her loved ones and community better.   The Mito Kudaka Hispanic Scholarship Endowment Fund is honored to have Mariana be the first recipient of its scholarship.