BY JOE ARCE AND COREY CRABLE
The Hispanic Development Fund (HDF) hosted its annual banquet for its scholarship program in mid-July on the UMKC campus, awarding nearly $900,000 to area students to help local students achieve their dream of going to college.
Two of those students are siblings – Karely Gutierrez and her brother Jose. Karely, graduates of Guadalupe Centers High School. Karely, with hopes of becoming a middle school teacher, is now a student at Avila University. She said that receiving the scholarship has eased the burden of her parents having to fund her college experience on their own. Karely has been able to take advantage of the scholarship for the entire duration of her time at Avila.
“I was very grateful and I was really blessed to have this opportunity, to give me this little extra help to go to college. It has helped me immensely throughout my four years, and this will be my last year,” Karely said. “It definitely helped a little bit more just to have less financial burden. I was able to focus more on my studies, and it was just more of a relief not having to worry about it.”
This was Jose’s first year receiving the HDF scholarship. He said he plans to major in electrical engineering.
“I’m glad that (the selection committee) saw what kind of person I am as a student as well,” Jose said. “I’m going to show that I can give my all.”
Karely and Jose’s mother Guadalupe Leal told Hispanic News, “ The HDF scholarship is a great program for my children. With the HDF financial support, both of my children are able to attend college. I could not have done this without the support of HDF. Mom said, “There were many sleepless night wondering how I’m I going to send them off to college.”
Alex Perez-Rico, director of the HDF’s scholarship program, said the program continues to fund new collegiate scholars in conjunction with the community-driven Cambio Para Cambio (change for change) fundraising campaign. This year, the scholarship program raised $892,000 with the campaign’s help.
Another boost for the program is the partnership that the HDF has with many local colleges that pledge to match that scholarship, dollar for dollar. However, the list of colleges that offer that match has seen a decrease.
“Some of those same schools are no longer going to do the matching program. So now that is being slashed for about half of our scholars, so that’s going to be a big financial hit,” Perez-Rico said. “But we’re committed to continuing to support the students in every way that we can.”
Perez-Rico said the cause for this decrease in support from colleges can be traced to the Trump administration.
“It’s the Trump administration. They have all of the different cuts that they’re making, the DEI initiatives that they’re doing away with. It’s not a law a lot of it is fear tactics with this administration. But unfortunately, a lot of the schools have been warned that if they don’t end any of the support that goes for programs that are specific to race, gender, then they could get funding taken away from them,” Perez-Rico said. “Some of them already have like lawsuits and stuff like that, but we do have some schools that are staying on and doing the match, so more than ever, we’re very grateful that they’re continuing to do the match.”
Perez-Rico said the scholarship is especially important for those students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as undocumented students.
“For some of them, this is the only scholarship, and we’re also very proud that we are one of the few scholarships nationwide that offers our support to undocumented students,” she added. “So for those students specifically, we are the only scholarship that they will get, and they have very little to no financial support outside of HDF when it comes to their academics.”
Adriana Cazares Moreno, a scholarship recipient who wants to major in elementary education, said the scholarship has assisted her entire family and allowed them to put their monetary concerns at ease.
“It’s helped me in a way where I’m able to take all the classes I need for college,” Cazares Moreno said. “It’s also helped my parents because without the scholarship, they would also have to be able to pay for my classes for college. So it’s a big opportunity that helps.” Adriana's mom, Adriana Moreno, said she wants HDF organization to know how grateful she is for giving her daughter the opportunity to go to college.
The Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship Program has empowered generations of Kansas City’s Hispanic/Latino students to access higher education, pursue their goals, and give back to their community. What began in 1984 with $100 scholarships awarded to 100 students has grown into one of the region’s largest scholarship efforts awarding over $10 million to more than 6,030 students. Today, the program continues to break down financial barriers, support first-generation college students, and cultivate future Latino leaders who are shaping our community and beyond.
The HDF Scholarship application window for 2026-2027 will open December 1, 2025 and close February 1, 2026. For more information, visit www.hdfkc.org/hdf-scholarship.
