The Lupita Reyes Scholarship

Growing up in Holland, MI in the 1950s, Lupita Reyes was placed in a class with developmentally delayed students because she didn’t speak English. After graduating from Holland High School in the 1960s, Lupita Reyes married Celestino (“Tino”) Reyes and discovered it was difficult to find a place to rent. So, she shared her concerns with the Ottawa Board of Commissioners. Afterward, she received notes telling her to go back to where she came from. But she didn't listen. Instead, she stayed and made a lasting impact on the Latin American community and the rest of Holland, MI, and Ottawa County. She would go on to earn not only a bachelor's degree but advanced degrees in social work. She founded numerous organizations including being one of the key founders of Latin Americans United for Progress and the founder of the radio show Alegría Latina, a show that ran for nearly 60 years. To honor her legacy and impact, the Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative has created the Lupita Reyes Scholarship Fund at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. The scholarship will initially be set at $1,000 annually, though that amount may increase as the fund grows. It will be given annually to a qualifying Ottawa County graduating high school student who has a Latin American background and shows the potential for having a positive impact on the community. Thank you for considering donating to this new scholarship that will be the very first scholarship focused solely on Latin American students in Grand Haven—and Ottawa County.