Scholarships to Encourage their Dreams 

From left, UAlbany sophomores Amberstorm Hopwood and Imari Roque have won scholarships from the New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 22, 2020) – Two University at Albany sophomores received scholarships from the New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc.

Imari Roque of the Bronx and Amberstorm Hopwood of Mount Vernon have their eyes on building a successful future. For Roque, that means becoming a lawyer. For Hopwood, the dream is to be her own boss one day. The scholarships, which are $1,000 each, will bring these students closer to their dreams.

“I try to keep my privilege in mind,” said Roque, a political science major with minors in philosophy and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. “My parents and grandparents worked hard for me to be where I am now, and it would be dumb to ruin their hard work.”

Hopwood, a psychology major with a double minor in business and law, and philosophy, stays motivated academically by constantly reminding herself of why she is in school.

“The perseverance of the women in my family, specifically my mother and my grandmother who have worked to instill in me the strength and encouragement to succeed; my father, who instilled in me the courage and confidence to authentically be me; and my brother, uncle and grandfather who count on me and expect the best — because of them, I believe I’m capable,” Hopwood said.

She also takes time to create an organized schedule that allows time for personal wellness to keep her focused, mentally healthy and capable.

“I am of Puerto Rican heritage and I hold the Puerto Rican values and cultures instilled in me very closely to my heart,” Hopwood said. “I have such respect for the culture, the people, the traditions; that small island is the home of a giant heart — a heart which carries the story of strength and resilience, breathes the passion of hope for tomorrow and exhibits the beauty of unity and family.”

She transferred from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to UAlbany “because I had visited a few times and was completely blown away by the amount of togetherness and school spirit being exhibited on the absolutely stunning campus by all the happy, hard-working people around me and I fell in love. I like to think the campus chose me.”

Roque chose UAlbany “because it was the only choice that was fiscally responsible and still allowed specific opportunities and freedom.”

Her connection to the Puerto Rican community is her home church. “I’ve been doing community service there for around six years,” she said.

Hopwood said the scholarship will “assist me in making the most and getting the most out of my college experience so that I may have the tools to succeed and do only good with my success by sharing it with others, giving back and paying it forward.”

The New York League of Puerto Rican Women Inc. is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization whose mission is the advancement of Puerto Rican/Hispanic women through higher education. The awards are granted to undergraduate Puerto Rican/Hispanic women selected for their academic achievements and community service.

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