ISU student Joselynn Castillo receives $10,000 scholarship from the Maná Scholarship Program

November 19, 2019

Mana Scholarship recipient Joselynn Castillo

POCATELLO – Joselynn Castillo wasn’t even going to apply for the Maná Scholarship because she thought there was no way she could win a national scholarship. However, with the encouragement of her mother, she applied and was one of 15 students selected out of a pool of 1,200 to receive a $10,000 scholarship.

The Man谩 Scholarship Program, in collaboration with the Univision Foundation and the Selva Negra Foundation, was started to assist students who identify as Latino. The scholarship, which was awarded for the 2020/2021 school year, will help Castillo and others like her accomplish their educational goals.

鈥淚鈥檓 the oldest in my family,鈥� Castillo, a sophomore at ISU, said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been so grateful for everything my family does for me. I strive to make them proud in everything that I do.鈥�

Because Castillo is a first-generation student, she works hard to make her parents, who only have a seventh-grade education, proud.

鈥淢y parents have always pushed us to continue studying,鈥� Castillo said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e taught me lessons that a degree will never be able to. All of my accomplishments are theirs.鈥�

Castillo, who has lived in Pingree for the last 16 years, is majoring in Spanish for health professions and biology. Throughout her education, she鈥檚 had to overcome various different obstacles, including learning English.

鈥淪panish has always been the language spoken at home, so having to learn English in school was a struggle,鈥� Castillo said.

Other struggles that Castillo has faced include being from a low-income family. However, despite these struggles, Castillo chooses to focus on all the good things, most importantly the people she has been 鈥渂lessed鈥� with.

It is because of her various experiences that Castillo hopes to attend dental school after she obtains her bachelor鈥檚 degrees. This has been a goal of hers since she was 13.

鈥淚 strive to represent the Hispanic community in a field that desperately needs it 鈥� dentistry,鈥� Castillo said. 鈥淚 want to focus on serving low-income communities and minority groups.鈥�

The Man谩 Scholarship Program, which was started by the popular Mexican band Man谩, has helped alleviate some of the financial stress that Castillo and the other recipients face when it comes to paying for an education.

鈥淏ecause I come from a low-income family, this scholarship will make a huge difference as I continue to progress through my university journey,鈥� Castillo said.

All 15 of the scholarship recipients will be flown to Los Angeles to see Man谩鈥檚 final concert and meet the band.

For more information on the Man谩 Scholarship Program, visit .

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