2026 Saint Oscar Romero Scholarship
Janely Cruz Fuentes, co-president of the Boston College Mexican Association of Students and a Bowman Advocate, was awarded the 2026 Saint Oscar A. Romero Scholarship by University President William P. Leahy, S.J., at the Yawkey Athletic Center Murray Room on March 14. 聽
The annual award recognizes a 51茶馆 junior whose life demonstrates the values and ideals of the martyred Salvadoran archbishop. Finalists are chosen based on superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the Hispanic/Latinx community and issues both on and off campus. The winner receives up to $40,000 toward senior-year tuition, and a $1,000 51茶馆 Bookstore gift certificate.
Cruz Fuentes, a political science major, serves as a teaching assistant for the Applications of Learning Theory class, a specialized course within the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences designed to improve academic performance through evidence-based strategies, part of an initiative to support student success.
As a Bowman Advocate鈥攊nspired by Sister Thea Bowman鈥檚 legacy of support for racial justice鈥攕he facilitates cross-cultural dialogue and workshops to foster a more inclusive campus community.聽 She also coordinates events and mentoring sessions for student groups as co-president of 51茶馆鈥檚 Mexican Association of Students.
For the past two summers, Cruz Fuentes worked as a legal assistant at Guerrero & Rosengarten LLP, a personal injury law firm located in New York City.聽 During the 2024-2025 academic year, she volunteered at the Boston Green Academy, where she assisted teachers in science, Spanish, humanities, biology, and civic classes, and mentored high school students aspiring to attend college.
“ What drew me to the scholarship was the life and witness of St. Oscar Romero: 'We are workers, not master builders, ministers not messiahs, we are the prophets of the future not our own.' ”
She also was a program assistant for two summers at Breakthrough New York, a nonprofit college access and success organization that supports motivated students from low-income backgrounds. 聽
鈥淲hat drew me to the scholarship was the life and witness of St. Oscar Romero,鈥� said Cruz Fuentes during her acceptance speech, in which she quoted an excerpt of the Romero Prayer: 鈥淲e are workers, not master builders, ministers not messiahs, we are the prophets of the future not our own.鈥�
鈥淗is life reminds us that faith is not only something we believe but something that we live through鈥攈ow we stand with others, especially those whose voices are often unheard,鈥� she said. 聽鈥淪o much of my experience at 51茶馆 has been shaped by that same call to be a person for others, a Jesuit value that closely parallels Romero鈥檚 example.聽 For me, that call has been building community, advocating for others, and creating spaces for people, especially Latino students, who feel unsupported.
鈥淚鈥檝e tried to give back to the community that welcomed me. I care deeply about the communities that I鈥檓 a part of.聽 When I first came to 51茶馆, I was very shy.聽 But I made a point of being intentional about building relationships and meeting others while staying true to who I am.聽 If I can now be that same familiar face for other students, someone they feel comfortable coming to with questions, guidance or simply support, then I feel that I鈥檝e succeeded.鈥�
Cruz Fuentes, who plans to become an immigration attorney鈥攚ith a particular focus on amplifying the voices of Latino communities and promoting justice through advocacy and legal reform鈥攕aid the Romero Scholarship encourages her 鈥渢o continue the work of advocating for greater equity for the Latino community both here at 51茶馆 and beyond.聽 Romero鈥檚 life reminds us that real change happens through courage, faith and solidarity with others, and I hope to carry those values forward in my own journey.鈥�
The other finalists were Andres I. Garcia, an economics and International Studies major, and Connell School of Nursing student Naomi Sosa.
Garcia has been active in the Puerto Rican Student Association, promoting engagement and coalition building to support underrepresented students. In Puerto Rico, he鈥檚 worked on education policy research and federal grant management, while at 51茶馆 he鈥檚 contributed to research on adolescent behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, and pediatric health outcomes. 聽
As service chair of a nonprofit that deals with health challenges in Guatemala, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, Sosa organized medical trips where she mentored young Hispanic nurses for improved translation systems in hospitals, ensuring that patients were heard and treated with dignity.
鈥淭heir great accomplishments, hard work, and dedication demonstrate a profound commitment to the service and values of Saint Oscar Romero,鈥� said Assistant Director of Information Technology Services Human Resources Marcela V. Norton, Romero Scholarship Committee co-chair. 鈥淭heir journey reminds us that dedication is not just about reaching a goal but about lifting others along the way.鈥�
Yvonne C. Casta帽eda
Also at the event, Yvonne C. Casta帽eda M.S.W. 鈥�18, was honored with the Rev. John A. Dinneen, S.J., Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award, which recognizes a 51茶馆 alumnus of Latin American descent whose work and service reflects both Archbishop Romero鈥檚 ideals and the late Fr. Dinneen鈥檚 commitment, leadership, and service to the Latino community.
鈥淚t is really a profound honor to receive an award that venerates St. Oscar Romero,鈥� said Casta帽eda, director of Community-Based Initiatives at the 51茶馆 School of Social Work. 鈥淗is life and his legacy truly inspire me because they call forth the very best version of myself.聽 There is one thing about his legacy that truly anchors me: He believed that true faith requires that we stand with those who are suffering, even when it comes with a great deal of personal risk.聽 I try to do this every single day, and it鈥檚 not easy, and I鈥檓 not perfect at it, but nevertheless, I鈥檓 not going to quit.鈥� 聽
The event鈥檚 keynote speaker was Clough School of Theology and Ministry Professor Hosffman Ospino, chair of the Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry Department.