USHLI Scholarship Recipient Selected as Denny’s Hungry for Education™National Winner

 

USHLI Scholarship Recipient Selected as Denny’s Hungry for Education™National Winner

USHLI is proud to partner with the Denny’s Hungry for Education™ Scholarship Program, an initiative that celebrates young leaders who are making a lasting impact in their communities while pursuing their dreams through higher education. This year, USHLI selected four outstanding students to receive 2025–2026 scholarships, and we are thrilled to share that one of our recipients, Samantha Xtabay Torres, has been named Denny’s National Winner for 2026. An Honors College student in the pre-medicine pathway at the University of Illinois Chicago, Samantha is a first-generation college student whose exceptional academic achievements, leadership, community involvement, and determination truly set her apart. Her accomplishments are an inspiration, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition. Denny’s commitment to investing in education and strengthening communities closely aligns with our mission to empower future leaders through education and leadership development.  In her winning essay, Samantha shared, “I am proud to be the one breaking the generational curse for the women in my family—becoming the first to pursue higher education and to take up space in rooms where people who look like me are rarely seen. Growing up, my parents told me we couldn’t afford a university and that community college was my only option. I knew I wanted a different path, so I decided to quietly build it myself. I stayed up late studying, applied to scholarships without telling anyone, and kept pushing even when people doubted me. By senior year, I had earned enough scholarships to attend a four-year university without placing a financial burden on my family. Now, I carry my community with me into every classroom, lab, and hospital unit. My success is not just mine; it’s proof that our stories don’t have to end where they started.” Congratulations again to Samantha and to all of this year’s scholarship recipients. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact they will continue to make in their communities and beyond.

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