Marta Service Scholarship 2023
Marta Alicia Arias-Veliz
was born on March 12, 1951, the 6th daughter of ten children in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Given the life of poverty, her highest education was 6th grade before the need to work and help the family arose. She was married at 16 years of age, and by 23 years old she immigrated to the United States with her husband and daughters. With limited resources, she cleaned houses for a living making ends meet but still with a heart of service for others. She continuously collected donations and saved money to send back resources to the impoverished community she was raised in back in Guatemala throughout her entire life.
Marta was an exemplary model of resourcefulness, working a laborious job and demonstrating the ethics of tenacity, reliability, dedication and productivity. She optimized her window of opportunity to advocate for those in need of guidance. Irrespective of her own active battle against cancer, she knitted hats and gifts during her chemotherapy sessions for fellow cancer fighting patients. When the pandemic hit, she made masks for healthcare workers and the community to help keep people safe. Astounding many, during her last year battling cancer complications, she continued her volunteer work with Casa Bella preparing and working events to serve marginalized communities. Even after her death, her family found boxes of donations she collected up to the very end to send back to Guatemala.
Marta demonstrated a heart of service that was unwavering regardless of the obstacles she faced. She was steadfast in serving her community in marginalized regions across counties and countries. May her memory serve as an example of a life that is dedicated to elevate those in need.
So it is with a big heart that we announce, on behalf of Marta, this year we are giving three $1,000 scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic school year, called the Marta Service Scholarship Award. For more information on how to apply, please click here.
