Crowley Maritime Corporation awards 17-year-old Coraly Lopez Ortiz its 2012 Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship.
Coraly Lopez Ortiz, has begun her first year of college at University of Puerto Rico (UPR), thanks in part to the support of Crowley Maritime Corporation. Her parents' medical ailments have kept them from working since 2010, but her strong academic record and commitment to pursuing an education despite tough financial circumstances have prevailed with the help of the scholarship.
“We have had to cut down on expenses but education has always been a priority in my family,” said Ortiz in her scholarship application.
She recently graduated from Casiano Cepeda High School in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, where she attended the school’s commercial education vocational program and volunteered tutoring her peers in a variety of subjects after school.
"We are extremely pleased to not only recognize students like Coraly, but to encourage academic excellence among all Puerto Rican students, regardless of what hardships they may endure. Her story is a great example of how they can overcome those obstacles and achieve their goals," said Jose Ayala, vice president of Puerto Rico services for Crowley.
Ortiz is pursuing a degree in business administration and credits the scholarship for granting her the funds to allow her to focus on her studies and continue tutoring her peers. She is one of more than 275 students in the U.S., Alaska, Puerto Rico and Central America to receive a Crowley Scholarship since 1984. Crowley has also donated more than $2 million over the years to support other educational programs.
In the picture, from left to right: Roberto Lopez Colon, scholarship recipient's father; Coraly Lopez Ortiz, scholarship recipient; Jose Ayala, vice president of Crowley Puerto Rico services