Inaugural ‘Hidden Figures’ scholarships awarded to boost academic careers

Much of South America struggles with access to clean water, and Froilan Huachaca wants to do something about it.

Huachaca was one of eight people awarded with Hidden Figures — Emerging and Young Scholars scholarships Thursday at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. The scholarship program is a first-ever partnership between the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka that awarded a total of $10,000 divided among four Shawnee County high school students and four students at Kansas universities.

Huachaca, a junior at Emporia State University, was born in Lima, Peru, and immigrated to the United States in 2001. After attending graduate school, he plans to start a nonprofit aimed at providing access to clean water in South America, where urban water systems can be destroyed by heavy flooding and clean water in rural areas can be expensive.

"Clean water will become more scarce," he said. "It's so vital to everyone."

The scholarships are meant to boost "hidden figures," young people whom Alpha Phi Alpha and FHLBank Topeka want to support and encourage in their academic careers, said Lonnie Walker Jr., diversity and inclusion analyst for FHLBank Topeka.

"We want them to know they have support," he said.

About 15 college and high-school students applied for the scholarship this year. Walker said he is hopeful the program can expand next year both in funding and awards.

In her address before the award ceremony, Beryl New, outgoing principal of Highland Park High School, encouraged the students to be active members of their communities.

"Be a willing witness," she said. "As the proverb goes, be willing to stand up for something lest you fall."

Caleb Phelps, a senior at Topeka West High School and one of the scholarship recipients, said being involved in the community was what drew him to the scholarship.

The financial award will help relieve the burden of school costs as Phelps pursues a career as a physician's assistant in orthopedics. More importantly, he said, it will remind him to live up to one of the defining principles of Alpha Phi Alpha.

"Get out there and take initiative," he said.

Other scholarship recipients were:

Justin Beteta, Washburn Rural High School.

Khalilah Davis, Topeka West.

Alyssa Conway, Shawnee Heights High School.

TyJanae Terrell-Smith, Washburn University.

Colin Gardner, Kansas State University.

Alexis Cushshon, K-State.

Source: Inaugural 'Hidden Figures' scholarships awarded to boost academic careers