Scholarship Recipients Overcome Great Obstacles

Elizabeth Avalos, BVM has recommended both of the scholarship recipients featured in this edition of Salt. Elizabeth has supported Maria C. Ramirez Medrano in her goals of earning her medical assistant certificate and Maria Lorena Sanchez in her pursuit of a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling.

Elizabeth shares, “In the Mohawk version of the Thanksgiving Address there is a prayer to the Enlightened Teachers which says, ‘We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how-to live-in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people.’

“Both Maria and Maria Lorena have overcome great obstacles but have set their goals to help others live in harmony and show us how to live as one people. Our educational grants are assisting them to strengthen their role as Enlightened Teachers by certifying them to become a Medical Assistant and a Marriage & Family Counselor.”

Recipient Maria C. Ramirez Medrano

Maria C. Ramirez Medrano was born in Mexico City, Mexico. She completed her studies as a secretary and worked in that capacity for 15 years before moving to America in 1990. Settling in California, Maria worked for various electronics companies as an assembler. Maria married and had two sons, whom she decided to stay home and raise. When her boys went off to college, Maria had the opportunity to go back to high school and get her diploma.

Maria desires to be a medical administrative assistant. She wants to help those who are monolingual when they come to a health clinic. She has been promised a medical administrative assistant position once her English improves.

Maria has now received two Mary Frances Clarke scholarships to help offset her costs as she continues her English classes and medical administrative assistant certificate program at San Jose City College, in San Jose, Calif. Maria has also been accepted into the Accompañamiento Program from Mercy Center in Burlingame, Calif., to learn the skills of a spiritual director. Maria wishes to be of service to her community by providing practical and spiritual solace in medical situations.

Elizabeth says, “Maria has sought freedom for herself in learning English and pursuing additional education so that she can be of further assistance to others. In spite of the obstacle of language and little formal education in her youth, Maria has worked hard to improve herself and is desirous of completing the medical assistance program.”

Maria adds, “I like to help my neighbors when they ask me for advice . . . I also like to help my new classmates . . . my new project is to start my spiritual accompaniment classes. It is very important to me to continue so I can help families or elderly people who need my help spiritually.”

“Maria lives out our core values in so many ways.” Elizabeth shares. “She helps the homeless in her parish and is a listener when others are in need. Maria seeks justice by advocating to improve her neighborhood. I feel very strongly that Maria is a person who will benefit from the scholarship and one who will enrich the lives of others.”

Recipient Maria Lorena Sanchez

Maria Lorena Sanchez left Mexico with her mother when she was 16. They moved to San Jose to earn money to put a proper roof on their house in Mexico. The women spent two years working hard to make that a reality. Maria Lorena’s mother returned to Mexico; she decided to stay in the United States. That was over 30 years ago.

Maria Lorena is now married, has four children, and has learned English. Initially, she wanted to learn English so she could get a doctor’s appointment for her children without waiting in line for the only Spanish-speaking doctor available. But learning English provided much  more than that. She has earned her GED and graduated from San Jose State University, with a B.A. in psychology. Today, with the help of the BVM Mary I. Griffin Scholarship, Maria Lorena is attending Santa Clara University to earn a M.A. in marriage and family counseling. She met BVM Elizabeth Avalos through Holy Names sister Mary Becker, SNJM, and through her involvement with the Bay Area Conference of Associates and Religious (BACAR), and other work in religious and social justice actions and issues.

Maria Lorena shares, “There are many reasons I want to continue my educational journey. My faith and determination have always guided me to accomplish my dreams and aspirations. As a mother of four daughters, I recognized how much they were going to need my support for the education and any medical attention . . . I acknowledged that I needed to try to learn English and educate myself more . . . a higher education has been influential for my family and community.”

Elizabeth adds, “Truly, Maria Lorena Sanchez is a woman who sought freedom for herself and others throughout her life, helping her family in Mexico and here in the States . . . her persistence and drive truly indicates that Maria Lorena will succeed in her studies and achieve her goal of becoming a marriage and family counselor.”

This story was featured in:

FALL 2022: Together we participate in God’s creating action, transforming the earth. (BVM Constitution #11)

In this issue of Salt, we celebrate the legacy of our beloved Lou Anglin, BVM; the 103rd birthday of Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM; fifteen 70-year-Jubilarians, and our first in-person Assembly since COVID-19. We look to the future as we continue to adapt our mission, sponsor women in pursuit of education, support children in need, and advocate for justice in society and in the Catholic Church.

If you would like to receive Salt, contact the Office of Development for a complimentary subscription at development@bvmsisters.org or 563-585-2864.