The Ariana R. Ulloa Scholarship Fund

The Ariana R. Ulloa Scholarship Fund was established at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to honor the legacy of its namesake, Ariana Ulloa, a native of Mexico. Ariana moved to Athens in 1986 and began working for the Hocking College Department of International Programs in 1990, eventually moving into the position of Director. She had a reputation for her kind and encouraging nature and was known to many students as “Mamá Ariana.”

Ariana passed away in December 2002 but her legacy continues through this endowed scholarship fund, set up at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and created through the contributions of Ariana’s family, friends and students.

In keeping with her work in international programs, the scholarships are offered to international students or students pursuing a degree in international studies.

2010 Ariana Ulloa Scholarship Recipient

Jina Yu, Belmont County. Yu, a graduating senior from St. Clairsville High School, plans to pursue her educational studies at the Ohio State University this fall.

2009 Ulloa Scholarship Recipient, Elaine Householder

Upon graduating from Ohio State University with honors in International Studies and French, she plans to earn a Masters in Peace and Reconciliation Studies from the International Conflict Research program at the University of Ulster in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

A Special Note and Update from Elaine:

Dear Foundation for Appalachian Ohio,

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for affording me the opportunity to conduct research and engage in international volunteer work this past summer through the generous support of the Foundation and to give you an update on my trip to South Africa.

Thanks to your support, I was able to travel to Cape Town, Oudtshoorn and Worcester, South Africa through the DreamCatcher Foundation and the Institute for International Field Research Expeditions to engage in a five-week volunteer and research program. Every morning I volunteered with street children, teaching a class of thirty-four two-year-olds to paint, draw, and create crafts, playing with them on the playground, feeding them lunch and snacks and, of course, cleaning up all of their messes. I worked with at-risk youth in the afternoons, participating in traditional dance classes, teaching basic computer skills, and developing a film project in which young children who had been abused or molested described their lives in a safe house. In the evenings, I interviewed some of the children that I worked with, as well as area youths and young gang members from the community. In talking to youth about violence in their communities, I gained new perspective regarding the true meaning of peace to those who experience conflict as an integral part of their everyday lives. I am more committed than ever to finding solutions to conflict in divided societies that incorporate the youngest members of communities and believe that the first-hand experience that I gained as a result of my trip to South Africa will enable me to produce a quality undergraduate Honors Thesis that will provide a meaningful contribution to the field of International Peace and Reconciliation Studies.

Thank you again for offering me this wonderful opportunity. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Elaine M. Householder

Past Ulloa Scholarship recipients

2008 Recipients:

Julie Mann

Karen Guerrero

Langton Mahechani, 2007 Recipient

Langton, a Zimbabwe native, attended Hocking College to pursue a degree in business management.

Bernini Elizabeth Goitte, 2006 Recipient

Bernini Elizabeth Goitte. Bernini, a native of Venezuela, moved to the United States in 2004 at just 17 years of age. She studied International Business at Hocking College with plans to earn a bachelor's degree at Ohio University.