Galesburg, Ill. The Hispanic Latino Resource Group, Inc. is offering educational scholarships for children of Hispanic descent. The Erica Hunter, Adam Perez, and Jason Maulden Memorial Scholarships will be awarded to Galesburg High School or GHS North 2022 graduates. The Memorial scholarships are in honor of three young persons who lost their lives in separate tragic accidents. Erica Hunter died in auto accident on September 13, 2004 on her way back to Illinois State University, where she was a junior majoring in Education. Adam Perez was killed in a motorcycle accident on July 26, 2004. He was pursuing an entrepreneurship career. Jason Maulden was in a fatal accident in August 3, 2014 on his way back from an American Legion baseball tournament. He had completed his junior year at Galesburg High School.
Galesburg High School counselors have applications for eligible students and they are also available on Goggle Classroom. Students may email Irene iponce@knox.edu or Margo lala6452@icloud.com for applications or further information.
The application must be postmarked by April 15, 2022.
Students are asked to write a short essay, provide a letter of acceptance from the college they will be attending, a transcript, and a teacher recommendation. Applications should be mailed to H.L.R.G. Inc, %Margo Davila, 1566 S Seminary Street, Galesburg, IL 61401. Winners will be
notified by April 30, 2022.
Donations for the scholarship fund should be sent to the above address.
The Hispanic Latino Resource Group, Inc. was established in 1997. Since 2002, they have awarded $35,160 in scholarships to local youth and $6,685 to various community organizations, including K-CAP, Relay For Life, the Railroad Museum, the Veteran’s Memorial, News in Education, Discover Galesburg, and the Red Cross.
The Hispanic Latino Resource Group is proud to honor these three each year with scholarships to deserving high school students of Hispanic descent.
Erica Leslie Hunter
Erica Leslie Hunter was born Oct. 10, 1983 in Peoria, IL, the daughter of Les and Julie Higareda Hunter. Her family moved to Fort Wayne, IN, Richmond, VA, Ashburn, VA, Mill Creek, WA, then to Galesburg in 2003.
She became involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life while in Virginia and continued to be involved in Washington, and served on the committee at Illinois State University, where she attended to become a middle school teacher. At ISU, she is honored each year with the Erica Hunter Heart of Relay Award, honoring a committee member showing the passion and dedication to Relay that Erica possessed. Erica also volunteered at The Baby Fold in Normal,
IL.
On her eighteenth birthday, she and her mother each donated a 10-inch ponytail to Locks of Love. In her memory, her family has collected over 150 ponytails to send in to Locks of Love and that number keeps growing.
Tragically, Erica was in a fatal traffic accident that ended her promising life on Sept 13, 2004 on her way back to ISU from home. She died at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, IL, leaving behind her parents and brothers John, of Scobey, MT and Kyle of Glendale, AZ.
Jason Chad Maulden
Jason Chad Maulden was born August 12, 1997 in Galesburg, IL. He was the son of Keisa (Cervantez) and Dusty Henry and Barry and JeriLynn Maulden. Jason attended Gale Elementary School, Churchill Junior High and was getting ready to enter his senior year at Galesburg High School.
As a freshman in high school, Jason also joined the GHS boy’s golf team, but his love remained for baseball. He received All Conference as a designated hitter during his junior year baseball season. Jason was a member of the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 back-to-back Western Big 6 Conference champion varsity baseball teams. He was also a two-year member of the Galesburg American Legion Post 285 baseball team.
Jason was a leader on and off the field. He maintained a 3.5 GPA, an inductee of National Honor Society, member of G-Club and an active member of C.A.R.E.
Jason died on August 3, 2014 on his way back from an American Legion baseball tournament due to a tragic car accident that also claimed the life of his grandfather Steve Cervantez. Jason continued his baseball streak in death as a Home Run organ donor.
Adam Justin Perez
Adam Justin Perez was born October 9, 1975 in Galesburg, IL to proud parents Jack and Anita Perez. Adam attended Avon Grade School, where he was on the AGS Basketball Team and he played both the saxophone and bass drum in band. At Galesburg High School, Adam was on the GHS Jr. Varsity Tennis Team, joined the Catholic Youth Club, and graduated GHS in 1993. He later took business courses at Carl Sandburg College.
In August of 1993, Adam went on a bus trip to Denver, CO to see Pope John Paul II for World Youth Day. In February 2000, he became a father to the love of his life, daughter Addison Zeta Perez.
On July 26, 2004, Adam died in a motorcycle accident.