Karlo Manzo-Arroyo, a freshman at the University of Illinois in Chicago, is among 10 undergraduate students nationally who have been honored by The National AIDS Memorial, through its Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship, according to a press release.
Named in honor of Zamora—an AIDS educator, activist and reality-television pioneer who passed away 25 years-ago from an AIDS-related illness—the scholarship has helped support the education of young people who are engaged in a variety of HIV-related work in their schools, communities and chosen academic fields.
Manzo-Arroyo works in the Department of Public Health as a certified rapid HIV tester and counselor. He helps connect interested individuals with HIV services throughout Chicago, including screening and treatment for STIs, housing, employment, food, legal services, medical care and much more. He is pursuing a degree in accounting to work within his agency's finance department and ensure continued funding for HIV programs.
The other honorees include Tranisha Arzah, a freshman at Seattle Central College in Seattle; Kota Babcock, a freshman at Colorado State University in Denver; Mona Bandov, a freshman at UC Berkeley in Berkeley, California; Justin Bell, a junior at Georgia State University in Atlanta; Asamia Diaby, a junior at CUNY Lehman in the Bronx; Grace Gautereuax, a junior at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon; Emily Nold, from Fox Island, Washington, a freshman at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Verenice Ortiz-Robles, a freshman at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and, Nicolas Rios, a freshman at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
The Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship is open to current high school seniors as well as college freshman, sophomores and juniors who demonstrate an active commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS and taking on roles of public service and leadership. The application open period begins March 1. To learn more about the scholarship and the National AIDS Memorial, visit AIDSmemorial.org or call 415-765-0497.
