MORNING STAR RISING SCHOLARSHIPS
Beginning in 2005, alumnae are entering college and the work world. Over 200 young women have participated in the program so far. Therefore, in January 2006, Morning Star Rising added the goal of providing a college scholarship program for its alumnae. (See below for criteria.)
In June of 2005, Mercedes Cervantez, a Morning Star Rising alumna who had completed the 8th grade just days before, died tragically in a bicycle/truck accident. Mercedes was a spirited and intelligent young woman with an unlimited potential to set and achieve ambitious goals. Her death was a profound loss to her family and to her friends, many of whom are alumnae of Morning Star Rising.
Therefore, with love and remembrance, we dedicate this memorial to one of our sisters who had tremendous potential. In her memory, Morning Star Rising expands its mission of empowering young women to include the awarding of financial assistance for alumnae attending college, university, or junior/community college.
In 2006 and 2007, a total of $5,750 was awarded to AISD students who are alumnae of Morning Star Rising, all of whom were participants in the program at Fulmore Middle School. Our alumnae are now studying at The University of Texas at Austin, St. Edward's University, Huston-Tillotson University, San Angelo State University, Austin Community College, University of The Cumberlands, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, and Antioch College.
Scholarship Eligiblity
Any student who has participated consistently in the Morning Star Rising Project for at least one full academic year, who demonstrates financial need, and who intends to attend college, university, or junior/community college will be considered eligible to apply for a Mercedes Cervantez Memorial Morning Star Rising Scholarship.
For application information and forms, use the links below:
So Many Girls, So Many Kinds of Empowerment
Although the formal structure of the program is middle school-based, support and guidance are maintained as much as possible with the Morning Star Rising alumnae throughout the high school years.
And even though the program is still a young one, its alumnae are already demonstrating community leadership and achievement in many areas. In 2005-06, the president, Carmen Castillo, and vice-president, Araceli Gaona, of the senior class of Travis High School, as well as the vice-president, Sarah Ornelas, of the junior class were all Morning Star Rising alumnae. Sarah Crowe, in 2006, was named a Young Master by the Texas Commission on the Arts, recognizing her as an outstanding young artist and providing three annual awards for summer art study. In 2008, Sarah was one of only 15 Early Decision students accepted into the prestigious Art program at Cooper Union in New York
In March 2006, Simone Washington, Youth Brigade reporter for the Villager Newspaper, was honored by the National Women of Achievement, Inc, Austin chapter, with the Connie Yerwood Connor African-American Women’s Profiles of Prominence.
 A member of the very first class of Morning Star Rising, Rachel Sears, as a sophomore at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, interned at the Children's Television Division of the Public Broadcasting System in Boston during the summer of 2007. A recipient of the Bonner Scholarship at Antioch, she is funded in summer internships with any organization she chooses. In the summer of 2006, Rachel chose to spend her internship working with Morning Star Rising because she strongly believes in the value this program has for the young women it serves. She graduates from Antioch University/Seattle in 2009.
In 2006, Soely Juarez competed and won events in district, regional, and national competition in the Business Professionals of America. Erica Grimaldo, in March of 2005, scored first place in the nation on the National French Exam. Both of these intelligent and determined young women are mothers of young daughters.
Shannisia Brown, as a freshman at Huston-Tillotson University in 06-07, worked part-time as a program assistant for the Morning Star Rising program at Fulmore.
In 2009, Zoja Ulesoo, a senior Radio/Television/Film major at UT, has three programs on KVRX, the UT radio station, including one on Women, Gender, and Sexualtiy. Denise Manning, a senior in the McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy, had a lead role in the summer production of Rent. She has won many singing and acting awards while at McCallum.
Hannah Otis was honored by Fox News 7 as a senior at Travis High School in 2008 as one of Ten Who Make a Difference in the Community. The award is based on community service, school leadership, and academics. And Talina Martinez Garcia, now a senior at University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky, is graduating with a Biology major and considering medical school.
Encouraged and inspired by the success of its alumnae, Morning Star Rising will continue its work with the young women of Austin.
Community Service Projects
 In the summer of 2004, fifteen eighth and ninth grade members of Morning Star Rising studied the importance of voting to the health of democratic government. They designed and painted signs encouraging voter registration. With the program founder deputized as a voter registrar and with the donation of space at neighborhood institution Fran’s Hamburgers on South Congress Ave in the heart of the Fulmore Middle School community, they were ready to assist with voter registration.
At four community events, the girls recruited registrants, explaining the importance of voting and directing them to the registration table. Seventy-eight voters were registered for the first time or were re-registered after having moved.
A drinking fountain was transformed from drab to fab in the spring of 2006 under the direction
of Wanda Montemayor, Morning Star Rising board member, program assistant, art teacher extraordinaire, and now school counselor.
Colorful, original ceramic tiles were designed, painted, and fired by Morning Star Rising girls in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, as well as several of their mentors. During the summer of 2006, the finished tiles were installed on a water fountain on the 2nd floor at Fulmore Middle School.
For more Community Service Projects go to the Community Service Projects section of the Our Program page.
Career Exploration Opportunities
Also in 2006, members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at The University of Texas at Austin visited the program to present a fascinating panel discussion covering a wide variety of career paths, college majors, and college life. These intelligent and enthusiastic young women shared valuable, first-hand information and personal stories in an articulate and relaxed way.
UT sorority women share college and career information
Each February, Morning Star Rising attends the annual Seton Hospital Open House. On this one Saturday, Seton opens the surgical suites to the public with hands-on demonstration of surgical techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. Besides being able to actually explore operating rooms set up for mock surgeries of various kinds, the girls can try their hands with some of the equipment and talk to different health career professionals about their jobs, the education required, working conditions, the job market, and pay scales.
For more about Career Exploration, go to the Career Exploration section of the Our Program page.
 Exploring the Community!
The great folks at MexicArte Museum welcomed Morning Star Rising to the fabulous Los Hilos de Oaxaca exhibit in May 2006. Treated by the museum staff as honored guests, the girls learned about the cultural and artistic traditions of a gorgeous array of the textiles of the indigenouspeoples of the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
Hands-on activities included using a backstrap
loom to learn basic weaving techniques and creating traditional hair ornaments from wool and beads.
Aveda at Barton Creek and Morning Star Rising team up to honor Earth Day 
Many thanks to Rae and Alex at Aveda at Barton Creek who provided materials for creating personal terrariums out of recycled tea jars. Morning Star Rising provided the plants and the gardeners, as well as gusto! A wide variety of found objects were used to make each terrarium unique and personal.
 Rae and Alex also provided expertise on the subjects of natural,organic products and the origins and meaning of Earth Day.
After several weeks of display
at the Aveda store in honor of Earth Day,
the terrariums were taken home by their creators.
Our Neighborhood History
Developing a sense of belonging to one’s community —from the neighborhood to the world community and across time from Back in the Day to the present to imagining the future— is an important part of the Morning Star Rising program. Exploring local resources such as museums and universities and walking tours of neighborhood landmarks are part of this experience.
 The former home and corner store of the James Stanley family and St Annie AME Church are cornerstones of a very old African-American community in our South Austin neighborhood. The former corner store now houses The Herb Bar which dispenses medicinal and bath and body products based on ancient folk wisdom. A visit to The Soup Peddler provides a first-hand look at a true grassroots business that enriches our community in many ways. Old school entrepreneurship and the slow food movement plus an online ordering process illustrate how the best of the past and present can enrich an entire community.
An Introduction to College Life
Tours of St Edward’s University and exploring Student Life options at UT at the annual 40 Acres Fest are also popular Saturday field trips.
Many MSR alumnae are the first in their families to attend college. Having opportunities to feel comfortable on college campuses is part of this process.
An Annual Field Trip
Almost every year since 2000, Morning Star Rising girls in grades 6-9 have attended the annual Austin Powwow and American Indian Heritage Festival. Traditional Native American dancing, powwow regalia, drumming and singing, traditional foods, and even a full-sized teepee were some of the colorful and authentic attractions.
 Many thanks to the members of Beta Alpha sorority from the University of Texas at Austin who joined us for the day-long field trip in 2003. The event was a huge success and proved to be a wonderfully enriching educational, cultural, and social experience.
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