For the past 25 years, husband and wife team, Antonio Grillo-Lopez and Maria S. Marxuach Grillo have been supporting education in the ways of grants, scholarships, and fellowships - at all levels.  Grillo-Marxuach Family Scholars have attended or are currently attending Yale University, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, University of California Los Angeles, Duke University, the Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice Studies at the University of San Diego (USD), Preuss School in San Diego, University of California San Diego, Sacred Heart College in Puerto Rico, The University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Boston, and others.  Every year they provide support for 15-20 students at these institutions.  These students are of an elite group that includes Bachelor's Master's and Doctoral degreed candidates as well as Post-Doctoral researchers.  Upon graduation or completion of their research, each is granted the title of Grillo-Marxuach Family Scholar.

 

A couple of years ago, this wonderful couple decided to establish two scholarships for Masters degree candidates at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Studies at USD.  It was their choice to partner with the Rotary International Foundation (RIF).  The agreement made with RIF was that every year they (couple) would donate $63,000 and RIF would provide $30,000 in Global Grant money.  The RIF deducts $3,000 for their administrative costs.  Thus from a total of $90,000, the couple donates 70% and the RIF provides 30%.  

 

Every year, two candidates (International, with preference for Puerto Rico and Latin America) are awarded these scholarships.  This year's scholarship winners are Jennifer Rivera from Puerto Rico and Veronica Musa from Argentina.  These students join the two that  completed their first year and are now starting their second year at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Studies at the USD: Valentina Rivera Munoz from Puerto Rico and Paloma Wlethorn Kochan from Brazil.  Two new scholars are added every year.  The scholarships pay for one year of studies towards a degree such as a Masters degree in Social Innovation.  Should the degree require a second year, such as the Masters degree in Peace and Justice, USD and the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Studies will cover the expenses for the second year.  The agreement with the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Studies is that scholars will be known as Grillo-Marxuach Family Scholars.  A fund, the Grillo-Marxuach Scholarship Fund, has been established at USD to receive and dispense all monies pertaining to these scholarships.  For more information, you can refer to the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Studies website.

 

Both Antonio and Maria would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to  Patricia Marquez, Dean of the Joan Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice Studies for USD for her untiring support and to  Dr. Cynthia Villis, Assistant Provost of USD for her work in making these scholarships possible.  Dr. Villis is also the  past president of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Triangle,  who writes, submits and administers the Global Grants.  A special thanks was offered up to Steve Brown, past district governor and past trustee of the RIF and to RIF for partnering with them on this outstanding and impactful endeavor.