OVERVIEW
Through the generous support of the family and friends of the late Manuel Marin Serrano,The Manual Marín Serrano Scholarship is available to an LCCC student who is active in the community, with a focus on Latino advocacy. The scholarship will be awarded to a needing and deserving student attending Lorain County Community College. The scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, books and supplies. The recipient must demonstrate unmet need after grants and other awards. This award is being offered in memory of Mr. Serrano to continue his legacy and love and dedication to education.
APPLICANT AND RECIPIENT CRITERIA
- Be a high school graduate;
- Be enrolled at least half time at LCCC or the University Partnership;
- Demonstrate unmet financial need;
- Be active in the community, with preference given to involvement/advocacy within the Latino community.
University Partnership Students: In your Universal Application, you must attach your most recent transcripts and proof of enrollment in the UP Institution for the semester of the scholarship (fall class schedule and charges). LCCC students’ status can be accessed by LCCC’s Student Financial Aid; therefore, they are exempt of having to show proof of enrollment and transcripts.
About Manuel Marin Serrano
Manuel Serrano was born in Laredo, Texas where he was reared by his mother, Soledad Marín and father Lucio Serrano. His parents moved with Manuel and his older brother, Ubaldo to Lorain in 1924. Soledad established a small boarding house catering to the Mexican workers at the steel mill. She provided an example of hard work and perseverance, which Manuel never forgot. He graduated from Lorain High School in 1938.
Manuel joined the U.L. Navy, January 2, 1942 and was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945. He served on the U.S.S. Essex, CV 9 during World War II as an aviation radioman performing duties as an aircraft gunner in the South Pacific. He was awarded numerous citations and medals, among them, the Presidential Citation “for extra-ordinary heroism in action against enemy forces, in air, ashore and afloat in the Pacific War Arena,” the American Arena Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (five Star) Medal, the U.S. Navy Service and Campaign Medals and the Ribbon Bar with bronze Star. His citations were bestowed for heroism “as an air crewman of a bomber plane, and a member of a bombing squadron against enemy forces with unfaltering skill and for coolness under fire.”
The young Navy man returned to his hometown and went on to attend Bliss Electrical School in Washington, D.C. After graduation from Bliss, he returned to Lorain where he met the love of his life, Amparo Magdaleno. They were married in 1947 and would have celebrated 57 years of marriage on June 16, 2004. The young couple raised four children in Lorain while Manuel worked at the U.S. Steel Mill.
After his retirement from U.S. Steel, Manuel and Amparo decided to move to Southern California to be closer to their adult children. He never forgot his roots and enjoyed sharing fond memories of his hometown in Ohio with family and friends. He believed in hard work and a good education. He believed schooling was an equalizer in the United States and constantly urged young people to further their education.