Well, the Public Education Foundation, or PEF, helps administer these scholarships.

Not an easy job at all, but a rewarding one when you see the joy on the faces of these wonderful students.

Another scholarship PEF administers is a Hispanic and Latino Legacy Scholarship, and we caught up with an incredible young man from Spring Valley High School who's ready to put that scholarship to good use.

(Eduin Perez Castellanos) So when we came here, it was a shock to my dad.

He was very proud of me for the fact of what I did.

He was in tears.

And what he taught me was something that will serve me in life, right?

-Some of those life lessons that Eduin Perez Castellanos' proud dad, Eduardo, has taught him-- -He taught me mainly the importance of hard work, but also learning to take advantage of opportunities you have, right?

-The Spring Valley High School senior definitely knows the true meaning of hard work.

-How is everything, boss?

-Just a few years ago, at the age of 16, Eduin became a small business owner, along with his parents, of their family restaurant.

-Carne asada, chorizo-- -Oaxaca is a state in Mexico, and that's where my parents and I are from, right?

And we wanted to bring these dishes, be able to show off our culture, be able to show off what we-- where we came from, where we are.

And to be able to live the American dream through that and being able to show off our culture is something that I honestly and our parents are very proud of.

-Something else to be proud of, being awarded the Hispanic and Latino Legacy Scholarship.

-So to me, this scholarship represents the hard work that I've achieved so far and being able to be recognized for my achievements academically.

-It's Eduin's impressive academic achievements that will, no doubt, help him achieve his dream of becoming-- -I'm Dr. Perez.

So I'll be going to University of Nevada, Reno in the fall, and I want to study pre-medicine.

Yeah, I will be the first doctor in my family, right?

I'm also the first generation to go to college here out of my entire family.

And my parents are very proud of it that their sacrifices have allowed me to be able to pursue higher education and pursue a professional field.

-And this future neurosurgeon already knows he will be making a difference in the medical field.

-Being able to speak both languages will help me to connect further my Hispanic community, right?

Especially, not many doctors are bilingual, right?

And being able to communicate such information with a patient creates a better relationship with them, right, and being able to connect with them and provide better care for them.

-"Dr. Perez," that has a nice ring to it.

Que orgullo, so proud of you.

Eduin, by the way, is also the captain of Spring Valley High School's Track and Field team and co-captain of the Cross Country team.

I don't know how you do it.

Big congratulations, and congratulations to the other talented and smart students who were also awarded the 2025 Hispanic and Latino Legacy Scholarship.