Latinos Unidos for College and Higher Achievement (LUCHA)
Contact Information
LUCHA is currently open for in-person operations. Feel free to contact the coordinator, Sagrario Torres Flores to schedule an in-person appointment.
- If you have any questions, contact the coordinator, contact Sagrario Torres Flores, 612-234-2143.
- Advising appointments are available by appointment only. Appointments are in-person but can be made available via Zoom by request.
- Learn more about our LUCHA Coordinator and Equity and Inclusion Team
- Se habla español
LUCHA Mission
The mission of the LUCHA program is to assist in the recruitment, retention, and academic success of Latinx students attending Minneapolis College. Through culturally relevant academic advising, student leadership opportunities, cultural programming, and community outreach, we empower students so that they reach their fullest potential.
LUCHA strives to do this by:
- Providing and maintaining a safe space and supportive environment for all individuals and communities. This includes the intolerance of harassment and other discriminatory behavior, which are outlined in Procedure 4.04.01 of the Minneapolis College Code of Conduct Procedures.
- Advocating for the representation and participation of Latine students in positions of influence, both on and off Minneapolis College campus.
- Coordinating events that foster a supportive and educational environment for Latine students to connect with each other and with their culture(s).
- Centering the experiences of Latine individuals in conversations of/for social change.
- Promoting the Star Scholarship Program
LUCHA Center
The LUCHA Center (H. 2701) is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. It is a space where you can connect with other students who may share similar identities and experiences. Students who do not identify as Latino/a/e/x are welcome into the space. LUCHA centers Latinx culture and identities, and welcome anyone who identifies with or is an ally to this cultural identity.
The LUCHA Center has tables, computers, and a large monitor open for students to use. We also have a microwave and mini-fridge for students to use to heat up or store their lunch!
Stop by to work on homework, projects, eat lunch, or just connect with other students!
Recurring Events
- Every Wednesday, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. in Helland 2701
- LUCHA invites all Spanish-speakers and Spanish-speaking learners to come to the LUCHA space on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.! Hay que hablar español -- hace falta, no? Para conocer a otros alumnos hispanohablantes y crear un ambiente donde nos podemos expresar de la manera que nos sentimos más cómodos.
Nos vemos pronto! - Follow @lucha.minneapolis on Instagram to stay updated on what’s going on in the LUCHA space!
Culturally Relevant Advising
Get academic advising from an advisor that is actively part of the Latino community. We offer advising from a Latinx perspective where topics such as family, work, responsibilities, and mixed status families are taken into consideration.
We will assist you with the following to get you started:
- Choose a major
- Select appropriate college courses and class registration
- Student E-mail /D2L
- Financial Aid Assistance
- Info on ordering Textbooks
- Visa (U-visa /F1 Visa) Questions
We will continue to work with you in the following areas until you graduate or transfer to a 4-year college:
- Keep you on track toward graduation
- Connect with career and community networking opportunities
- Problem solve
- Academic Advising appointments (Navigate)
- Appeals
- Scholarships
- Bills and Payment
- Transfer Pathways
- Auggie Plan Questions
- The Latinx Student Union
- Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC)
- Star Scholars Scholarship
Financial Aid Resources
This following list is intended to be a list of financial-aid related resources for Latine students.
This is not a comprehensive list. It is meant to be a starting point for Minneapolis College Latine students looking for additional financial aid resources.
Unless otherwise specified, the resources on this list are not affiliated with Minneapolis College.
Please direct any questions you have about the specifics of these resources to the host organization itself.
This list includes a variety of identity-specific scholarships and resources. It centers a variety of Latine identities, including DACA-mented students, undocumented students, international students, students of color, and more. Again, please direct any questions you have about the specifics of these resources to the host organization itself.
Eligible non-citizens can apply to the Mn Dream Act every year for financial aid while pursuing a higher education. See application and eligibility details here. For assistance in completing this application, please make an appointment with LUCHA Coordinator, Sagrario Torres Flores.
Minnesota-Specific Scholarships and Grants
Requirements for the Page Grant scholarship are as follows:
- The student must be a person of color.
- The student must have graduated from a Minnesota high school.
- The student must be seeking to pursue a degree at a Minnesota college or university.
- The student must agree to complete annual service projects
- The student must be willing to participate in mentoring programs.
- The student must be from a group that is underrepresented in higher education, such as African American males, American Indian students, and Greater Minnesota students of color.
- The student must have financial needs and average grades.
- The scholarship is renewable, and subsequent grants are based on the student's academic progress and mentoring performance.
Requirements to receive a Minneapolis Foundation scholarship are as follows:
- Must be a student enrolled to take classes at Minneapolis College during the following academic year
- Please refer to specific scholarship for additional requirements
- Wallin Education Partners has a track record of success in supporting low to middle-income, first generation, and students of color. Scholarships available to students who have the intention of entering the workforce after completing their associates degree.
- Scholarships available for students who plan to attend local community colleges
- Opportunity for personalized guidance from a dedicated Wallin advisor
- Eligibility Requirements Include:
- High School GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Recent high school graduate (within past year)
- Demonstrated financial need, typically defined as a household income of $86,000 or less (If a student is eligible for Pell or the MN Dream Act, they are usually eligible for this scholarship)
- Intend to pursue employment after obtaining their associates degree
U.S. Wide/National Scholarships
(***Open to undocumented or DACA-mented applicants)
Must be a Latinx-identifying student
You may be eligible for the National Scholarship if you are undocumented and:
- You are or about to be a high school graduate; OR
- You have or are about to earn a GED; OR
- You are or have been enrolled in a community college or university
Eligibility requirements include:
- Are undocumented and came to the United States before November 1, 2017, and have continuously lived in the United States since then or have DACA or TPS;
- Came to the United States before the age of 16 (if you were born in the US - you are not eligible for our scholarship);
- Have significant unmet financial need;
- Live in and have graduated or will graduate from a high school in a targeted locked-out state by the end of the 2022-2023 academic year;
- Graduated or will graduate with a high school GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale or have a cumulative college/university GPA of 2.5 or better;
- Intend to relocate to and enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree program at an Opportunity Partner College in the Fall term of the 2023-2024 academic year
Selection will be based on academic history and extracurricular activities. Financial need will not be considered.
- Applicants should be DACA students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree
- Must be enrolled (or accepted) student in an accredited college or university and planning on continuing the next year
- Graduating high school seniors who meet the above-mentioned criteria may apply
- Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed
Selection will be based on academic history and extracurricular activities. Financial need will not be considered.
- Must be accepted by or enrolled in a college or university within the United States
- Must be enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited college or university and planning on continuing the next year
- Graduating high school seniors who meet the above-mentioned criteria may apply
- Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed
Selection will be based on academic history and extracurricular activities. Financial need will not be considered.
- Applicants should be pursing a degree in any field of study
- Must be accepted by or enrolled in a college or university within the United States
- Must be a Latin American woman enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited college or university and planning on continuing the next year
- Graduating high school seniors who meet the above-mentioned criteria may apply
- Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed
Selection will be based on academic history and extracurricular activities.
Financial need will not be considered.
- Must be accepted by or enrolled in a college or university within the United States
- Must be an enrolled (or accepted) student in an accredited college or university who is planning on continuing the next year.
- Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed.
“In order to push toward [their] goal of making education accessible,
has designated a wide variety of academic awards and scholarships for current and prospective students.
is thrilled to be awarding over $50,000 in scholarships. These academic awards are geared toward people with ranging backgrounds, identities, and academic goals.”
The minimum requirements for all scholarships are as follows:
- Active SHPE Member (To become an active member, please visit
- and select “Join” in the top right hand corner of the webpage)
- Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5 (This is a cumulative GPA as listed on the transcript of your latest academic institution)
- Plan to pursue a STEM degree
- Plan to enroll at an accredited two-year or four-year college/university for the 2023-2024 academic year in the United States*
- *Includes ALL US territories
United we Dream has compiled a list of scholarships for undocumented students and DACA recipients. Click the link above for more information.
Golden Door Scholars is an organization that provides large college scholarships, career and fellowship support, mentorship, and community-building opportunities for undocumented students. Students must have DACA, TPS, or be undocumented to be eligible. Applicants can be high school seniors, recent high school graduates, current college/community college students, or have obtained a GED (General Education Development) certificate from a United States Program.
Immigrants Rising curated a list of scholarships and fellowships that do not require proof of US citizenship. The list has general eligibility requirements, including education level, region/state, and immigration status (e.g. DACA, TPS, in-state tuition eligibility). Only opportunities with due dates within the next 120 days are shown.
TIP: Adjust the location filter to say “National” to make sure you’re looking at scholarships that are open to you!
It should read “LOCATION/SCHOOL contains ‘national’”
The Latinx Student Union
Follow @lsu.minneapolis on Instagram to stay updated on what’s going on with the Latinx Student Union.
The Latinx Student Union meets every Tuesday from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in Helland Center H.2701. The Latinx Student Union is run by a board of students.
Positions include:
- Co-Presidents
- Treasurer
- Event Coordinators
- Historian
- Outreach Coordinator
If you are interested in seeing what student leadership positions are available, please contact club advisor, Sagrario Torres Flores.
There is no sign up necessary to attend our weekly meetings. We hope to see you there!
Support Services
Health resources
- Boynton Student Health Clinic provides healthcare services by medical professionals on campus to all enrolled Minneapolis College students. Most services are provided at no cost to students.
- For information about food pantries, food closets, food banks, soup kitchens, congregate meal locations, food boxes and vouchers, visit foodpantries.org.
- For online mental health resources, call 612-584-0077 or visit Synergy Therapy online or call 612-642-1355.
- Hennepin County provides in-person mental health services.
- The Crisis Text Line offers free help to those who are having a mental health crisis or are contemplating suicide. Just text "MN" to 741741. Services are available 24/7 across Minnesota.
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-279-TALK (8255).
- Hennepin County residents can call COPE (Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies) 24/7 at 612-596-1223.
Advocacy and Education Resources
- UnitedWeDream is a national, immigrant-youth led network. In addition to having a resource library for scholarship and health resources for DACA and immigrant youth, they also share news updates regarding immigration policy, immigrant rights, and DACA. See website here.
- Unidos MN is an intersectional, intergenerational, feminist Latinx led organization committed to social justice. They have campaigns ranging from immigration, education, environmental justice and participatory democracy. Read more about their work here.
- Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) is Minnesota’s largest Latino-led nonprofit organization, focused on the advancement of social and economic equity and wellbeing for Latinos in Minnesota. They organize various programs and have many volunteer opportunities, ranging from youth mentorship programs to adult ESL classes. Read more about their programs here.
- Communities Organizing Latinx Power and Action (COPAL) is a grassroots organization that seeks to impact the quality of life for Latinos in MN through working on public policy, leadership, and community service. Their focus areas range from environmental justice to civic leadership and participation. Read more about their organization here.
- MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) is an all-volunteer, grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization. MIRAC fights for legalization for all, an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life. Read more about their campaigns, upcoming events, and immigration resources.