Latin Americans Working for Achievement

LAWA Scholarship Program

The Latin Americans Working for Achievement (LAWA) Scholarship Program provides tuition scholarships to Latino students in five North Carolina counties. For almost 30 years, LAWA has awarded scholarships through a competitive process based on academic achievement, financial need, and community service. A volunteer committee consisting of college and university faculty, area educators, and former LAWA Scholars conducts blind reviews of every application without knowledge of student names or personal information. The program has awarded over $1.4 million in scholarships throughout its history. In 2025, LAWA awarded scholarships to 73 Latino students totaling $325,500 including matching funds from partner institutions. The scholarship program welcomes students of all legal statuses and serves residents of Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Mecklenburg, and Union counties in North Carolina. LAWA has established partnerships with nine colleges and universities that match LAWA scholarships for students enrolled in their programs, including Belmont Abbey College, Johnson C. Smith University, Montreat College, Queens University of Charlotte, South Piedmont Community College, Carolina University, Wingate University, Randolph College, and Elon University.