Navarros meet with scholarship recipients
Youngstown State University’s first family, President Jim and Ellen Tressel, hosted Flor “Shorty” and Elba Navarro and more than 40 students who are recipients of Navarro-sponsored scholarships at a reception in the Pollock House on campus earlier this month.
In all, the Navarros are providing $39,277 in scholarship aid to 55 YSU students this year.
The Navarros are among the leading philanthropists in the Mahoning Valley. Mr. Navarro, who immigrated to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1951 at the age of 14, opened a Lincoln Mercury car dealership on Wick Avenue in Youngstown in 1982. Later he expanded his business to 11 franchises. In 2012, he sold most of the dealerships, keeping his Stadium GM Superstore in Salem, Ohio, that employs more than 65 people.
Elba Lillian Navarro graduated from South High School in Youngstown and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Spanish, Reading and Education from YSU. She is retired from the Youngstown City Schools, having taught at both Roosevelt Elementary and Chaney High School.
Among the YSU scholarships that the Navarros fund is the Shorty and Elba Navarro Scholarship and the Navarro Executive Fellows program, established through a $1 million gift to YSU. The program connects minority students with senior campus leaders who provide insight and networking and help students set goals and stay on track academically, professionally and personally.
The Navarros also fund scholarships in Business and in Education, Nursing, Science, Technology or Mathematics.
Navarro Scholarship Recipients 2018 - 2019
Shorty and Elba Navarro Scholarship
Mia Colon, Brandon Cortez, Adam DeMarco, Manuel Esparra, Laura Forthmuller, Cassandra Hanuschak, Yissel Martinez, Diego Mendel, Hugo Mendel, Christian Miller, Yesarily Sanchez-Rivera, Samantha Serrano, Reanna Torres, Celina Vidman.
Shorty and Elba Lillian Navarro Scholarship in Business
Carly Chopp, Sidney Cushman, Thomas James, Maria Moshella, Alyssa Porter, Dicoy Powell, Dorian Smith, Niki Spencer, Matthew Steer, Joseph Tabachino.
Shorty and Elba Lillian Navarro Scholarship for Students in Education, Nursing, Science, Technology or Mathematics
Patrick Carden, Caitlin Hanley, James Hayes, Breann Jones, Lora Latessa, Jenna Matheny, Abby Mowery, Reyanna Simpson, Lindsay Soltis, Ana Zarlinski.
Flor Navarro Family Foundation
Brianna Diaz, Alexis Garayua, Vincent Garayua, Peter Hernandez, Alex Hernandez, Jeslyn Pfister, Araceli Perez, Eugene Calabria, Taylor Hassay, Julio Gonzalez, Javier Tronocoso, Victoria Pacheco, Kaylee Novicky, Gustavo Lanz, Lauren Battista, Mia Battista, Marley Cuckovic, Amalio Esparra, Desiree Nieves, Ryan Portela, Stephanie Miranda.