Santiago Molina ’25 Reflects on Hispanic Heritage Month
By: Brady Manzanares ’25
Santiago Molina ’25, a finance and management double major, has received a second scholarship from the Association of Latino Professionals for America, or ALPFA.
He describes an impactful relationship he made through ALPFA during a scholarship luncheon at the organization’s national conference the summer before his junior year. A recruiter from Synchrony, a financial services firm, encouraged Molina to apply for the scholarship, which he submitted on the last day before the deadline. This relationship developed and led to Molina receiving a $15,000 Synchrony scholarship and an internship offer later on. He explains relationships born from conferences like these “don’t just last a week or two but for the rest of your life and college career.” His success continued at the conference this summer when he was awarded another scholarship through ALPFA and Cargill.
Molina joined PC’s ALPFA chapter as a first-year student when he first learned about the group at the Providence College School of Business Involvement Fair. He achieved his aspiration to be on the executive board as a junior and is now the club’s vice president. He emphasizes that although ALPFA finds inspiration in its Latino foundation, it is an opportunity for people of all backgrounds.
Molina’s newest adventure has been a summer internship with BlackRock. The many pressures of an internship sharpened his skills but a special takeaway he received was improving his Spanish. He explains that speaking Spanish at home with his family is a much different experience in corporate America. Calls with clients in Latin America helped him expand his horizons in the language to fit his professional needs. “It was hard at first, but the senior leaders really helped me,” he said. He added that this all helped him realize he was there for a reason.
Reflecting on Hispanic Heritage Month, Molina is thankful. He says he is grateful for his Colombian roots and the opportunities that have been born from the community of connections found here at Providence College. He thanks his family and their support in his journey. He also loves to celebrate through student groups such as the Organization of Latin American Students, also known as OLAS, which facilitates events to get together, enjoy traditional foods, and unite. “I like to take this month to celebrate that but also every day as well,” he said.
Molina is also a member of the first cohort of Berkeley Scholars through the Berkeley Business Excellence Program, which supports students in classroom studies, the pursuit of competitive internships, and the launching of desired careers with a host of opportunities. Learn more here: The Berkeley Business Excellence Program
