Pen & Honey Bookstore Launches “Books & Sueños Scholarship” for UCR First-Generation College Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Riverside, CA — June 5, 2025
Pen & Honey Bookstore, a Latina-owned independent bookstore in Riverside County, proudly announces the launch of its inaugural Books & Sueños Scholarship—an award created to celebrate the resilience and brilliance of first-generation college students.

This year, three UC Riverside students were selected in partnership with Inland Empire Regional K-16 Education Collaborative to receive a monetary gift, along with the building blocks of financial literacy in the form of a signed copy of Cultura & Cash: Lessons from The First Gen Mentor® for Managing Finances & Cultural Expectations by Giovanna Gonzalez.

“As a first-generation college graduate and former teenage single mom whose higher education journey spanned over a decade, this scholarship is deeply personal,” said Lupe Mora de Marchante, founder of Pen & Honey Bookstore. “For many of these students, earning a degree is more than an academic milestone—it’s a testament to rising above both circumstance and history. They’re fighting silent battles, facing challenges most of their peers will never encounter, all while remaining committed to the courageous ascent of forging new pathways to success.”

Pen & Honey Bookstore launched the Books & Sueños Scholarship to cultivate equity through access and belonging. Awarded annually to exceptional students from marginalized backgrounds, the scholarship pairs monetary support with thoughtfully selected books that nurture personal growth and practical life skills.

For more information about Pen & Honey Bookstore, visit www.penandhoneybooks.com.

Media Contact:
Pen & Honey Bookstore
Attn: Lupe Mora de Marchante
www.penandhoneybooks.com
@penandhoneybookstore