Black History Month Newsletter
February 2026
Dear Anaya's Village,
As we observe Black History Month, we honor the legacy, resilience, and contributions of Black leaders, educators, students, and communities whose impact has shaped our nation. At Anaya Scholars, our mission to advance educational equity for first-generation, economically disadvantaged students is deeply rooted in the ongoing struggle for racial justice, as barriers to opportunity persist today.
Ruth M. Batson was a pioneering leader in the Boston civil rights movement and a fierce advocate for educational equity. She dedicated her life to challenging school segregation and expanding access to high-quality education for Black students in Massachusetts.
“When we fight about education, we’re fighting for our lives.” - Ruth Marion Batson
In the spirit of Ruth’s and other Black educational leaders’ legacies, we are proud to feature Soraia Monterio, graduating Class of 2026, who is paving the way for future Black female engineers through leadership and determination.
Soraia will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics. She served as President of the UMass Amherst chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), leading with purpose as a junior. Take a look at the photo of Soraia with her National Society of Black Engineers at UMASS Amherst chapter!
Scholars like Soraia remind us that striving for our highest potential is not only a personal achievement—it is an act of legacy, creating pathways so the next generation of Black leaders, innovators, and engineers can rise even higher.
