A TRADITION OF HARD WORK: FROM FATHER TO DAUGHTER
Since the inception of the Step Forward Scholarship Fund in 2019, only one person has received a grant every year. That person is Samantha Rojas, who is also a recipient of the Governors Scholarship in 2022 and a graduate from North Carolina State University with a degree in animal science. In her quest to become a veterinarian she applied to NC State, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia which led her to an internship at the Greensboro Science Center to continue to develop her skills. Her journey continues the one her father first embarked on 25 years ago.
“I came to this country from Peru in April 1999, and it was somewhat difficult since I was 35 years old and I did not speak the language,” said Luis Rojas, who has been the director of housekeeping at Governors Club for five years. “The reason that made me immigrate was personal. I asked for help from friends and family in different countries, and a cousin who lives here in North Carolina offered to help me. His brother-in-law worked at Governors Club and gave me the opportunity to work in the kitchen as a dishwasher.”
Within two weeks of starting as a dishwasher the position of housekeeping manager became open. “I remember exactly -- on May 19, 1999 -- when I got the position; by the way, that’s where I met my wife.”
Once settled, Luis married and the couple had Samantha, “who never gave us any problems and was always very diligent with her studies, always with A grades. Her mother and I thought she would be a doctor, and she told us that she preferred to help animals instead of people.”
Luis said that he and Samantha see a lot of themselves in each other. “I greatly admire her independence, intelligence and responsibility,” he said. “She says that she admires me for being a hard worker and that I like to help others and also that I am always positive in the face of adversity.”
Luis noted that even after 25 years in the United States, he’s still learning the language. “I went to English classes,” he said, “but I think I learn more with daily practice.”
He also referred to a car accident late last year that hospitalized him and kept him away from the Club for two months. Samantha leaped into action, setting up a GoFundMe Page (“without my consent,” Luis said) to help pay for a new car and physical therapy: “I remember one of the first things my dad thought about while in the emergency room, hours after his accident while he was in immense pain, was his work -- his employees and his members who he helps,” Samantha wrote in setting up the page. “He has been part of the country club for 25 years, always showing up to work with a positive attitude. As he recovers, he still manages to keep that positivity and makes us laugh, even when he’s hurting.”
Eight months later, Luis is thankful for his health and for the generosity of SFSF donors. “We are very grateful for the scholarship program because it gives employees and children the opportunity to have a good education, which is very important to me.”
“Luis’s dedication and resilience have left a lasting impression on those that know him and those he works with at the Club, and it’s inspiring to see that same spirit reflected in Samantha,” shared Nancy Broaddus, President of SFSF. “Samantha’s hard work and commitment to her dream of veterinary school are a testament to the values her father embodies—hard work, perseverance, and a deep commitment to personal growth. How fortunate to have these two as part of the SFSF family.”
Since the inception of the Step Forward Scholarship Fund in 2019, only one person has received a grant every year. That person is Samantha Rojas, who is also a recipient of the Governors Scholarship in 2022 and a graduate from North Carolina State University with a degree in animal science. In her quest to become a veterinarian she applied to NC State, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia which led her to an internship at the Greensboro Science Center to continue to develop her skills. Her journey continues the one her father first embarked on 25 years ago.
“I came to this country from Peru in April 1999, and it was somewhat difficult since I was 35 years old and I did not speak the language,” said Luis Rojas, who has been the director of housekeeping at Governors Club for five years. “The reason that made me immigrate was personal. I asked for help from friends and family in different countries, and a cousin who lives here in North Carolina offered to help me. His brother-in-law worked at Governors Club and gave me the opportunity to work in the kitchen as a dishwasher.”
Within two weeks of starting as a dishwasher the position of housekeeping manager became open. “I remember exactly -- on May 19, 1999 -- when I got the position; by the way, that’s where I met my wife.”
Once settled, Luis married and the couple had Samantha, “who never gave us any problems and was always very diligent with her studies, always with A grades. Her mother and I thought she would be a doctor, and she told us that she preferred to help animals instead of people.”
Luis said that he and Samantha see a lot of themselves in each other. “I greatly admire her independence, intelligence and responsibility,” he said. “She says that she admires me for being a hard worker and that I like to help others and also that I am always positive in the face of adversity.”
Luis noted that even after 25 years in the United States, he’s still learning the language. “I went to English classes,” he said, “but I think I learn more with daily practice.”
He also referred to a car accident late last year that hospitalized him and kept him away from the Club for two months. Samantha leaped into action, setting up a GoFundMe Page (“without my consent,” Luis said) to help pay for a new car and physical therapy: “I remember one of the first things my dad thought about while in the emergency room, hours after his accident while he was in immense pain, was his work -- his employees and his members who he helps,” Samantha wrote in setting up the page. “He has been part of the country club for 25 years, always showing up to work with a positive attitude. As he recovers, he still manages to keep that positivity and makes us laugh, even when he’s hurting.”
Eight months later, Luis is thankful for his health and for the generosity of SFSF donors. “We are very grateful for the scholarship program because it gives employees and children the opportunity to have a good education, which is very important to me.”
“Luis’s dedication and resilience have left a lasting impression on those that know him and those he works with at the Club, and it’s inspiring to see that same spirit reflected in Samantha,” shared Nancy Broaddus, President of SFSF. “Samantha’s hard work and commitment to her dream of veterinary school are a testament to the values her father embodies—hard work, perseverance, and a deep commitment to personal growth. How fortunate to have these two as part of the SFSF family.”
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Step Forward Scholarship Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 4631
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4631
[email protected]
Step Forward Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a 501c3 organization. EIN #83-3175469