After Vega learned that his $4,000 scholarship would be withdrawn, he left a message on the voice mail of the foundation president, asking him to reconsider his case. A few days later, an official from the foundation contacted Vega and asked if he could prove that he was in the process of rectifying his immigration status.
Eventually, an immigration attorney wrote Coke a letter indicating that a relative who is a U.S. citizen was going to try to sponsor the student for a green card. Though it could take many years for Vega to secure residency, the application was enough to make Coke “comfortable” in awarding the scholarship.
In September, Vega will start his freshman year at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit institution in Santa Clara, Calif.
— Associated Press
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