MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake’s UMANI Festival, which debuted last September, has funded a new scholarship for Big Bend Community College students, according to a statement from the festival committee.

The scholarship, for $2,500, will be given to a student with Hispanic heritage who plans to attend BBCC starting in the fall of 2023, the statement said. The goal of this scholarship is to support leaders with Hispanic heritage in furthering their education and strengthening their ties with the community at large. Monies for the scholarship were gathered through sponsorships of the first UMANI Festival which took place in downtown Moses Lake on the last Saturday of September 2022.

The word “UMANI” is the heart of the English and Spanish words “humanity” and “humanidad,” the statement said. The goal of the UMANI Festival is to celebrate and foster connection, unity and leadership for Hispanic heritages in the regional community.

Last year’s festival attracted a sizable crowd to downtown Moses Lake and featured Mexican-style mariachi music by Mariachi Huenachi, Andean-style folk music by Hermanos de los Andes, and Cuban-style acoustic dance music by Seattle-area band SuperSones, as well as a car show and more.

The deadline for applications is February 27. The application can be accessed at bbcc.awardspring.com. More information on the 2023 UMANI Festival, including how to become a sponsor, can be found at www.facebook.com/umanifestival or www.cba-arts.org.