Scholarship Recipient Credits Her Success to Strong Family Ties

Three years ago, Matson made a $100,000 annual commitment to promoting more diversity in future generations of industry leaders through scholarships for minority students at 16 universities and maritime academies. Matson also launched a School Ambassador program that pairs employee volunteers – many of whom are alums – with each partner school. Denise Llamas De La Cruz is the latest recipient of a Matson Diversity in leadership scholarship.

A Texas A&M student majoring in Maritime Business Administration, Denise is very proud to be where she is today.

“As a first-generation college student, Texas A&M has provided me with many rewarding experiences,” said Denise. “I was nervous stepping into an unfamiliar environment with no advice or examples to follow. However, this experience has challenged me academically and has taught me to be disciplined and constant.” Having just moved to the U.S. from Mexico in 2018, Denise found adjusting to the culture her first challenge.

“The language shift has been the most difficult challenge since moving here. One of the main difficulties I’ve had is feeling like I don’t belong and not having someone to talk to about the future or to gain advice or a different perspective other than from inside a classroom. However, these challenges motivated me to push myself harder to reach my highest potential.”

Denise credits her heritage and her ties to her family as her greatest motivation.

“I want to be a role model for my brother and younger cousins. I want to be able to help them when they go to college. My family and I, like many others, came to the United States in search of opportunities for a better future. “What connected me to Texas A&M Maritime Galveston was the Maritime program that my high school offered with the Port of Houston. Program professor, Linda Clary, gave me an in-depth introduction to the industry. She has been in maritime for many years and is now a teacher. She pushed me to believe in myself and to apply to Texas A&M and this program.

Upon graduation, Denise hopes to work in the domestic ocean freight industry.

“I am thrilled with everything I have accomplished and hope that with the help of this scholarship, I will achieve my goals so I can make my family and all those who have believed in me proud. I am excited to be part of an industry that is diverse and offers many educational opportunities.”