Aida Alejandra De la Cruz sings the Mexican national anthem in June 2004 to welcome President Vicente Fox Quesada to Oakland University.

By Amy Barker, OU Writer

In June 2004, Aida Alejandra De la Cruz sang the national anthems of both Mexico and the United States at a ceremony welcoming Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada to Oakland University. Now, for her efforts and potential to further Mexican-American relationships, she has been honored at a ceremony of her own.

The first Vicente Fox Quesada Scholarship was awarded to the OU sophomore at a Meadow Brook Hall luncheon ceremony March 17. De la Cruz received $1,500 toward her studies in OU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, where she currently is studying vocal performance.

“I had no idea I would be getting it. I was very surprised and excited,” said De la Cruz, who plans to use the scholarship to defray the costs of tuition while she completes her degree.

A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, De la Cruz studied opera for five years at the Conservatory of Music of Chihuahua before coming to the United States in 2001 to study English. After she learned of the Detroit Opera House’s summer opera programs, she enrolled in a workshop there taught by OU Music Instructor Candace deLattre. That connection brought her to campus for the June 2004 ceremony welcoming the President of Mexico to Oakland University.

“It was a great honor,” said De la Cruz, who notes it was her first time meeting President Fox, but hopefully not her last.

De la Cruz has ambitious goals that include graduate school and eventually teaching opera.

“I’d like to teach and offer summer programs in Mexico like the ones at the Detroit Opera House for people who are interested in opera and want to learn more about it,” she said.

The Vicente Fox Quesada Scholarship was established in 2004 to honor President Fox. Major contributors to the scholarship fund include DaimlerChrysler Corporation, MASCO Corporation, Collins & Aikman Corporation as well as eight other national and international companies. The award is open to Oakland students seeking international study or cross-cultural opportunities in Mexico and to Mexican students who are studying at Oakland. Special consideration is given to applicants who demonstrate a potential for furthering Mexican-American relationships or cross-cultural understanding.

For more information on OU’s scholarships, see the Scholarships Web page.