Eight graduating Larriettes received scholarships from the LAA on June 29, 2024 during a well-attended celebration at the Falcon Bank's event center. 

Approximately $4,500 in scholarships were awarded to the following: Allyson Botello, Cadence Cuellar, Elina Garza, Maryana Garza, Hailey Ann Quiroz, Jasmine Valdez (not in photo), and Elyssa Elaine Veliz. Kat Rodriguez, 2023-2024 Captain, received just over $1,000 from the Captains to Captain Award. The newest alumni. featured in the photo, are surrounded by alumni representing six decades. 

LAA Legacy Liaison, Zulema Flores Solis, joined with Larriette Director, Gina Lara Portillo, in July to organize a group of Larriette community volunteers.  The program, Larriettes Lift Laredo, supports the nonprofit Volunteers Serving the Need's Thrift Store and Distribution Center. Larriettes Lift Laredo assisted local veterans and their families while providing opportunities for the girls to earn community service hours.

Once the volunteers knew what their day's goals and responsibilities were, they quickly put their cell phones away, engaged their problem-solving skills, and in an assembly line fashion, began to organize and pack/sack large boxes of non-perishable foods and toiletries for the veterans. "Because the girls are trained to focus, synchronize and work with rhythm, they swiftly and quite effortlessly labored with precision like a well oiled machine," said Zulema.

As the girls prepared to help with the distribution, each Larriette was assigned to a veteran. The teen and the veteran had an opportunity to interact and become acquainted with each other's stories. Together they browsed the store, and the Larriette guided her veteran in choosing personal clothing, household goods, and food items. Each girl then followed her veteran to place the items in vehicles. However, one veteran did not have a vehicle, and the girls witnessed how he strategically placed things in a sturdy wagon to transport the items home in the Laredo heat. "That was quite an eye opener for the volunteers," Zulema noted.

The girls benefit as they earn community service hours, but even more beneficial are rewarding life lessons. "I repeatedly remind them that the stadium and stage lights may shine on them while they perform; however, their light can illuminate from within with their compassion and kindness as ambassadors of their dance team, their school, and their community," Zulema said, concluding that she is "honored to be a part of merging two organizations that are so meaningful to myself and my family."