The Timothy J. Varela Memorial Manufacturing Scholarship Fund announced its first recipient in early June. Maya Hernandez-Olea, from Westview High School, is the recipient of this $1,000 scholarship established by Tony Varela, President of Meta Fab and son of Timothy J. Varela.
Maya will spend her summer as the summer intern at Meta Fab before attending Oregon State University in the fall to study Mechanical Engineering. During her high school career, she volunteered with the Hillsboro Arts and Culture Council and the PSU Agile and Adaptive Robotics Lab and participated in the Westview Astronomy club and CTE Manufacturing program.
“Maya was selected for this award because she exemplified many of the values Tim held close: resilience, dedication, and hard work. As Tim had done before her, Maya overcame significant challenges to pursue her passion for manufacturing.” says Tony Varela. “We are excited for her to begin her summer internship with Meta Fab and to receive this scholarship to help her pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree in the fall at OSU.”
The Timothy J. Varela Memorial Manufacturing Scholarship Fund was created in the summer of 2025 with the hope that all manufacturers would recognize the benefits of attracting more manufacturing students and creating opportunities for a future workforce, in turn building a stronger industry and a stronger middle class. This fund aims to keep Timothy J. Varela’s legacy alive, strengthen local manufacturing, and encourage young people to consider manufacturing as a career.
To contribute to the Timothy J. Varela Memorial Manufacturing Scholarship Fund, click here.
About the Hillsboro Community Foundation
In existence since 1986, the Hillsboro Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Hillsboro by supporting local programs, services, and initiatives. Through community giving, grantmaking, and donor partnerships, the Foundation strengthens the social, cultural, educational, and civic fabric of the region.
To learn more about the Hillsboro Community Foundation, visit hcf-or.org.
