Andrea Cruz Floren (left) is pictured here on a personal retreat, with Zara González Hoang (center) and Executive Director George Brown (right). Zara was Andrea’s mentor in the Las Musas mentorship program, and they were excited to share time together again at the Highlights Foundation.

Andrea Cruz Floren: The Liz Goulet Dubois Scholarship for Picture Book Creators

“I feel so supported there; it is easy to clear the mind and work on new stories for children.” (Andrea Cruz Floren)

Andrea Cruz Floren was encouraged by a scholarship recipient last year to apply for a Highlights Foundation scholarship, and was chosen in 2024 as a recipient.  She was awarded the Liz Goulet Dubois Scholarship for Picture Book Creators, which helped support her work as an author-illustrator.

Andrea has taken online courses with Highlights and has attended the Las Musas community retreat in the past.  She was able to come back to campus this year for a personal retreat with the help of a scholarship. In her own words, she describes the experience:

The scholarship meant so much to me. It meant I was supported and validated as an author-illustrator. I went through an unexpected personal event this year that rocked my world and affected my creativity, and this scholarship helped me get back to the desk and back to my work. It felt so nurturing to have that opportunity gifted to me.

Andrea is an educator and enjoys creating stories in her backyard casita. Through the scholarship, she says:

I learned to keep sticking myself out there, to keep asking questions, to be curious, to continue to ask for help even when it’s hard. And to accept help when it comes your way.

The [scholarship] program is so necessary and so greatly appreciated. I know I deeply appreciated the opportunity to nurture my creative work and one day I hope I too can pay it forward.