The consulate of Mexico in Yuma and the Arizona Western College Foundation signed an agreement that will provide scholarships for students of Mexican heritage living in the U.S.
KAWC's Stephanie Sanchez reports.
Through the Institute of Mexicans Abroad or "IME-Becas" program, the government of Mexico presented a $5,000 check to the AWC foundation during a memorandum ceremony Thursday on the Yuma campus.
The Consul General of Mexico in Yuma, Eusebio Romero, presented the check which matched the funds given to the AWC Foundation from various leaders and community organizations.
"This will help expand their education and become responsible people who’ll contribute to a better society," Romero said in Spanish.
21-year old nursing student Melissa Montes was among the 20 scholarship recipients.
“I felt relieved definitely, because it’s hard financially and my mom is single, so I have to work part time and nursing school is not cheap," Montes said. "There are a lot of fees that you have to pay, like clinical fees, class fees, book fees…name any kind of fee.”
Vice president for AWC Learning Services, Dr. Linda Elliott Nelson, said the entire community benefits from these scholarships.
"They will be taking care of us they will be teaching our class, they’ll be managing and directing us, they’ll be our leaders," Elliott said. "And these scholarships enables them to move forward and achieve their dreams."
This is the first time the foundation received a contribution from the Mexican government for students.
The Mexican government established the IME-Becas program in 2005. Since then, more than 44,000 students have benefited from the program nationwide.
