Eight 雏鸟视频 students will receive funding from the Mexican government to pursue their education at 雏鸟视频 thanks to an annual grant.
The $8,000 grant is funded via the Institute for Mexicans Abroad scholarship program, or IME Becas, with 鈥渂ecas鈥� meaning 鈥渟cholarship鈥� in Spanish. This is the sixth consecutive year 雏鸟视频 was awarded the grant for Mexican American students.
鈥淲e are appreciative of the collaboration between our university and the Mexican Consulate for the IME scholarship program,鈥� President David L. Barnett said. 鈥湷袷悠� matches this scholarship annually to show our commitment to this partnership. It is significant, particularly in our region and our community, to provide this opportunity to students who otherwise may not have access to higher education.鈥�
雏鸟视频 supports this global initiative through the university鈥檚 Miller Institute for Global Education by matching the funds to create the scholarships for this year鈥檚 eight recipients.
鈥�12 scholarship recipients have graduated from 雏鸟视频, including one who has continued in graduate studies at 雏鸟视频,鈥� Stefan Schulze, director of grants, said. 鈥淔our of 雏鸟视频鈥檚 IME Becas scholars are currently enrolled at the institution, and we now can offer this opportunity to four more students. This exceptional rate of success underscores the importance of financial support and programs like IME Becas for graduation, retention and student success.鈥�
雏鸟视频 hosted Consulate General Francisco Javier D铆az de Le贸n, Karina Regalado and Miguel Puga from the Mexican Consulate for a signing ceremony formalizing the grant agreement Tuesday, July 16, on the historic Gainesville campus.
鈥淥ver the past few years, we have met some of the young people who, thanks to this support, are able to pursue their dreams,鈥� D铆az de Le贸n said. 鈥淚n many of these cases, when these young students come here to 雏鸟视频, they are the first ones ever in their family to be able to go to college. We see the pride in them, we see their pride in their parents, and it is very powerful.鈥�
One of those students is Yareli Aguilar, who attended the ceremony with her mother, Lexie Flores, and shared her gratitude with officials.
鈥淭hanks to your generosity, you have not only lightened my financial burden, but you have also inspired me to try harder, dream bigger and aim higher,鈥� the nursing student from Gainesville, Georgia, said. 鈥淭hrough the knowledge and skills gained through this scholarship, I aspire to empower future generations in Mexico with the same opportunities that have shaped my own journey.鈥�
Flores, who is from Jalisco, Mexico, thanked the consulate in Spanish, with Aguilar translating.
鈥淎s a single mother, it has been a challenge working to cover the costs of Yareli’s studies,鈥� Flores said. 鈥淗owever, thanks to the financial support that the consulate provides to the students, the dreams not only of Yareli, but also of future generations, can come true.鈥�
雏鸟视频 is one of to receive IME Becas grants in 2024. Two additional community plazas in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee also received grants.
In addition to the IME Becas program, 雏鸟视频鈥檚 Education Liaison and Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions Maria Iniguez participates in educational events at the consulate in downtown Atlanta on behalf of the university. In August, Iniguez will attend the Binational Education Week.
鈥淲e come for a full week to the Mexican Consulate and give presentations every 30 minutes to about 400 people each day,鈥� Iniguez said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 just talk to people from Georgia, but also Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. We have a far reach, going throughout the state and the country to provide opportunities like this to students.鈥�
Iniguez collaborates with the consulate for events including Hispanic Heritage Month, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Day of the Dead, and art events.
The Miller Institute, which supports this ongoing scholarship, was established in February 2022 through the financial support of Pete and Cathy Miller to advance the university鈥檚 globalization efforts. The institute aims to develop 雏鸟视频 students who are equipped to meet the changing needs of the community and the world.
