Nicaragua Post Secondary University Scholarship Program
Project Update
The dream of helping graduated SOL scholarship students to continue their educations has become a reality. After a lot of work and careful planning, we've launched a Post-Secondary Scholarship Pilot Project by offering university and tech-school scholarships, worth a total of nearly $3,000, to 7 motivated and dedicated former SOL scholarship students. We hope to turn this Pilot Project into a full-fledged Post-Secondary Scholarship Program for next year.
It all started back in September of '06 with a workshop on post-secondary educational opportunities, held for SOL high school scholarship students and recent graduates of the program. With no hint that SOL was hoping to offer scholarships, 6 of the 11 high school seniors applied to universities, despite the sacrifice of paying application fees out-of-pocket. With this show of desire and initiative on the part of the scholarship students, along with the enthusiasm of SOL-USA staff, the Board of Directors, and SOL supporters like you, we decided that the time was ripe to make our dreams—and, more importantly, the dreams of the SOL scholarship students—become reality. So, we started planning—researching university costs and application deadlines, talking with Executive Director Annie Bacon, developing policies, writing a project proposal, and so on.
Now, following a very thorough and transparent selection process, we've accepted 7 students into the initial pilot program:
Oswaldo Balmacedas, the valedictorian of his high school class, will study Civil Engineering full-time at the National Autonomous University, UNAN, in Managua. His partial scholarship from SOL will supplement the limited scholarship he expects to receive from the University.
Lucrecia Blandón, since graduating from high school 3 years ago, has fought to overcome the many obstacles that she has had to face. Abandoned by her mother and father, she has had to fend for herself with the minimal support of her grandmother. A hard worker, she did well in high school and has sense maintained a steady job. Now she has the opportunity to study Business Administration on Saturdays at the Popular University of Nicaragua, UPONIC.
Hector William, who graduated 2 years ago, will resume his studies at the Northern University of Nicaragua, UNN, where he will study Computer Engineering on Saturdays.
Elvin Jose Jarquin will study Design and Construction Engineering on Saturdays at the Popular University of Nicaragua, UPONIC, while working as a mason during the week.
Delvin Vega, who graduated 2 years ago, will study Accounting on Saturdays at the INTAE Monseñor Benedicto Herrera.
Martha Matamoros will attend the Popular University of Nicaragua, UPONIC, on Saturdays to study Business Administration. She has played in integral role in keeping the Satellite Learning Resource Center in Las Delicias active and thriving.
Anielka Tellez Cruz will study Computer Engineering on Saturdays at the Popular University of Nicaragua, UPONIC. An excellent student, Anielka is also a constant presence at the Satellite Learning Resource Center in Las Delicias, where she has volunteered regularly for the past 5 years.
These students, in addition to studying and working, will be volunteering on a regular basis in projects in their communities that are being designed by the scholarship students themselves. This way, they will continue to learn the importance of service, share their knowledge and skills with others in need, and become leaders in their communities.
Now we need your help. We need to raise funds to ensure that we can support these students until graduation and to be able to give scholarships to new students in the coming years. New needs have also arisen in other, related areas: We'll need to buy more university-level books for the library, and it would be great to update the computer lab as well.
So, we're asking that you consider donating, either to the general fund, to the Scholarship Program or to the Post Secondary Pilot project Fund in particular. It's easy, just click the "Make A Donation" button below. We hope to raise at least $3,000. Can you help us reach our goal? Big or small, your gift will make a difference.
— Brian Hedden, Fellow, Princeton-in-Latin America, Ciudad Darío, Nicaragua
Student Proflie: Anielka Tellez Cruz
It was an easy decision for the committee to accept Anielka Tellez Cruz into the Post-Secondary Scholarship Pilot Program. As a SOL scholarship student for all five years of high school, she has been an active and valued member of the SOL community and a constant presence at both the Learning Resource Center (LRC) in Ciudad Darío and the Satellite Learning Resource Center in her hometown community of Las Delicias. By volunteering regularly, taking courses at SOL, and doing well in school, Anielka has taken full advantage of the opportunities that she has had as a scholarship student, and she's been enthusiastic about giving back as well. Now she'll study Computer Engineering on Saturdays at the Popular University of Nicaragua, UPONIC, with the help of a generous scholarship through Seeds of Learning.
Anielka's connection with SOL began in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch devastated the community of Las Delicias, destroying half of her home. Following the relief effort, SOL supported the construction and founding of the Satellite Learning Resource Center (SLRC), and Anielka, who lived nearby, quickly got involved. While still in elementary school, she took courses in embroidery and helped the adult volunteers to open the library and attend to the public.
In 2001, Anielka was awarded a scholarship from SOL for high school. A strong student in math and science, she also has taken classes in English, computers, crochet, and guitar at the LRC-Darío. In her home, she helps children with their homework and special projects and teaches Catechism. Anielka has also been an integral part of the SLRC, too, organizing community activities and has tough courses in basic embroidery and crochet as well as helping with the day-to-day operation of the Center.
This past December, Anielka became the first in her family to graduate from high school. She lives with her parents and four brothers, ages 3, 10, 12, and, 14. The older two, who have graduated from elementary school, aren't studying because of the family's lack of resources. Anielka's father works as a farmer and her mother sells home-made ice-cream in the community.
By studying Computer Engineering on Saturdays, Anielka hopes to find a job that will help to lift her family out of poverty. She's also thinking of ways in which she can use what she learns to help the youth in her community, for instance by giving classes on basic computing skills. To fulfill the service requirement of her SOL scholarship, Anielka plans to organize a reforestation project in both Las Delicias and neighboring San Juanillo. We're proud to have Anielka as a member of the first group of post-secondary scholarship students in Nicaragua.