Texas Border Business
MCALLEN, TEXAS (Dec. 5, 2017) – South Texas College and the Consulate of Mexico in McAllen formalized an official IME Becas Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will lay the foundation for a partnership seeking to increase the educational attainment level of Mexicans or persons of Mexican origin living in the US.
The signing took place on Monday, Dec. 4, at the Consulate of Mexico in McAllen. STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed and Matthew Hebbard, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management were on hand to accept the funds on behalf of South Texas College.
In attendance at the signing was Mexican Consulate in McAllen Eduardo Bernal Martinez; Rita Garza; Director of Research Operations at UTRGV; and Griselda Castilla, AVP for Strategic Enrollment at UTRGV.
The scholarships are being funded by the Mexican government, and the Mexican Foreign Ministry. IME stands for “Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior” or “Institute for Mexicans Abroad” in English.
The “IME Fellowship Program” of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States of America has as its mission to improve access opportunities for Mexicans and individuals of Mexican origin in all educational levels through its adult education and higher education programs in the United States of America.
“I just want to say how pleased South Texas College is to have this opportunity to work with Mexico,” Dr. Reed said. “By providing modest scholarships to Mexican nationals or others who have joined us from Mexico, we make a tremendous difference in the life of a student, their families and really future generations of these students.
“This is an investment from Mexico, and this is a partnership with South Texas College and UTRGV to really help our neighbors get a college education and have a better life right here,” Dr. Reed said.
This year marks the fourth consecutive year with the IME Fellowship Program. The Consulate of Mexico in McAllen will be providing South Texas College with $6,174 dollars to provide scholarships to qualifying students. Scholarship funds will be distributed and designated to pay for tuition & fees, and textbooks in accordance with the terms outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Consulate of Mexico in McAllen and South Texas College.
“This is an investment in favor of immigrants and the education of young people so they can learn and obtain opportunities in this country,” said Consulate Bernal Martinez.
In order to be eligible for one of these scholarships, a student must be a Mexican National or person of Mexican-origin, must be residing the United States, and must not be receiving any other type of scholarship or financial aid.
For more information, students are asked to contact STC Student Financial Services at 956-872-8375 or go online athttps://studentservices.southtexascollege.edu/finaid/index.html.
