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For the second year in a row, the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û) and the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta have teamed up to offer scholarships to seven students. Recipients gain professional development in service, leadership and research skills.

The $7,000 grant is funded through the  (IME) via the ; becas is the Spanish word for scholarships. Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û added another $7,000 in matching funds. Recipients must be of Mexican descent. Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û chose five students pursuing bachelor's degrees and two pursuing associate degrees as the recipients from 70 total applicants. The recipients each receive a portion of the $14,000 in scholarship funds.  

The service and research components of the scholarship program are new for 2021-22.

"We added the research element to better prepare our students academically," Leri Argueta, associate director for diversity recruitment in Undergraduate Admissions, said. "We also want to ignite our students' passion for serving their communities by conducting research on issues in the Latinx community."

It means the world to me that I received this scholarship because it confirms that there are programs out there looking to help first-generation college students of Mexican descent like me.

Adrian Barrientos

Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û sophomore pursuing a degree in communication with a concentration in multimedia journalism

"Being an IME-BECAS scholar has a massive gravity behind it because it aids me in furthering my education," Barrientos said. "It means the world to me that I received this scholarship because it confirms that there are programs out there looking to help first-generation college students of Mexican descent like me."

Noemi Nolasco, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Spanish language and literature, called receiving the scholarship "a big relief," as she is paying her own way through college.

She serves as president of the Latin American Student Organization and is excited to see how the IME-BECAS Program can expand her leadership skills. One of the most exciting parts of the scholarship program for Nolasco is the chance to learn from Argueta.

"He's a Latino working in higher education," Nolasco said. "And that's something I'm interested in doing."

In addition to Barrientos and Nolasco, the other scholarship recipients are Rene Morales, Susana Olivo Sandoval, Jim Ramirez-Ruiz, Carolina Guerrero, and Emely Arroyo.

Barrientos offers guidance to four fellow first-generation students in his role as a College Assistance Migrant Program peer mentor. He looks forward to the IME-BECAS workshops that connect the scholarship recipients with influential Hispanic figures.

"That allows me to speak one-on-one with them and make professional relationships with people in the field of communication," Barrientos said. "The ultimate goal with this opportunity is to get my name out there."