Letters

Editor,

Biblioteca Becas: The good, the bad, and the possible

This is a good news/bad news story and one with great possibility. On Saturday, July 12, at the invitation of Louisa Velte, coordinator of the Biblioteca Scholarship Fund (Becas), I spent a delightful morning and afternoon at the Beca Information desk inside the Biblioteca’s main courtyard. The good news was observing about 200 excited, energetic and extremely bright students making their annual application for university becas (scholarships). Many were returning students who needed to renew their beca, i.e., present last semester’s grades and go through a brief interview which examined their progress, need, work and future plans. Also, many were new applicants, slightly confused by the process, but nevertheless excited and extremely polite. I felt energized by the animated conversations taking place around me—old friends connecting and new students meeting and making new friends. I was touched by the level of maturity, personal dignity and most of all the grade-point averages of most of the students. Many ha
d perfect or near-perfect grades, as well as holding down jobs to help with their college expenses. I was really blown away. I returned home in the late afternoon with a profound feeling of hope for the future generation of San Miguel.

Now the bad news. Out of approximately 200 applications for university becas, most with strong academic records and need, only a little more than half would receive money. Becas are for 6,000 pesos a year (about US$590) to help pay for tuition and expenses that can average 10,000 to 30,000 pesos per year. (Some of the students attend university in other cities.) Even with becas, students need to get support from family members and most work to make up the shortfall in money. I was doubly impressed with the dedication, tenacity and struggle of all those beautiful young adults.

OK. Now what can be done? This brings me to the possibilities. To increase the number of university becas that can be made available, the Biblioteca Scholarship Fund needs more contributions. For about US$600, another student can go to college and reach his or her dreams. Any and all contributions are welcome and no contribution is too small—it all adds up. If one more student can go to college, then one more life can be expanded. I can think of no better gift than education.


If you would like to make a contribution, make a check out to the Biblioteca Pública SMA, A.C. and note on the check in the memo section “for becas,” and drop it off the next time you are in the library. The Biblioteca business office is directly behind the desk where you check out books. All contributions are US tax deductible, so if you would like to take advantage of the tax deduction, ask the woman in the business office to give you a tax-deduction receipt.

Larry McGearty