Amigos de México Mzt. A.C.
Scholarship program guidelines
Scholarship Program and Procedural Guidelines
Updated February 2021
01.
— Background
Amigos de Mexico has supported several elementary schools (primarias) which are located in some of the poorest areas of the city of Mazatlan. It is difficult for students graduating from grade 6 to continue to junior high school because their families may not have the financial means to pay the registration fees and fees for supplies. The scholarship program was developed to help those students pay those fees. If the student does well and stays in school, we are willing to support them through junior high (secundaria grade 7 to 9) as well as high school (preparatoria, grade 10 to 12).
02.
— Sponsors
Sponsors will not choose the student they get but, once they begin to sponsor a student, they may choose to keep sponsoring the same student from grade 7 through to 12. We will not make payments or follow special instructions for scholarship payments outside our payment guidelines. If a sponsor wants to pay extra money to a student, they can do so on their own. Also, if the student goes on to university, the sponsor may wish to continue to support them on their own. Each year, there may be extra money available in the scholarship account, from donations or overages from currency exchange. The board of directors may vote to use this money to award an extra scholarship from Amigos de Mexico.
03.
— Scholarship payments
A scholarship is $3000 pesos per year. Students are paid $1500 two times per year to help them with their school fees in mid-August and mid-February. The students’ school fees are due in August when beginning a new school year, as well as February when the tuition for the following school year is due. Schools have different schedules for fees and report cards but by the payment dates in August and February, all students should have a recent report. On these dates in particular, they must present their most recent report card which must show a minimum 8.5 average, their name, and the date.
04.
— Applications
Students who live in a poor area in the City of Mazatlan are entitled to apply for a scholarship from Amigos de Mexico. We accept applications for scholarships from the following schools as well as others that meet the criteria:
- Escuela Amigos de Mexico, formerly Nueva Creación de Jardines del Valle
- Josefina Osuna Perez
- Servando A. Casanova Mier
- Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
- Prof. Jose Felipe Valle
- Vincente Guerrero
- Juan de Dios Batis Paredes
- Venadillo Jose Felipe Valle
- Ignacio Zaragoza
05.
— Criteria
A teacher or the director of the elementary school may recommend and encourage certain students to apply. Applications are then screened for both marks and financial need. School grades must average at least 8.5 to enter and stay in the program.
As of January 2019, there are university students still in the program. They must maintain an 8.0 average. They will stay in the program until they are finished school. After February 2019, no other applications will be taken from students in or entering university, whether or not they are currently in the program.
06.
— Application package
A new application package must contain an application form, a contract signed by the parent and student, a letter of recommendation from the teacher or director, a copy of the student’s most recent school report, and a copy of a parent’s identification. An original report card must be submitted, and show the child’s name, marks, name of school, signature of director, and SEP stamp. Once the original is viewed, a copy can be kept in their file. Before each new school year begins, in July or August, the student must submit a new application, contract, and school report card.
07.
— Wait list
Applications are recorded in the order they are received, and each student is assigned a priority ranking by date. The student who is highest on the list and who continues to meet the criteria will receive the next available scholarship.
08.
— Information tracking
A scholarship committee member will keep a spreadsheet with the following information: Application date, student name, phone number, email, school, level, last mark & date, sponsor, sponsor phone number, and date and amount of scholarship payments. Only members of the board of directors will have access to this personal information.
09.
— Bookkeeping
Each student has a file with their application, photo, report cards, records of payment, and sponsor information. In the past, students were issued a Scotiabank debit card so money can be transferred from our scholarship bank account to the card. However, these accounts were closed due to periods of 3 months of inactivity. Instead, in 2019, the parents were asked to provide their own personal bank account information, if they have one, and bank transfer payments can be made directly to those accounts. The scholarship is $3000 pesos, payable approximately in mid- August $1500 and February $1500. The student or their parent is required to sign a receipt for each payment. When a parent signs the ‘compromiso’ contract, they will be provided with a copy to take home so they can read about what they have signed.
10.
— Information sharing
Sponsors want to know how their student is doing in school and whether they have received their scholarship payments. After the August and February student payments, sponsor contacts will send an email to the sponsors to let them know that their student is maintaining their grades and has received a payment. Other updates and news will be announced at the general members meetings on the second Tuesday of every month. General information about the scholarship program will be posted on the website. In March, a reminder email must be sent to the current sponsors to ask them to make a scholarship donation for the following school year, preferably by the end of June.
One or two Spanish speaking members can be in contact with students as needed. Either the student or the parent has a cell phone. Students have been contacted in the past using whatsapp. We can do that, or phone, or email them or their parents if there is news or if we need information.
11.
— Reunion
A social luncheon is organized in March for students and sponsors. Sponsors, students, and a parent are invited. Participants must reserve a place so that we can plan the correct number for lunch. It is very important for our sponsors and students to meet each other because they might not otherwise have this opportunity.
12.
— Fundraising
Members and local businesses are encouraged to donate money for scholarships. A general profile of a student or two can be printed in our newsletter and on the website. It will have a picture, grade level, marks, what the student wants to study, and something about their family. There will be no personal identifying information.
If possible, a fundraising event can be planned to raise money targeted specifically for the scholarship program.