For the second year in a row, the Consulate General of Mexico in North Carolina has awarded McDowell Technical Community College an IME-BECAS Grant (Institute for Mexicans Abroad) in the amount of $2,000 to fund scholarships for Mexican students or students of Mexican origin to complete short-term workforce development programs at the college. The funds have been matched by Centro Unido Latino Americano (CULA), a local Hispanic advocacy non-profit, allowing the college to provide $200 scholarships to 20 individuals during the current academic year.
These IME-BECAS scholarships can be used to cover tuition in continuing education, books, materials and other needs in programs such as Cosmetology, Esthetics, Early Childhood Education, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Basic Law Enforcement Training, Plumbing, Construction Trades, Electrical, Heating Air Conditioning and Ventilation, Phlebotomy, Nurse Aide, and Healthcare Billing and Coding.
“These scholarships mean so much to our students,” said Stacy Buff, Vice-President of Workforce Development at McDowell Tech. “Many of them are the first person in their family to set foot on a college campus or to complete a college program of any kind. By attending one of our Workforce Academies, they are able to earn a certificate and industry-standard credential to help them be successful in a career path of their choice.”
In 2005, the Government of Mexico began funding the IME-BECAS program, formally known as the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior, to facilitate the academic and professional development of Mexicans living in the United States.
Institutions receiving grants from the program must provide a local match to receive the funds. At McDowell Tech, Centro Unido Latino Americano stepped forward to provide this match. CULA and CULA’s Executive Director, Margarita Ramirez, have been strong educational partners with McDowell Tech and other regional community colleges in building workforce capacity and increasing educational attainment among members of the Latino community living in McDowell County and surrounding areas.
“We are thankful to have ongoing support from the Consulate General of Mexico in NC and Centro Unido Latino Americano,” said Dr. J.W. Kelley, MTCC President. “It is a part of our mission to help people to obtain jobs with family-sustaining wages and better their socio-economic status. Grants and matching funds from these partners allow us to break down financial barriers to college attendance. In addition, these funds have a compounding effect by building capacity in the local workforce and supporting a stronger and more vibrant economy. Thanks to both of these friends of the college!”
To learn more about short-term academies and continuing education programs, visit https://mcdowelltechconed.com .
To partner in the “Learning for Life” mission of MTCC, visit https://mcdowelltech.edu/foundation-mtcc/.
