Local Latino students receive scholarships from Beca Foundation

| Saturday, July 29, 2000 10:00 PM PDT ∞

EDWARD SIFUENTES
Staff Writer

ESCONDIDO ---- The Beca Foundation held its 16th annual dinner in honor of this year's scholarship recipients, which included some of the county's top Latino students. The event was held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido on Saturday night.

Among the recipients were more than 30 graduates of local high schools and current college students who have demonstrated a dedication to serve their community. Including Milenka Meneses, a graduate of San Marcos High School, and Jose Barraza, a graduate of Hilltop High School in Chula Vista, both of whom served as speakers at the event.

"My dream is to become a doctor like my parents, both of whom were doctors in Bolivia," said Meneses, who plans to attend UC San Diego. "I know it will be difficult, but I know I can do it, because I have my family and I have the Beca Foundation."

Barraza, who is headed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also expressed his gratitude to the foundation.

"I want to thank Beca for taking the time and effort to raise the money to give me this scholarship," he said. "But the greatest thing that any adult can give us is their time and advice."

Barraza said one of his goals is to somehow contribute to the community that lent him support.

"I've had one desire in my heart since I was a small kid and that is to give back," he said.

There were more than 250 students, parents, community leaders and educators who attended the event to celebrate the students' achievements. And many expressed their pride in the students' commitment to education and their community.

"Think of them as candles that have a flame," said Silverio Haro, of academics affairs at Cal State San Marcos. "'They have a flame that they want to share with others as a flame of hope and this is what makes them stand out in their willingness to give back to the community."

Also at the event the students were presented with a special award from the Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante. The students received the award from Lorena Gonzalez, a representative from his San Diego office. She is also a former Beca scholarship recipient.

But the students were not the only ones who were honored at the event. The Beca Foundation also handed out its Padrino and Presidents awards.

The Padrino Award, which is given to an organization that has significantly contributed to Beca's goal of providing morale and financial awards to promising Latino students, was awarded to Hunter Enterprises.

Maribel Gonzalez, Beca's treasurer, was this year's recipient of the President's Award, which is given to an individual who has also contributed to Beca's success.

Contact Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-5426, or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

7/30/00