A night of honor for Latino graduates

| Saturday, July 27, 2002 10:00 PM PDT ∞

CANDICE REED
For the North County Times

ESCONDIDO ---- There was a festive feeling in the air at the 18th annual Beca Foundation awards banquet Saturday night as proud parents watched their nervous, college-bound students receive scholarship money from the most prominent Latino scholarship foundation in the county.

"These scholarships go to Latino students that have great academics in high school and big dreams," said Bob Guerrero, a Beca board member. "This may not pay for their college tuition, but many times it gets them over the hump so they can attend."

Before the banquet at the Resurrection Parish Center in Escondido began, Mariachi del Sol played traditional Mexican music as families and dignitaries perused posters made by the students listing their accomplishments, dreams and goals.

"Mine is really big, it's a little embarrassing," said Farid Malof, 18, a recent St. Augustine graduate who is headed for the UC San Diego. "But you know, I wanted to rise above my status and reach new goals. This scholarship will help me achieve that and, hopefully one day I can give back to the community."

The Beca Foundation awarded more than $51,000 in scholarships to some of the county's top Latino students, including 18 from North County, causing parents to shed more than a tear or two.

"We are very thankful and very surprised that our daughter exceeded all of our expectations," said Manuel Reyes of Encinitas. "This is a big honor for our family."

Reyes' daughter Nancy, 18, graduated from San Dieguito Academy in June and will be attending the University of Laverne in the fall.

"This scholarship means a lot to me," she said. "I'm going to a private school and that would be a lot to ask my parents to pay for it. It's extra special coming from a Latino organization because they know what we're going through."

Beca was founded in 1984 by a group of mostly North County Latino professionals to provide not only scholarship money but to give students moral support and guidance. Organizations such as the Joselyn family, the Mexican/American Golf Association and private donors contribute to the fund.

"I think it's awesome that I got this award especially from this organization," said recent Escondido High School graduate Amy Martinez, 18. "To be able to help Latino students achieve their goals is something the whole community should be proud of." Martinez will be attending the University of Santa Cruz in September.

Besides the students, North County Times publisher Dick High was honored as the recipient of the Padrino Award, which is given to organizations that have significantly contributed to Beca's goal of providing morale and financial awards to promising Latino students.

"This is a great accomplishment for all of us," said San Pasqual High School graduate Jose Llamas, 18. "I come from a family of five and to be able to attend UCSD and live in the dorms is a big deal. I see a lot of Latinos not going on to college and I want to be able to come back to my community one day and show them that through hard work and organizations like these, dreams can be reached."

North County scholarship recipients are Esther Aguilar, Escondido High School; Jeannean Ayala, Fallbrook High School; Isidro Bucio, Jr., San Marcos High School; Carmen Cardenas, Torrey Pines High School; Veronica Cesena, San Dieguito Academy; Sabrina Dence, Fallbrook High School; Gricel Escobedo, San Marcos High School; Luis Flores, Carlsbad High School; Mayela Hernandez, Vista High School; Jose Llamas, San Pasqual High School; Amy Martinez, Escondido High School; Jennifer Mejia, La Costa Canyon High School; Danielle Munoz, Oceanside High School; Monique Pasqual, El Camino High School; Arturo Pineda, Orange Glen High School; Nancy Reyes, San Dieguito Academy; Monica Morris, Cal State University San Marcos; and Aracely Schulte, Cal State University San Marcos.

7/28/02