NORTH COUNTY - Scholarships are being offered by the BECA Foundation Inc. to Latino high school seniors throughout North County.

Two scholarship funds are available. Selection criteria for each scholarship include financial need, scholastic achievements, cultural awareness and community contributions.

To qualify for General Scholarships, applicants must be spring 2008 San Diego County high school graduates who are entering college in the fall of 2008. Scholarships range between $500 and $1,000. Applicants may pursue their education anywhere in the United States and major in any academic area.

To qualify for the Alice Newell Joslyn Medical Scholarship, applicants must be entering the medical/health care profession and living or attending college in San Diego County at the time of application. Scholarship range between $1,000 and $2,000 for the academic year, and some are renewable contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and continuation of a medical/health care course of study. This scholarship is open to both high school seniors and students currently in college.

Applications for any of the two scholarships may be obtained online in January at http://www.becafoundation.org or the BECA Foundation Inc. office, 830 E. Grand Ave., Suite B, Escondido, CA 92025. Completed applications, required transcripts and financial information must be received at the BECA Foundation Inc. office by March 3, 2008. For more information, call (760) 741-8246.

Applications being accepted for U.N. award

NORTH COUNTY - Americans for UNFPA, the official U.S. support organization for the United Nations Population Fund, has announced the second Student Award for the Health and Dignity of Women.

The award winner will receive an expense-paid one-week trip to Rwanda and Uganda from Aug. 10 to 18 to travel with Americans for UNFPA staff and other engaged activists to increase her understanding of the global health and rights of women. The winner will guest-blog on both http://www.americansforunfpa.org and a leading publication Web site, and will represent Americans for UNFPA as a student advocate at campus, political and advocacy events.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and non-graduating undergraduate students enrolled full time at a U.S. institution. They must submit a resume/activity sheet, reference contact information and respond to the following two short essays by March 10: discuss why the American people and their government should support UNFPA in its mission to improve the health and rights of women around the world (300-500 words); and discuss how they personally hope to play a role in improving the rights and reproductive health of women worldwide, and how experiencing UNFPA programs firsthand in Africa would make them a better advocate than they currently are (300-500 words.)

The contest winner will travel to Uganda and Rwanda and witness examples of the struggle for women's reproductive health, safe motherhood, human rights and gender equality. The winner will see hospital maternity clinics, visit a local school and health clinic to observe innovative HIV prevention outreach and visit the genocide memorial. The winner will be interviewed about their experience by Americans for UNFPA staff and media.

To learn more or to download an application, visit http:// www.americansforunpfa.org/studentaward or visit Americans for UNFPA on Facebook.

College funding is workshop topic

CARMEL VALLEY - Kathleen Johnson, a certified college planning specialist with National College Funding Strategies Inc. and author of "The Parents' Guide to Financial Aid and College Funding," will hold a college funding workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in Room 309 of Torrey Pines High School, 3710 Del Mar Heights Road.

Offered through the San Dieguito Union High School District's Adult Education program, the session is titled "Show Me the Money - for College" and is part of a series of workshops designed to teach parents how to maximize financial aid for college, no matter how much income they make or how good of a student they have. Participants will learn about new legislation that has changed college financial aid methodology, and learn how it may be cheaper for a student to attend a private university rather than a state school. The workshop also will teach the methodology used in the college financial aid formula and offer tools and strategies to increase the odds for obtaining financial aid.

Reservations are required. To R.S.V.P. and for more information, go to http://www.sdadulted.com or call (760) 753-7073, Ext. 5103.

Lake PTA to meet

OCEANSIDE - The Lake Elementary School PTA will meet at 9 a.m. Jan. 16 on campus, 4950 Lake Blvd. For more information, call (760) 945-5300.

High Tech High meetings planned

SAN MARCOS - High Tech High North County, is a tuition-free, public charter school, will hold informational meetings at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 and 29, and 9 a.m. Feb,. 9 and March 1 at its campus, 1420 W. San Marcos Blvd.

The school offers a project-based college preparatory curriculum in a personalized small-school environment. The campus opened this fall with a class of 150 ninth-grade students, serving families from throughout North County. During the 2008-09 school-year, High Tech High North County will serve 300 ninth- and 10th-graders.

Harvest Carnival a success

OCEANSIDE - Mission Meadows Elementary School's Harvest Carnival 2007 was a success, according to PTA organizers. Proceeds totalled $4,800, not counting earnings from a silent auction; and more people attended the event this year than in 2006.

Escondido resident earns law degree

Ryan Kopchak, the son of John and Dianna Kopchak of Escondido, recently earned a law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in Escondido. He earned his bachelor's degree in literature and writing from Cal State San Marcos in 2004.

Encinitas resident joins honors society

Nicholas Rodes of Encinitas recently was recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, a national leadership and honors organization, at the University of Southern California. The group promotes and rewards academic achievement and gives its members opportunities for community service, personal development and professional fulfillment. Rodes is a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering.

Auction donations needed

ESCONDIDO - The San Pasqual High School Athletic Boosters group is planning its 2008 Auction Dinner with the theme "Lights, Camera, Action!" The group needs sponsors and donations for the fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit sports teams at San Pasqual High. To become a sponsor or donate items to the silent and live auctions, call (760) 432-8865.

Ticket sales to benefit SPHS basketball

ESCONDIDO - San Pasqual High School's boys basketball team is raising funds for the purchase of equipment and tournament fees by selling tickets to the upcoming Buick Invitational Golf Tournament. Tickets cost $15 and are good for a one-day entry into the tournament any day during the weeklong event. This is a significant reduction from the weekend ticket price of $30 at the gate. The SPHS basketball program will receive 100 percent of the proceeds of the ticket sales. For more information, call Jim Eszlinger at (760) 519-5141.

SDJA helps fire victims

CARMEL VALLEY - San Diego Jewish Academy students learn from the Torah that all people are responsible for one another.

With this value in mind, SDJA's Golda Meir Lower School and Jewish Family Service partnered to provide an important service to the San Diego Jewish community. Students filled 50 "Hannukah in a Box" care packages with Hanukkiot (menorahs), candles, dreidels, and chocolate gelt provided by Jewish Family Service for families affected by the recent San Diego County fires. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students personalized and decorated the boxes, made Hanukkah cards and cookies, and assembled the packages.

ROP classes to begin in January

FALLBROOK - Free Regional Occupational classes begin the week of Jan. 7 at Fallbrook High School and will continue until the end of May. Offerings are:

• Computer applications: Beginning level, 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; intermediate level, 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• Computer Web Design: 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Anyone 16 and older can register for these classes at www.quickreg.com or come to the Career Center in Room 118) on the Fallbrook High School campus at 2400 S. Stage Coach Lane between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, call Karen Ricci at (760) 723-6300, Ext. 3212.